Ohio charitable solicitation registration

Ohio’s Attorney General identifies multiple bases for filing: organization in Ohio, charitable assets or program services in Ohio, and solicitation for a charitable purpose. Map formation, assets, programs, donation pages, targeted appeals, events, grants, peer-to-peer campaigns, and solicitation names. An Ohio Secretary of State entity record and federal tax status are separate.

Organizations planning to solicit complete registration before asking for gifts. A newly created Ohio organization also registers within six months of creation and before solicitation. Review the live exemption questions in the system; do not infer an exemption from 501(c)(3) status alone.

The online system requires an email address and the organization’s EIN. Ohio replaced its registration system in June 2025, so users from the prior system must create a new account and transfer associated organizations at first login. Add more than one accountable user where practical so reminders and confirmations do not depend on one inbox.

Reconcile the legal name, prior names, addresses, formation type, statutory agent or record contact, fiscal year, chapters, solicitation activity, governance, and programs before answering the registration questions. Use the list of registration questions as a preparation tool, not a substitute filing.

A first-time registrant uploads its articles, bylaws, constitution, trust agreement, or other creating documents and the IRS determination letter. If the organization does not have federal tax-exempt status, use the Ohio Attorney General Affirmation of IRS Status Form. Preserve amendments and ensure the uploaded documents match the current entity and campaign name.

Ohio does not accept the Unified Registration Statement. Complete the state’s online questions and attachment workflow. If registration occurs after a fiscal year has closed, the system may require missed annual reports, so identify every completed period before certifying the transaction.

Save the submission confirmation, final answers, attachments, and Attorney General response, then use Research Charities to view and print verification of registration. A user account or unfinished workflow is not proof. Registration is public transparency, not a state endorsement.

Annual reports are due on the 15th day of the fifth month after fiscal year end. Ohio does not grant its own filing extension but follows an IRS extension automatically. Record the federal return owner, extended date when applicable, Ohio report, any fee, public verification, and creating-document updates in one annual control.