Which public records Kentucky keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Consumer Protection. 8 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-08-05.
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 with the Kentucky Attorney General before soliciting unless an exact statutory exemption applies
SOURCE VERIFIED
Before any solicitation, file the most recent Form 990 or, if newly formed without a Form 990, a notice of intent using the prescribed registration statement. Kentucky corporate authority does not replace charity registration.
Most recent Form 990 or Unified Registration Statement / notice of intent; Articles, bylaws, IRS determination letter
Applies to: A charitable organization required by the IRS to file Form 990 and soliciting contributions in Kentucky, or a newly formed charity that has not yet filed Form 990.
Exceptions
The exact KRS 367.660 exemptions must be applied narrowly. Out-of-state charities are not exempt merely because they lack a Kentucky corporation.
File the annual Form 990 copy when it is filed with the IRS, or a new notice of intent when no Form 990 is filed
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the applicable Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 990-N with the Attorney General at the same time it is filed with the IRS. If no Form 990 is filed, file a new notice of intent.
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 Kentucky annual report every year between January 1 and June 30 and pay $15
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the Secretary of State annual report every calendar year by June 30. The filing window opens January 1, and the current fee is $15.
These are the offices the Kentucky 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 Kentucky'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 Kentucky.
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 Kentucky 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
8 official sources back the entries on this page. Every one is a government statute, regulation, agency instruction, form or portal.