As of 2026-07-23 · verified against primary sources
Rhode Island charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines
| Registration | Required |
| Agency | Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation — Securities Division (Charitable Organizations) |
| Initial fee | $90 |
| Renewal fee | $90 |
| Renewal / report due | annually, on the registration anniversary |
| Filing channel | Electronic filing available |
Who must register
Rhode Island generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation — Securities Division (Charitable Organizations) before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Rhode Island residents as well as local ones.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-53.1-2 · official source
Exemptions we check for
Likely exempt if it is a religious organization, church, or denomination (or an affiliate) — exempt from Rhode Island registration (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-53.1-3); no standing claim filing exists, though DBR may request substantiation.
§ 5-53.1-3 religious category (through P.L. 2022 ch. 131/132), verbatim list in me-nh-ri-primary-sources.md. Claim mechanics: substantiation ON REQUEST only …
Likely exempt if it raises no more than $25,000 in a fiscal year and uses no professional fundraiser (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-53.1-3) — exempt from registration; DBR may request substantiation but no standing filing exists.
§ 5-53.1-3 small-org category
The state, not Steadworthy, decides whether an exemption applies.
Financial statement thresholds
- Independent audit at $1,000,000+ gross revenue · § 5-53.1-4 as amended by P.L. 2025 ch. 387/388 (eff. 2025-07-01 — the $500k folklore is stale): gross income <=$1,000,000 may file a 990 or CPA-COMPILED stat…
Is your charity registered in Rhode Island? Check free.
Citations
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-53.1-2 · source · verified 2026-07-23
- § 5-53.1-2 (file 'with the director' = DBR); apply/renew via elicensing.ri.gov. · source · verified 2026-07-23
- § 5-53.1-2 · source · verified 2026-07-23
- Same $90 per annual re-registration (§ 5-53.1-2). Combined parent/affiliate annual report · source · verified 2026-07-23
- § 5-53.1-2 · source · verified 2026-07-23
- DBR · source · verified 2026-07-23
- § 5-53.1-3 religious category (through P.L. 2022 ch. 131/132), verbatim list in me-nh-ri-primary-sources.md. Claim mechanics: substantiation ON REQUEST only … · source · verified 2026-07-23
- § 5-53.1-3 small-org category · source · verified 2026-07-23
- § 5-53.1-4 as amended by P.L. 2025 ch. 387/388 (eff. 2025-07-01 — the $500k folklore is stale): gross income <=$1,000,000 may file a 990 or CPA-COMPILED stat… · source · verified 2026-07-23
Statuses and requirements reflect public records and cited sources as of the dates shown. Informational, not legal advice.