Which public records Tennessee keeps about a charity that asks you for money, in the state's own words. The agency the research names is the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming. 15 official sources back this page. Last checked 2026-07-30.
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 soliciting contributions in or from Tennessee unless an exemption applies
SOURCE VERIFIED
File the charitable-organization registration and obtain the Secretary of State’s acceptance before solicitation unless the organization qualifies for and properly files an exemption request or is excluded from the statutory definition.
Renew charitable registration by the last day of the sixth month after accounting-year end
SOURCE VERIFIED
For renewal dates on or after July 1, 2025, file the annual renewal with updated organization data, required financial attachments, and the current gross-revenue fee by the last day of the sixth month after the accounting year closes. The temporary universal $10 renewal fee ended June 30, 2025.
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.
Attach an audited financial statement when gross revenue exceeds $1,000,000 after specified grant exclusions
SOURCE VERIFIED
The current audit trigger is gross revenue exceeding $1,000,000, excluding grants from government agencies and §501(c)(3) private foundations as stated by current SOS guidance. Exactly $1,000,000 does not exceed the threshold.
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 the first day of the fourth month after fiscal-year end
SOURCE VERIFIED
Tennessee law requires the annual report on or before the first day of the fourth month after the close of the fiscal year unless the Secretary of State sets a different date by rule. The current reviewed rule chapter does not establish a different filing date.
These are the offices the Tennessee 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 Tennessee'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 Tennessee.
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 Tennessee 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
15 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
Tennessee Secretary of State
Application to Renew Registration of a Charitable Organization — Form SS-6007