Which public records New Jersey keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Charities Registration and Investigation Section. 12 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-07-26.
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 before operating or soliciting as a covered charity in New Jersey
SOURCE VERIFIED
Register through the current Charities Portal before covered operations or solicitation. Corporate authority, federal recognition, NJ-REG, and ST-5 do not substitute for charity registration.
Charities Portal; CRI-200 or CRI-150I data workflow.
Applies to: A domestic or foreign charitable organization based in, operating in, or soliciting contributions in New Jersey unless exempt.
Exceptions
Religious, educational, governmental, veterans, parent/local-unit, and small-organization exemptions must be tested separately.
Source: Charities Registration Information — New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Charities Registration and Investigation Section and 4 more official sources below.
Last verified
File the annual charity renewal after each fiscal year
SOURCE VERIFIED
Renew annually through the Charities Portal with the applicable form, fee, federal return or alternative filing, financial statements, and two-officer certification.
Applies to: Every registered charity, including a voluntary registrant.
Exceptions
Charity renewal is separate from the $30 corporate annual report and federal Form 990.
Source: Charities Registration Information — New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Charities Registration and Investigation Section and 3 more official sources below.
Last verified
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.
Use the current State audit threshold of more than $1,000,000 in monetary contributions
SOURCE VERIFIED
A certified audit is required only when the organization receives more than $1,000,000 in monetary contributions during the fiscal year. Exactly $1,000,000 does not trigger the general State audit rule.
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 corporate annual report each year
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the DORES annual report online each year. This filing is separate from charity renewal, federal Form 990, NJ-REG updates, and tax returns.
These are the offices the New Jersey 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 New Jersey'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 New Jersey.
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 New Jersey 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
12 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
New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services