We sat down with Ron Barrett, Vice President of Nonprofit Services at Cogency Global and author of NOLO’s 50-state fundraising registration guide, to unpack what nonprofits really need to know about charitable registrations and online fundraising compliance.
Curious about compliance?
Hear from cause marketing and legal compliance experts in our video series, Give Smart.
The new reality of online filings. More states are moving to portals, which reduces repeat data entry but still requires careful tracking across jurisdictions.
AB 488 and platform rules. California’s framework for charitable fundraising platforms raises the bar on due diligence. If a charity falls out of good standing, platforms can remove it, which interrupts fundraising.
Platform charity vs. platform fundraiser. Ron explains the distinction and why both categories face registration and reporting expectations when campaigns reach people in California.
Myths that cost nonprofits time and money. “A donate button means you must register everywhere” and “federal tax exemption covers sales tax” are two costly misconceptions.
Practical, right-sized strategy. Start with your home state, then prioritize states by audience and expected volume. Build a schedule you can sustain.
Where technology helps. Tools like Change streamline data intake from Form 990, prefill state forms, enforce payout timelines, and keep a single source of truth for multi-state filings.
Why it matters
Getting registrations right keeps donations flowing on crowdfunding sites, marketplaces, and checkout prompts. With a clear plan and the right tooling, compliance becomes routine rather than a roadblock.
If your team needs a faster path through registrations, renewals, reporting, and platform compliance, Change can help you operationalize it end to end.
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