Unlike Indiana, most states require that non-profit organizations register with an agency such as the Attorney General’s office before soliciting any charitable donations within the boundaries of that state. In addition to initial registration, those states typically have annual reporting requirements as well. Although Indiana is not one of the 40 states requiring registration, non-profits located in Indiana that solicit contributions outside the state cannot ignore the requirements.<\/p>\n
The primary purpose of registration is to protect citizens from potential scams put on by fraudulent charities. To that end, some states, such as Illinois, provide an online index of registered non-profit organizations and encourage their residents to “investigate” before they make any donations. If a non-profit is not listed there, it is likely that a potential donor will decide not to make a contribution.<\/p>\n
Because Indiana does not currently require non-profit registration, some non-profit organizations located in Indiana may be unaware of the registration requirements in other states. However, all four states that surround Indiana — Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio — require this type of registration for non-profits engaging in fundraising within their borders.<\/p>\n