Which public records Oregon keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Oregon Department of Justice, Charitable Activities Section. 13 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-07-28.
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 charitable corporation or association using Form RF-C
SOURCE VERIFIED
File Form RF-C with the Oregon DOJ. Domestic charitable corporations generally register immediately after incorporation; foreign organizations must evaluate registration when they solicit, conduct activities or hold charitable assets in Oregon. Attach articles or organizing documents, signed bylaws and tax-status information.
How often
One-time registration, followed by annual reporting.
Applies to: A domestic or foreign charitable corporation or association subject to ORS 128.610–128.769.
Exceptions
Mere grants into Oregon or investigation of grant recipients do not by themselves constitute doing business under ORS 128.620; solicitation is expressly treated as doing business for covered foreign charities.
File CT-12 with all required schedules, federal return or Oregon-purpose return, prepared financial statements and fees. CT-12 is a DOJ financial report and is not the SOS corporate anniversary renewal.
Applies to: A registered charity incorporated, organized or headquartered in Oregon, unless DOJ specifically exempts it.
Exceptions
The form year matches the fiscal period’s starting year; a foreign organization headquartered in Oregon still uses CT-12.
Source: File Your Annual Report — Oregon Department of Justice, Charitable Activities Section and 4 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 annual corporate renewal on the anniversary date
SOURCE VERIFIED
Renew the business registry record every year on the anniversary date of the original Oregon filing. Review and update permitted public information and pay the nonprofit renewal fee; use a separate amendment for changes not available on the renewal.
These are the offices the Oregon 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 Oregon'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 Oregon.
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 Oregon 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
13 official sources back the entries on this page. Every one is a government statute, regulation, agency instruction, form or portal.