Which public records Colorado keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Colorado Secretary of State, Charities and Fundraisers Program. 10 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-07-27.
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 a charitable organization before soliciting in Colorado unless exempt
SOURCE VERIFIED
File an electronic registration statement before solicitation unless a statutory exemption applies.
Applies to: A domestic or foreign charitable organization that intends to solicit contributions in Colorado or participate in a charitable sales promotion.
Exceptions
Corporate formation or foreign authority does not satisfy this filing.
Renew charitable registration by the statutory fiscal-year deadline
SOURCE VERIFIED
File renewal and the required financial report by the fifteenth day of the fifth month after fiscal-year end unless a later IRS-authorized date and Colorado extension rules apply.
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 annual Colorado periodic report
SOURCE VERIFIED
File a periodic report electronically each year to confirm or update principal office and registered-agent information and maintain good standing.
These are the offices the Colorado 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 Colorado'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 Colorado.
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 Colorado 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
10 official sources back the entries on this page. Every one is a government statute, regulation, agency instruction, form or portal.