Official sources reviewed September 23, 2026
New York registration runs through the Attorney General's Charities Bureau
The New York Attorney General says most organizations that hold charitable assets, engage in charitable activities in New York, or solicit charitable contributions in New York — including foundation and government grants — must register with the Charities Bureau. An organization that believes an exemption applies can claim it through the online registration process. That is a facts-based filing position, not an assumption that follows automatically from federal tax exemption.
Make the registration decision before the campaign launches
Timing
Executive Law section 172 requires an organization subject to Article 7-A to file before soliciting contributions from people in New York or a governmental agency.
What counts as solicitation
The statute covers direct or indirect requests through any medium, whether or not a contribution results. That makes email, web, event, grant, and cause-marketing plans relevant to the scope review.
Initial fee
Article 7-A sets a $25 registration fee. The Attorney General's current portal accepts major credit cards except American Express and electronic checks.
After registration
Report a material change to required registration information within 30 days, keep annual filing work separate, and retain the submitted packet and acceptance evidence.
Test the exemption facts; do not assume them
New York law contains specific exemptions. One Article 7-A exemption can apply when an organization receives less than $25,000 in gross contributions during its fiscal year and uses neither a professional fundraiser nor fundraising counsel. If gross contributions later exceed $25,000, the statute calls for registration within 30 days. Religious organizations and certain limited-membership, educational, governmental, individual-benefit, veterans, firefighter, and ambulance organizations have separate rules.
An exemption from one registration basis does not answer every New York charitable-assets or filing question. Use the portal's exemption path, document the supporting facts, and revisit the conclusion when fundraising methods, receipts, professional-fundraiser use, or New York activities change.
Prepare the online-registration packet first
New York's published checklist is specific enough to use as an internal preflight. Assemble the following before starting the portal:
- A valid email address and phone number for the Charities Bureau account.
- The organization's EIN and federal tax classification.
- Any previous New York registration number; search the public registry before creating a duplicate record.
- Names, email addresses, and mailing addresses for officers, directors, trustees, and key people. New York corporations generally provide at least three unless the organization is a trust.
- Professional fundraiser details, including name, address, and contract dates, when applicable.
- A description of charitable purposes with at least 100 words.
- Email addresses for the president or other authorized officer and the chief financial officer, treasurer, or other fiscal officer so the portal can route e-signatures. Trusts follow the portal's separate signature note.
- All pages of the organizing document and bylaws or other rules document, in PDF format and within the portal's current upload limits.
- Payment approval for the registration fee through an accepted online method.
Avoid three preventable delays
- Search the public registry before registering so an old number or prior filing is not missed.
- Confirm the two signers and their working email addresses before submitting the form for signature.
- Upload complete, readable PDFs; the Charities Bureau expressly warns that missing required information delays registration.
Registration and annual reporting are different checkpoints
Initial registration establishes the organization in the Charities Bureau system. Registered organizations then have annual financial-reporting duties through the CHAR500 process when applicable. Keep the registration record, annual filing, IRS return, financial attachments, signatures, and confirmation in one New York evidence folder, but track each deadline and submission separately.
Before filing
Verify scope, registry history, exemption facts, documents, signers, professional fundraiser information, and payment authority.
During filing
Use consistent names and addresses, attach complete PDFs, route e-signatures, and save the submitted package and transaction confirmation.
After filing
Monitor requests, confirm the public registry record, record the New York registration number, and calendar annual reporting.
Keep search intent and next steps clear
Use this page for the New York initial registration transaction. Open the New York requirements summary for a broader registration, renewal, financial-reporting, and recovery overview; use the New York renewal guide for recurring reports; and use the New York delinquency guide if the public record does not appear current. If fundraising reaches beyond New York, use the multi-state charitable registration plan; for coordinated filing support, review charitable solicitation registration services. Before a campaign launches, use the nonprofit fundraising registration guide to document audiences, donation paths, status evidence, and filing owners.
New York registration FAQ
When must a charity register before soliciting in New York?
An organization subject to Article 7-A must register before soliciting contributions from people in New York or a governmental agency. Check the statutory exemptions before relying on that general rule.
What is the New York charitable registration fee?
Executive Law section 172 sets a $25 initial Article 7-A registration fee. A later re-registration after cancellation for missed financial reports has a different statutory fee and recovery path.
Does online fundraising count as solicitation?
New York defines solicitation as a direct or indirect request for a contribution through any medium, whether or not a contribution is made. Review web, email, event, grant, and cause-marketing activity as part of the filing decision.
Can a small charity claim the $25,000 exemption?
Article 7-A includes an exemption for an organization below $25,000 in gross contributions during its fiscal year when it uses neither a professional fundraiser nor fundraising counsel. Other New York registration bases and the exact facts still need review.
How many signatures does the online registration use?
The Attorney General's checklist calls for the president or another authorized officer and the chief financial officer, treasurer, or another person with fiscal responsibility. Trusts have a separate one-signature note.
What must be updated after registration?
Article 7-A requires material changes to registration information to be reported within 30 days. Annual financial reporting is a separate recurring checkpoint when applicable.
Official New York sources
- Attorney General: charities registration and online checklist.
- New York Executive Law section 171-a: contribution and solicitation definitions.
- New York Executive Law section 172: registration, fee, signatures, and material changes.
- New York Executive Law section 172-a: Article 7-A exemptions.
- Attorney General: CHAR500 annual filing.
- Attorney General: charities forms and instructions.
Build a New York filing plan
Use CharityClarity as a quick state charity registration lookup when a supported public signal is available, or contact Compliance Express to organize the registration packet, annual reporting calendar, and recovery path.