New Jersey Statewide Navigation Bar
NJ Office of the Attorney General
Division of Consumer Affairs
DCA Highlights Search Licensees Complaint Forms Consumer Information Professional Boards and Advisory Committees DCA News Contact Information
Division of Consumer Affairs A-Z List
A Little Information About Charitable Registration
  1. What is the statutory authority for charities registration?
  2. Why do we need a charities law?
  3. What is the Charitable Registration Section?
  4. How do I reach the Charitable Registration Section?
  5. Who must register?
  6. Is anyone exempt?
  7. Does New Jersey accept the "multi-state" filers form?
  8. When is a charity's renewal registration due?
  9. Other registration facts.
  10. Glossary of Terms
  1. What is the statutory authority for charities registration?
    N.J.S.A. 45:17A-18 et. seq.
    Top

  2. Why do we need a charities law?
    In creating the Charitable Registration & Investigation Act of 1994, the Legislature declared; "...in order to protect the public from fraud and deceptive practices, it is essential that information concerning charitable fund raising activities of charitable organizations, professional fund raisers, commercial co-ventures and solicitors be readily available to the people of the State." By enacting the law, the Governor and the Legislature intended to make information concerning the financial activities of charitable organizations "more readily available to the citizens by whose generosity such funds are raised." To make this possible, the Legislature stated, "...it is necessary to require the registration of charitable organizations, professional funds raisers, and solicitors with the Attorney General, and that the Attorney General have the powers necessary to obtain and disseminate to the public data concerning fund raising practices of these persons." Since the law's enactment, more than 10,000 charities have registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs' Charities Registration Section.
    Top

  3. What is the Charitable Registration Section?
    The Division of Consumer Affairs' Charitable Registration and Investigation Section registers and regulates charitable organizations, professional fund raisers, and fund raising counsels operating in New Jersey. Each year, these groups must renew their registrations with the Charities Registration Section and submit financial documents relating to their activities as well as fund-raising contracts and reports. The section, in turn, reviews those documents to ensure the charity is in compliance with the law.
    Top

  4. How do I reach the Charitable Registration Section?
    The mailing address is Charities Registration, PO Box 45021, Newark, NJ 07101; Telephone is 973-504-6215; The e-mail address is
    AskConsumerAffairs@lps.state.nj.us
    Top

  5. Who must register?
    1. Any organization that has been granted a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by the IRS;
    2. Charities that are based in New Jersey;
    3. Those charities that solicit New Jersey residents for a charitable cause, or any cause that a prospective donor perceives to be charitable; and
    4. Any fundraiser receiving compensation to conduct fundraising on behalf of a charity or who acts as fundraising counsel to a charity. In addition, copies of contracts between the charity and the fundraiser must also be filed with the Charitable Registration Section.
    Top

  6. Is anyone exempt?
    Only religious organizations and schools that file their curricula with the Department of Education are exempt from the provisions of the Charitable Registration and Investigation Act.
    Top

  7. Does New Jersey accept the "multi-state" filers form?
    Yes, as long as the New Jersey initial registration requirements have been met.
    Top

  8. When is a charity's renewal registration due?
    Six months after an organization's fiscal year ends.
    Top

  9. Other registration facts.
    • Registration renewals are required annually within six months of the end of the charity's fiscal year.
    • There are two different levels of registration filings:
      1. Short form filers receive less than $25,000 in contributions from the public.
      2. Long form filers receive more than $25,000 in contributions from the public.

    • There may be filing fees associated with the annual filings: Based on contributions reported there are five tiers of fees:
      1. Short form filers that raise $0-10,000 = no fee
      2. Short form filers that raise $10,001-$25,000 = $30 fee
      3. Long form filers that raise less than $100,000 = $60 fee
      4. Long form filers that raise between $100,000-$500,000 = $150 fee
      5. Long form filers that raise over $500,000 = $250 fee
    Top

  10. Glossary of terms
    • Direct public contributions Those funds that are directly received from the donors either in person or by mail.
    • Indirect public contributions Those funds that are received by the charity that were solicited for that charity by another charity. An example of that is the United Way that distributes funds raised to agencies.
    • Government grants Any funds that are received by the charity that are issued by municipal, county, state or federal governments.
    • Other support Those funds that are received by the charity that come from other sources of revenue.
    • Total revenue The total of direct public contributions, indirect public contributions, government grants and any other support.
    • Program expenses The dollars that are spent on the activities or programs for which the charity was founded.
    • Management expenses The dollars that are spent running the organization such as salaries, office expenses, etc.
    • Fund raising The dollars that are spent raising money to enable the charity to continue to exist.
    • Payments to affiliates The dollars that are spent by national charities to the local or state chapters; conversely, some local chapters pay dues to national offices.
    • Total expenses The sum of the expenses catagories.
    • Report in file The most recent filing of financial information.
      Top

      Return to Registered Charities Database


Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Legal Statement | Accessibility Statement
division: dca home | complaint forms | licensing boards | adoptions | proposals | minutes | consumer protection
departmental: lps home | contact us | news | about us | FAQs | library | employment | programs and units | services a-z
statewide: nj home | my new jersey | people | business | government | departments | search

Page last modified:
New Jersey Home My New Jersey People Business Government Departments