Colorado (CO) · Requirement Summary

Colorado charitable solicitation requirements summary

A quick, operational table pulled from the Master State Requirements (MSR). Use this as a starting point for planning filings and tracking risk.

Requirement Summary Table

Columns removed: processing times, last verified, and confidence score.

Requirement	Colorado (CO)
Filing Authority	Colorado Secretary of State – Charities Program.
Filing Method	Online Only – Colorado Charities e-file system (no paper).
Filing Calendar & Triggers	Initial: Before soliciting in Colorado. Renewal: Annually by 15th day of 5th month after fiscal year (e.g. FYE Dec 31 → May 15). Automatic 3-mo. grace is applied, plus option to request further 3-mo. extension.
Filing Due Date	May 15 for calendar-year orgs (15th of 5th month post-FYE). Auto-extended to Aug 15 (additional 3 mo) in system; further extension to Nov 15 if requested.
Renewal Detail	Annual renewal (online) includes updating org info + filing financial report (attach Form 990). $10 fee (flat). Late renewal incurs automatic $100 late fee after expiration.
Extensions Calendar	Automatic 3 mo. grace added in system; for full 6 mo., file second extension request online by 17th day after original expiration. Total extension up to Nov 15 for calendar-year org.
Exemptions	Very limited: Essentially no general exemption for charitable orgs (all soliciting orgs must register). Only membership-only appeals (solicitations confined to bona fide members) are not considered “contributions” and thus not subject to registration. Named individual relief appeals also excluded.
Good Standing Required for Charity Filing?	Yes. Out-of-state nonprofits must obtain a Colorado “foreign entity authority” prior to registering to solicit. State registration system cross-checks corporate good standing.
Solicitation while Curing Deficiencies?	No. If a Colorado charity fails to renew by the extended deadline, its registration expires and solicitation must stop until reinstated. (Timely-filed renewals/extension keep registration active, so fundraising can continue while pending.)
Enforcement Posture	Moderate. Colorado uses administrative penalties (late fees, automated expiration) but generally focuses on getting charities into compliance rather than heavy fines. Will disable solicitation via expiration but rarely pursues court action unless fraud.
Recovery Method	Reinstatement; no back-to-back reports. A Colorado charity that expired must simply file a current renewal to regain active status (past missed cycle is not separately filed). Colorado does not require separate “make-up” filings for lapsed years – just one renewal brings it current.
Required Documents	Initial: Online registration collects corporate and IRS info; attach IRS determination letter. Renewal: Online form requires entering key financial figures; attach IRS Form 990 (PDF) or fill in a substitute financial form. No audit attachment required by CO law. Payment of $10 fee by card.
Financial Audit/Review Thresholds	None. Colorado does not require audited or reviewed financials for registration (just the Form 990 or financial report).
Schedule B Reaction Rule (Donor Names)	Remove. Colorado instructs filers to attach the public-inspection copy of Form 990 (which excludes donor names). Donor lists are neither required nor accepted for charity registration.
Signature Requirements	Electronic. Colorado’s online system uses digital certification (no ink or notarization). No specific officer title required; the registrant (account holder) certifies the filing.
High-Risk Traps / Enforcement Notes	– Annual refresh: Colorado auto-extends 3 months, leading some to forget the true final deadline (which requires affirmative extension). Mark the calendar for the second extension to avoid expiration. – Late fee: If you miss filing or extension by the grace period, you’ll incur a $100 late fee when reinstating. – Colorado actively emails reminders – failure to update email leads to missed notices.

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