Which public records Maine keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation. 10 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-08-06.
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.
Obtain a Maine charitable-organization license at least 30 days before solicitation unless an exemption applies
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the Maine-specific application at least 30 days before solicitation. The fee is $20. The Uniform Registration Statement is not accepted as a substitute. Federal section 501(c)(3) recognition does not itself satisfy this license.
Applies to: A charitable organization soliciting, accepting or obtaining contributions in Maine and not exempt under Title 9.
Exceptions
Statutory exemptions apply only when their exact elements are met; local solicitation permits may be separate.
Source: Charitable Solicitations Act — Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation and 3 more official sources below.
Last verified
Renew annually by November 30, pay $20 and file the annual fundraising activity report
SOURCE VERIFIED
The license expires November 30. File the renewal and charity AFAR with the $20 fee. A late renewal filed from December 1 through March 1 carries a $50 late fee; after more than 90 days, submit a new application.
Charitable Organization Renewal; Charitable Organization AFAR
Applies to: A licensed Maine charitable organization.
Exceptions
The Secretary of State annual report and federal Form 990 do not replace this renewal.
Source: Charitable Organizations — Licensing — Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation and 3 more official sources below.
Last verified
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 June 1 and pay $35
SOURCE VERIFIED
File an annual report every year by June 1. The first report is due between January 1 and June 1 of the calendar year after the year of formation or authority. The fee is $35 for both domestic and foreign nonprofits.
Applies to: Domestic and registered foreign Maine nonprofit corporations.
Exceptions
This report is separate from federal Form 990, charitable-organization renewal and tax returns.
Source: Filing an Annual Report — Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, Division of Corporations and 3 more official sources below.
Last verified
Who keeps these records in Maine
These are the offices the Maine 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 Maine'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 Maine.
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 Maine 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.
Agency or authority
Source
Accessed
URL
Maine Department of the Secretary of State
Annual reports for business and nonprofit entities are due June 1