Which public records Maryland keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Maryland Office of the Secretary of State, Charities and Legal Services Division. 14 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.
Register or obtain the appropriate exemption treatment before soliciting charitable contributions in Maryland
SOURCE VERIFIED
Complete charitable-organization registration before solicitation. A corporation’s formation and federal recognition do not substitute for this process.
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.
Obtain a CPA review when charitable contributions are at least $400,000 and less than $1,000,000
SOURCE VERIFIED
For reporting periods governed by the law effective July 1, 2026, submit financial statements reviewed by an independent CPA when contributions are at least $400,000 but less than $1,000,000.
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 2026 Form 1 by April 15 even when the nonstock corporation owes no annual-report filing fee
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the Annual Report portion of Form 1 by April 15. Complete the Business Personal Property Return portion when its property and location rules require it.
These are the offices the Maryland 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 Maryland'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 Maryland.
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 Maryland 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
Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation
2026 Form 1 — Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return