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Compliance Insights

Keep California Donations Flowing: A Nonprofit’s Guide to AB 488 Registration

Amar Shah
July 29, 2025
Amar Shah

Americans gave an estimated $592.5 billion to charity in 2024, and more of those dollars traveled through crowdfunding sites, peer-to-peer campaigns, and round-ups at checkout than ever before.1 California’s new online-fundraising law, Assembly Bill 488, now decides whether those gifts actually reach your bank account.

What AB 488 Does

AB 488 requires every charitable fundraising platform (think GoFundMe, Givebutter, Classy, Meta, or your favorite round-up app) and every platform charity that works with those sites to register with the California Attorney General. The rule took effect on June 12 2024, following years of rule-making.2

Platforms may only distribute funds to organizations that show they are in good standing with the IRS, the California Franchise Tax Board, and the Attorney General. If a charity slips out of good standing (even for a late filing), platforms must cut off donations within five business days.3

Does This Apply Outside California? Yes.

AB 488 hinges on where the donor sits, not where the charity is incorporated. If even one Californian gives to your organization through an online platform, that platform must confirm you are registered and current with California regulators.4

Short answer: an Arkansas animal shelter, a Virginia food bank, or a New York arts collective all need California credentials if they rely on platforms that reach California donors.

Why Registration Matters

  • Uninterrupted payouts. Platforms are legally barred from sending funds to non-registered charities, so missed filings translate directly into held or returned donations.
  • Visibility on platforms. Some sites automatically hide or delist charities that fall out of good standing, turning off a vital discovery channel.
  • Avoided penalties. Operating in California without registration can trigger fines, back-filing fees, and in extreme cases, loss of tax exemption.

What the Filing Requires

Initial Registration

Form: CT-1

Timing: Before Fundraising

Typical State Fee: $50*

Key Inputs: Articles, bylaws, IRS letter

Annual Renewal

Form: RRF-1 + IRS 990 or CT-TR-1

Timing: Within 4 months 15 days of fiscal year-end

Typical State Fee: $25 – $1,200, sliding by revenue

Key Inputs: Prior-year financials

Most nonprofits already have every document the Attorney General requests. The real burden is gathering them each year, tracking the calendar, and monitoring good-standing lists published twice monthly. 

Want to get registered in California?

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Frequently Asked Questions

We never target Californians. Do we still need to register?

If a California resident donates through a platform on their own, AB 488 still applies. Registration is the safest path. 

What if donors give via ActBlue, PayPal Giving Fund, or other intermediaries?

Those intermediaries count as charitable fundraising platforms, so they will require your California registration before disbursing funds.

How much does state filing cost?

California charges $50 for the initial CT-1 and between $25 and $1,200 for the annual RRF-1, based on total revenue. Service providers like Change bundle state fees into a transparent package.

We are registered in our home state - is that enough? 

Great start, but California maintains its own registry. AB 488 does not accept another state’s credentials in place of a CT-1 and RRF-1.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm your status. Search the California Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.
  2. Gather core documents. Articles, bylaws, IRS determination letter, latest 990, and audited financials if applicable.
  3. Get registered. Submit all necessary documents to the California AG.

California’s rules were designed to protect donors, but compliance should not slow down your mission. With the right partner, registration becomes a box you check once -- then forget. Sign up today so every Californian who clicks “donate” can support your cause without delay.

Works Cited

  1. Giving USA 2025: U.S. charitable giving grew to $592.50 billion in 2024, lifted by stock market gains
  2. Attorney General Bonta Announces Final Regulations Implementing New Online Charitable Fundraising Law
  3. AB 488: California Issues Final Regulations for Online Charitable Fundraising Law
  4. Understanding California AB488 and How It May Affect Your Nonprofit
  5. RRF-1 Form, Annual Registration
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