Whether and Where to Register Your Foundation

In what states is a foundation required to register? As if foundation executives don't have enough to worry about, the current regulatory climate indicates that they should now consider this question. Registration is increasingly a hot topic with the states. Most states require that a foundation register if the foundation is active within the state. Enforcement levels vary, however. Some states' attorneys general are more aggressive than others in enforcing the registration requirements. For example, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office is very aggressive in its enforcement actions.

The question of registration is also increasing in importance to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). For instance, when our office files new Forms 1023, the IRS is consistently asking (i) how the applicant has determined whether or where state registrations are required and (ii) whether the applicant has registered with the applicable states. This increasing importance is also reflected in the new Form 990 which requires that the filing charity report in what states it is "required" to register, rather than in what states it does register. Finally, the IRS TE/GE Annual Report specifically notes that the IRS will engage in a robust information exchange with the states' attorneys general (Annual Report, p. 13 Spotlight on the Federal and State Project). It is clear that there will be increased cooperation among Federal and state officials regulating tax-exempt entities, including a focus on proper registration.

At the same time that registration compliance and enforcement initiatives are implemented, the question of where a charity must register is becoming more confusing. For instance, is maintenance of a website available in all 50 states sufficient activity to require a charity to register in all 50 states? Probably not. Is an e-mail solicitation sufficient to require a charity to register in a state? In most cases, yes. These questions and others must be analyzed, however, on an individual basis. There is no "one-size fits all" formula. What is certain, however, is that physical presence within a state and targeted fundraising activity are the touchstones for determining whether registration in a particular state is necessary.

In evaluating whether to register with a given state, the foundation should analyze its fundraising and other activities in a state. Typically, regulatory authority over charities is based on (one or both) of two premises: (i) is the non-profit physically present in the state, e.g., has an office, owns real estate or conducts program activities in the state or (ii) does the non-profit solicit funds in the state. A "yes" to either question means registration is required in most states. Note that under prong (ii) above, a foundation may have no connection with a state, yet be required to register if the foundation sends a letter, makes a telephone call or otherwise contacts state residents soliciting funds. Please note, however, that charitable solicitations alone will not trigger a registration requirement in Vermont, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho or Nevada.

The internet poses a unique problem in that a website encouraging donations may be a solicitation under prong (ii) above requiring registration. The National Association of State Charity Officials ("NASCO") has promulgated advisory guidelines known as The Charleston Principles: Guidelines on Charitable Solicitations Using the Internet. (The Charleston Principles may be found at www.nasconet.org). These guidelines are helpful in determining whether web based activities are sufficient to require registration in one or several states. Highlights of this guidance are as follows: 

1. An entity that has its principal place of business in a state and uses the internet to conduct charitable solicitation in that state must register in that state - so physical presence will require registration.
    
2. A non-resident charity maybe subject to registration requirements if:

                a. Its non-internet activities alone would be sufficient to require
                     registration; or 
                
                b. (1) the entity solicits contributions through interactive websites; and

                    (2) either the entity:

                        i. Specifically targets persons physically located in the state for
                           solicitation; or

                        ii. receives contributions from the state on a repeated and ongoing
                            basis or a substantial basis through its website; or

                c. (1) the entity solicits contributions through a site that is not
                         interactive but  either specifically invites further offline activity to
                         complete contribution, or establishes other contacts with the state,
                         such as sending e-mail  messages or communications
                         that promote the website; and

                    (2) the entity satisfies Principle (b)(2) above.

The gist of all of this seems to be that a foundation should register if it (i) would be required to register under longstanding principles regardless of its internet usage, or (ii) a non-resident charity has repeated and ongoing contacts with a state, or receives substantial sums from a particular state. So, generally speaking, merely maintaining an interactive website that does not solicit contributions on a state-specific basis, provided no one state accounts for a substantial percentage of overall contributions, should not require registration.

A final consideration is the form of registration required. NASCO and the National Association of Attorneys General have promulgated a form known as the "Unified Registration Statement" ("URS"). This makes preparing the filing paperwork easier in some respects for foundations required to register in multiple states. All states except Colorado, Oklahoma and Florida accept the URS, meaning that most foundations should be able to use the URS, significantly simplifying the required paperwork.