Steadworthy

As of 2026-07-22 · verified against primary sources

Washington charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyWashington Secretary of State — Charities Program
Initial fee$60
Renewal fee$40
Renewal / report duelast business day of the 11th month after fiscal year end
Filing channelElectronic filing available

Who must register

Washington generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Washington Secretary of State — Charities Program before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Washington residents as well as local ones.

RCW 19.09.065(1) · official source

How to register in Washington

  1. 01Register with the Washington Secretary of State through the CCFS online system before soliciting — e-filing has been mandatory since 2016. The initial fee is $60, and registration takes effect no sooner than 20 days after receipt, so file at least three weeks before your first solicitation.RCW 19.09.065(1) (register before soliciting); RCW 19.09.085(5) (deemed registered no sooner than 20 days after receipt); RCW 19.09.062 / WAC 434-120-042 ($6…
  2. 02Renew each year by the last business day of the eleventh month after your fiscal year end (November 30 for calendar-year filers) — Washington grants no extensions. The renewal fee is $40.WAC 434-120-140 (renewal by the last business day of the 11th month after the accounting year); WAC 434-120-042 ($40 renewal); no extension provision exists …

Form WA-CCFS-REG (initial registration)

Charity Registration (CCFS online)

RCW 19.09.075(1) (content checklist (a)-(k) incl. the solicitation report (h) and irrevocable appointment of the secretary for service of process (j)); RCW 1… · official form

Form WA-CCFS-RENEWAL (annual renewal)

Charity Renewal (CCFS online)

RCW 19.09.075 (one statute covers 'initial registration and renewal'); RCW 19.09.062 ('a fee of forty dollars'); WAC 434-120-025(8), -035, -042. · official form

Exemptions we check for

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

If you use a paid fundraiser

Washington's small-organization exemption requires that all activities, including fundraising, be carried on by unpaid persons — so paying anyone to fundraise, including a commercial fund-raiser, removes it. Commercial fund-raisers must also register themselves before soliciting. Separately, when a charity uses a commercial fund-raiser, the fund-raising CONTRACT must be registered before the campaign — with the CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION responsible for filing the signed contract, the registration form, and the fee, and for written notice of addenda or changes within 30 days.

RCW 19.09.081(1) (exemption conditioned on all activities carried on by unpaid persons); RCW 19.09.065(1) (commercial fund-raisers must register).; RCW 19.09…

If you haven't registered yet

Washington charges a $50 late fee plus an additional late fee per year delinquent, waivable in special circumstances. A delinquent registration gets a notice and 30 days before involuntary closure; getting current after that means re-registering ($60) and paying the accrued late fees.

WAC 434-120-048 (late fees, waiver); WAC 434-120-047 (delinquency → notice → 30 days → closure; reregistration); WAC 434-120-042 ($60 reregistration). · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in Washington? Check free.

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

Washington registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in Washington?
Yes. Washington generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Washington Secretary of State — Charities Program before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting Washington residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in Washington?
The initial registration fee is $60, and renewal is $40. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.
When is the Washington charitable registration renewal due?
last business 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 Washington?
Washington 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.

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

Nearby states

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

Citations

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