Which public records Arkansas keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Arkansas Secretary of State. 9 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-08-01.
Free to read. No account needed. Nothing on this page is a rating or an endorsement of any organization.
What this state records about charities that ask you for money
Registration is a filing requirement, not a rating. States exempt whole categories of organization from it, so an organization that does not appear in a state record is not necessarily doing anything wrong, and one that does appear has not been endorsed.
Register the charitable organization before soliciting in Arkansas unless an exemption applies
SOURCE VERIFIED
File CR-01 before solicitation begins. The form treats direct mail, telephone, events, paid solicitation, sales promotions, and website or web-banner solicitation as covered methods requiring screening.
Applies to: Domestic and foreign charitable organizations soliciting contributions in Arkansas, unless a statutory exemption applies.
Exceptions
Corporate formation, foreign qualification, IRS recognition, and a gaming permit do not substitute unless a specific statutory charity exemption applies.
Source: Charitable Entities — Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services, Charities Division and 2 more official sources below.
Last verified
File the charity annual financial report no later than 180 days after fiscal year end
SOURCE VERIFIED
File CR-03 no later than 180 days after the organization’s fiscal year end. This replaced the former August 1 charity-report deadline and is separate from the free corporate annual report due August 1.
Applies to: Registered charitable organizations that continue to solicit or hold registered status in Arkansas.
Exceptions
The corporate annual report remains due August 1 even if the charity fiscal-year report is due on another date.
Source: Charitable Entities — Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services, Charities Division and 2 more official sources below.
Last verified
What financial detail the state requires at what size
This is what the organization has to produce for the state, which tells you what already exists to ask for. It is not a statement that any particular organization is above or below these thresholds.
Obtain an independent CPA review when contributions are more than $500,000 but less than $1,000,000
SOURCE VERIFIED
The 2026 CR-03 requires financial statements reviewed by an independent certified public accountant when contributions are more than $500,000 but less than $1,000,000.
Whether the organization is still current with the state
Every nonprofit corporation owes its state this filing to stay in good standing, and the state keeps the result as a public record. It is separate from any charity registration above, and being current says nothing about how an organization spends what you give it.
File the nonprofit annual report by August 1 every year at no charge
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the Secretary of State nonprofit annual report by August 1 each year. The filing is free online or on paper and is separate from charity annual reporting, franchise tax, and income-tax returns.
These are the offices the Arkansas research itself names for the filings above. An office that keeps a record is also the place to take a question or a concern about one.
This page carries Arkansas's rules, not any organization's filing history. The offices above hold the records for the organization you are asking about.
Which state's rules apply to your gift
Your state of residence, the organization's home state, and the state it solicits in can all differ. This page is about Arkansas.
What this organization promised you
Restrictions on your gift, refund terms, recurring-payment terms and the acknowledgment you receive come from the organization itself. Ask it, and keep what it sends.
BEFORE YOU GIVE
Make the checklist for your gift.
The federal side of a donation does not change by state: what to confirm before paying, and which record to keep afterward. Build a list around the gift you are actually making.
The rules above are three of the requirements Arkansas puts on a nonprofit. The full guide covers formation, governance, reporting, tax and employment, from the same official sources.
Linking to this donor page from your own donation page or donor FAQ is welcome. It does not replace your organization's required notices, policies or donation acknowledgments.
Official sources
9 official sources back the entries on this page. Every one is a government statute, regulation, agency instruction, form or portal.