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Washington commercial fundraisers need to register with the state and get a surety bond to legally solicit donations. Keep reading to learn how to get registered and bonded.
Commercial fundraiser registration
Commercial fundraisers are individuals whose job is to solicit donations on behalf of a charitable cause or organization. They register with the Washington Secretary of State. The registration application asks for details about the organization they solicit donations for, including:
- Name(s)
- Federal tax ID number
- Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number
- Jurisdiction�state and/or country of incorporation
- Email and phone number
- Street and mailing addresses
The registration also asks commercial fundraiser applicants to provide some financial information about the charitable organization, including its expenses and contributions received. They must provide the name of the charity’s financial preparer and at least one contact person within the organization.
Registration comes with a $300 fee, and renewal registration is $225 annually. Applicants can pay $50 extra for expedited service. Commercial fundraisers should review the compliance requirements to ensure they operate within the law and send complete information to the Secretary of State. Registration applications must be mailed to the Secretary of State, Charities Program, via regular mail to:
P.O. Box 40234 Olympia, WA 98504
Applications mailed via express or overnight mail go to a different address:
801 Capitol Way S Olympia, WA 98501
Surety bonds for Washington fundraisers
Commercial fundraisers need to get a $25,000 surety bond when registering. Fundraisers in Washington need to adhere to the state’s disclosure requirements, certain information that has to be included with each donation solicitation. They need to disclose:
- The name of the person making the request
- Charitable organization and city of principal place of business
- Number and website of Secretary of State’s office if donor wants more financial information
- Name of the organization that employs the fundraiser
The bond is a guarantee to consumers that the fundraiser is not misrepresenting the organization or what donations are used for, along with adherence to any other provisions of the Revised Code of Washington Chapter 19.09. If the fundraiser violates any of the terms of the bond, causing financial loss to a consumer, the damaged party can file a claim against the surety bond. If a claim is paid out by the surety, the fundraiser must reimburse the surety for the full amount of claims paid.
More questions about registration for commercial fundraisers? Contact the Secretary of State.