Which public records Georgia keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Georgia Secretary of State, Securities and Charities Division. 7 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-07-22.
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 covered charity before soliciting or accepting contributions in Georgia
SOURCE VERIFIED
Obtain Secretary of State charity registration before soliciting or accepting contributions in Georgia. The corporate status of a domestic or foreign entity must be active first. Initial or reinstatement registration uses Form C-100 or the corresponding current application, includes consent to service, and may be submitted through GASeamlessGov or by mail under the active guide.
Applies to: A domestic or foreign charitable organization subject to the Georgia Charitable Solicitations Act and not exempt.
Exceptions
Corporate Certificate of Authority and charity registration are separate. Statutory exemptions must be evaluated before relying on nonregistration.
Source: How to Guide: Charities — Georgia Secretary of State, Securities and Charities Division and 5 more official sources below.
Last verified
Renew Georgia charity registration on its 24-month cycle
SOURCE VERIFIED
Georgia charity registration is valid for 24 months from approval. Renewal may be filed during the 90 days before expiration, and the agency generally sends notice about 45 days before expiration. File by the expiration date; do not describe this as an annual charity registration.
Current charities online filing; renewal notice for substantive attachments.
Applies to: A registered charity that will continue soliciting in Georgia.
Exceptions
The corporate Annual Registration remains annual January 1–April 1; federal Form 990 follows a separate fiscal-year formula.
Source: How to Guide: Charities — Georgia Secretary of State, Securities and Charities Division and 3 more official sources below.
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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.
Apply Georgia’s financial-statement levels by annual gross revenue
SOURCE VERIFIED
For annual gross revenue of not more than $500,000, internally prepared financial statements are accepted under the renewal instructions. For more than $500,000 but not more than $1,000,000, financial statements must be reviewed by an independent CPA. For more than $1,000,000, financial statements must be certified or audited by an independent CPA. Investment income is excluded from the revenue measure under the rules.
Current online charity filing; renewal notice; financial-statement rules.
Applies to: A charitable organization filing financial statements with the Secretary of State.
Exceptions
Government grants, contracts, federal awards, and regulated programs can impose additional audit requirements.
Source: How to Guide: Charities — Georgia Secretary of State, Securities and Charities Division and 2 more official sources below.
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Who keeps these records in Georgia
These are the offices the Georgia 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 Georgia'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 Georgia.
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 Georgia 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
7 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
Georgia Secretary of State, Securities and Charities Division