Which public records California keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. 14 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-07-24.
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 after first receiving charitable assets
SOURCE VERIFIED
Register with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers within 30 days after first receiving charitable assets.
Applies to: A registered charity not exempt from annual Registry reporting.
Exceptions
RRF-1 is separate from federal Form 990, FTB Form 199/199N, and SOS Statement of Information.
Source: Annual Registration Renewal — California Department of Justice, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers and 3 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.
Deliver the annual financial report to members and directors when required
SOURCE VERIFIED
Prepare and deliver the annual financial report containing the statutory financial statements and disclosures within the required period after fiscal year end.
How often
Annual
Form or portal
Annual financial report; financial statements.
Applies to: A corporation required by statute or governing documents to provide an annual report.
Exceptions
A corporation with gross receipts below the statutory amount and specified governing-document treatment may be exempt from the general member-delivery requirement; directors retain rights.
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 a biennial Statement of Information in the six-month statutory window
SOURCE VERIFIED
File every two years during the incorporation month and the immediately preceding five calendar months, following the odd/even parity of the original filing year.
These are the offices the California 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 California'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 California.
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 California 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
14 official sources back the entries on this page. Every one is a government statute, regulation, agency instruction, form or portal.
Agency or authority
Source
Accessed
URL
California Department of Justice, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers