Which public records Rhode Island keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Securities and Charities. 12 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-07-29.
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 DBR before solicitation when a statutory trigger applies
SOURCE VERIFIED
DBR charitable registration is separate from Department of State incorporation, federal § 501(c)(3) recognition, and Attorney General charitable-trust registration. A covered organization must register before solicitation, except for the statutory post-threshold crossing rule.
DBR charitable-organization application through eLicensing.
Applies to: A nonexempt charitable organization that uses a professional fundraiser, intends to solicit or receive more than $25,000 in a fiscal year, or has already received more than $25,000.
Exceptions
Self-executing statutory exemptions apply only when every element is satisfied.
Source: Charitable Organizations — Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Securities and Charities and 5 more official sources below.
Last verified
Renew DBR charity registration no later than 30 days before expiration
SOURCE VERIFIED
Registration expires one year after approval. File the renewal no later than 30 days before expiration, pay $90, and upload current annual financial and fundraiser information.
DBR charitable-organization renewal in eLicensing.
Applies to: A DBR-registered charitable organization continuing covered solicitation.
Exceptions
DBR renewal timing is not the same as the Department of State Form 631 period or Attorney General July 1 trust report.
Source: Charitable Organizations — Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Securities and Charities 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 Form 631 every year from February 1 through May 1
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the current Form 631 between February 1 and May 1. The report updates officers, directors, principal office, business description, and related public information; it is not a DBR charity renewal or Attorney General trust report.
These are the offices the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island 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.