The Law of Fundraising. Bruce R. Hopkins

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Название The Law of Fundraising
Автор произведения Bruce R. Hopkins
Жанр Экономика
Серия
Издательство Экономика
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9781119873457



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      This practice is evidenced in provisions granting this type of exemption to the American Red Cross, boys' clubs, named educational institutions, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts organizations, girls' clubs, the Junior League, Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associations, and a children's trust fund.

      The state charitable solicitation acts contain exemptions—usually from the registration requirements—for a variety of other categories of charitable organizations. The scope of these exemptions is vast: some expressly mandate a filing requirement for the exemption, solicitations only by volunteers, no private inurement, solicitations only of members, and other limitations.

      This type of exemption, albeit with some restrictions in some states, may be extended to include firefighting organizations; fraternal organizations; social groups; patriotic organizations; historical societies; civic organizations; nonprofit nurseries or other children's groups; certain organizations receiving an allocation from community chests, united funds, and the like; federally chartered organizations; law enforcement groups; community service organizations; youth organizations; labor unions; business and professional associations; senior citizen centers; grange organizations; civil defense organizations; civil rights organizations; fraternities and sororities associated with a variety of organizations; debt counseling agencies; state-based charitable trusts; persons seeking contributions and grants only from corporations and private foundations; and persons seeking grants only from private foundations.

      Other exemptions from the registration and/or reporting requirements may encompass any publicly supported community foundation or publicly supported community trust, state-based charitable trusts, civil defense organizations, noncommercial newspapers, or debt counseling agencies.

      In a rare exemption, organizations of hunters, fishermen, and target shooters are exempt from the entirety of the charitable solicitation act.

      A wide range of nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations are exempt from the states' charitable solicitation acts because these entities are not charitable as that term is defined in the applicable statutes.

      The foregoing exemptions are not necessarily absolute or automatic. That is, in some states, a charitable organization (but not necessarily all categories of such organizations) must first secure a determination from the state regulatory authorities as to its status as an organization exempt from some or all of the charitable solicitation act's requirements; in some states, some or all of the exemptions are precluded or revoked where a charitable organization uses the services of a professional fundraiser; and, in some states, the exemption is precluded or revoked where a charitable organization uses the services of a professional solicitor.

      The state charitable solicitation statutes often require a professional fundraiser, acting on behalf of a charitable organization that is subject to the particular statute, to register with the appropriate state agency and otherwise be in conformity with the statute. This registration must be completed before the professional fundraiser commences to act in that capacity for a charitable organization soliciting funds in the state.

      This registration is usually effective for a period of one year, with expiration of the registration set to occur on a stated date, and is renewable.

      Often, these laws also impose reporting requirements for professional fundraisers. A few state charitable solicitation acts mandate annual reports. The far more common practice is annual registration.

      Most of these statutes require professional fundraisers to maintain accurate books and records, and to do so for a stated period (generally, three years).

      Usually, the states' charitable solicitation acts require professional solicitors to register in accordance with and otherwise comply with the statute. These laws often also impose a variety of reporting, disclosure, and other requirements. Thus, many states require annual (or sometimes other) reports from professional solicitors; the more common practice is annual registration. Some states require both.

      The statutory bonding requirements for professional solicitors are as follows: $50,000, $25,000, $20,000, $15,000, $10,000, or $5,000.

      A bond for commercial coventurers may be required; the bond amount is likely to be set at $10,000.