Steadworthy

As of 2026-07-23 · verified against primary sources

Pennsylvania charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyPennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
Initial fee$15–$250, tiered on contributions
Renewal fee$15–$250, tiered on contributions
Renewal / report due15th day of the 11th month after fiscal year end
Filing channelPaper / mail

Who must register

Pennsylvania generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Pennsylvania residents as well as local ones.

10 P.S. § 162.5(a) · official source

How to register in Pennsylvania

  1. 01File Form BCO-10 with the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations before soliciting — Pennsylvania is an approval state, so solicitation waits for approval (deemed approved if the Bureau raises no deficiency within 15 working days). The fee is tiered on national contributions, $15 to $250; attach Form BCO-23 if you file a 990-EZ/PF/N or no 990.10 P.S. § 162.5(a) (registration statement; no soliciting before approval), (r) (15-working-day deemed approval, Act 72 of 2017), (p) (fee tiers on gross nat…
  2. 02Renew annually: as administered, the BCO-10 must be postmarked by the 15th day of the eleventh month after your fiscal year end (February 15 for a March 31 year-end) — the postmark controls. Attach the financial statement your contribution level requires: audit at $750,000+, review or audit from $250,000, compilation from $100,000.10 P.S. § 162.5(a), (k) (renewal; the Bureau administers every renewal at the § 162.5(k) ceiling — BCO-10 Instructions: 'postmarked no later than the 15th da…

Form BCO-10 (registration)

Charitable Organization Registration Statement (BCO-10)

10 P.S. § 162.5(a)-(b) — the registration statement, initial and annual, is Form BCO-10, signed by two officers including the chief fiscal officer. · official form

Form BCO-23 (registration)

Public Disclosure Statement (BCO-23)

BCO-10 Instructions (rev. 1/2024) — Form BCO-23 required when the organization files Form 990-EZ/990-PF/990-N or no 990. · official form

Exemptions we check for

The state, not Steadworthy, decides whether an exemption applies.

Financial statement thresholds

If you use a paid fundraiser

Pennsylvania's small-organization exemption ($25,000 or less in annual contributions) applies only when no compensated solicitor is used — paying one means registering regardless of size. The Bureau also starts the registration clock the moment any compensated person solicits, even before the $25,000 line is reached.

10 P.S. § 162.6(a)(8) (small-org exemption conditioned on no compensated solicitor); BCO-10 Instructions p.1 (register before any compensated person solicits).

If you haven't registered yet

Pennsylvania's late fee is $25 for each month or part of one past the due date, and by the Bureau's own instructions it may not be waived — the one flat rule in an otherwise forgiving process. A registration whose financial report goes unfiled lapses; getting current means refiling the BCO-10 with the report and the accrued late fees.

10 P.S. § 162.5(q) ($25/month late fee; non-waivable per BCO-10 Instructions); § 162.5(l) (registration lapses on unfiled financial report). · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in Pennsylvania? Check free.

Free. No account. Built from public records. Informational, not legal advice.

Pennsylvania registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting Pennsylvania residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in Pennsylvania?
The initial registration fee is $15–$250, tiered on contributions, and renewal is $15–$250, tiered on contributions. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.
When is the Pennsylvania charitable registration renewal due?
15th day of the 11th month after fiscal year end. The date is computed from the organization's own fiscal year end under the rule this page cites, so it differs between charities.
Are any charities exempt from registering in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania recognizes exemptions, and this page lists each one we check for with its statutory citation. The state, not a third party, decides whether an exemption applies.
Does Pennsylvania require audited financial statements?
Pennsylvania requires an accountant's report above a revenue threshold. The lowest threshold on record is a compilation above $100,000 in contributions. Every threshold and its citation are listed on this page.

Related: registration fees by state · renewal deadlines by state · exemptions · all state registration requirements

Nearby states

Fundraising rarely stops at a border — where Pennsylvania charities also commonly solicit:

Citations

Statuses and requirements reflect public records and cited sources as of the dates shown. Informational, not legal advice.