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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.
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
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.
Form: CT-1
Timing: Before Fundraising
Typical State Fee: $50*
Key Inputs: Articles, bylaws, IRS letter
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.
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.
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
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