Steadworthy

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

West Virginia charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyWest Virginia Secretary of State — Charities Division
Initial fee$15–$50, tiered on contributions
Renewal fee$15–$50, tiered on contributions
Renewal / report dueannually, on the registration anniversary
Filing channelPaper / mail

Who must register

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

W. Va. Code § 29-19-5(a) verbatim · official source

How to register in West Virginia

  1. 01File Form CHR-1 with the West Virginia Secretary of State's Charities Division before soliciting — a paper filing to Charleston; no online charity filing exists on the official pages. The registration is good for one full year and is refiled annually on that cycle. Fees are modest: $15 under $1,000,000 in annual contributions, $50 above it (or $50 for a parent's consolidated filing).W. Va. Code § 29-19-5(a) (registration prior to any solicitation; good for one year, refiled annually), (d), (f) ($15 / $50 fee split at $1,000,000; $50 cons…
  2. 02Renew each year by your registration anniversary; a good-cause extension of up to 90 days is available, with the prior registration effective meanwhile. Attach your 990 if you raised over $50,000, a CPA financial review at $200,000–$500,000 in annual contributions, and a full CPA audit above $500,000 — government and private-foundation grants are excluded from that measure.W. Va. Code § 29-19-5(e) (90-day good-cause extension; prior registration effective during it), (a)(6) (CPA audit >$500,000, review $200,000–$500,000, grants…

Form CHR-1 (registration)

Registration Statement of Charitable Organizations (Form CHR-1)

W. Va. Code § 29-19-5(a) — registration with the Secretary of State prior to any solicitation, good for one full year and refiled each following year; SOS Fo… · official form

Exemptions we check for

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

Financial statement thresholds

If you use a paid fundraiser

West Virginia's small-organization exemption (up to $50,000 per calendar year, raised from $25,000 in 2020) holds only when no professional solicitor or fundraiser is used — engaging one requires registration at any size.

W. Va. Code § 29-19-6(7) (exemption conditioned on no professional solicitor or fundraiser + ≤$50,000/calendar year; 2020 twin bills HB 4714/4747, eff. 2020-…

If you haven't registered yet

West Virginia's late fee is $25 per month, capped at $500 a year — one of the few states to cap it. A small organization that exceeds the $50,000 exemption threshold must register within 30 days.

W. Va. Code § 29-19-5(d) ($25/month late fee capped at $500/year); § 29-19-6(7) (register within 30 days of exceeding the small-org threshold). · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in West Virginia? Check free.

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

West Virginia registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia generally requires charitable organizations to register with the West Virginia Secretary of State — Charities Division before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting West Virginia residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in West Virginia?
The initial registration fee is $15–$50, tiered on contributions, and renewal is $15–$50, 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 West Virginia charitable registration renewal due?
annually, on the registration anniversary. 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia 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 West Virginia require audited financial statements?
West Virginia requires an accountant's report above a revenue threshold. The lowest threshold on record is a review above $200,000 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 West Virginia charities also commonly solicit:

Citations

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