Disclosure Statements
The CARES Organization is a U.S.-based public charity recognized under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax ID #92-2900377. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. State charitable solicitation registrations and disclosures are maintained as required by applicable law. Registration with any state agency does not constitute or imply endorsement, approval, recommendation, or sponsorship by that state.
Certain states require specific disclosure statements regarding charitable solicitations. The CARES Organization provides state-specific disclosures and registration information upon request and where required by law. For additional information, including registration status, financial information, or state-specific disclosures, please contact:
Contact Information
The CARES OrganizationAttn: Legal Department
539 W. Commerce St., Suite 8439
Dallas, TX 75208 USA
Legal@TheCaresOrganization.org
State charitable solicitation laws, registration requirements, and disclosure obligations are subject to change. Donors should consult the applicable state regulatory agency, the Internal Revenue Service (www.irs.gov), or their professional advisors for the most current information.
| State | Charitable Disclosure Requirements |
|---|---|
| Arkansas |
Use an Arkansas address, including a return address, in any solicitation unless the: (A) Charitable organization maintains and staffs an office at that address; (B) Solicitation discloses in writing immediately proximate to the address located in this state both the address of the charitable organization’s actual headquarters and the fact that the address is that of a mail drop box or is located in a mail-handling facility; or (C) Person, if soliciting by phone, discloses the address of the organization’s actual headquarters in addition to any address maintained in this state. Ark. Code Ann. § 4-28-412 |
| California |
(a) Prior to any solicitation or sales solicitation for charitable purposes, the solicitor or seller shall exhibit to the prospective donor or purchaser a card entitled “Solicitation or Sale for Charitable Purposes Card.” The card shall be signed and dated under penalty of perjury by an individual who is a principal, staff member, or officer of the soliciting organization. The card shall give the name and address of the soliciting organization or the person who signed the card and the name and business address of the paid individual who is doing the actual soliciting. In lieu of exhibiting a card, the solicitor or seller may distribute during the course of the solicitation any printed material, such as a solicitation brochure, provided the material complies with the standards set forth below, and provided that the solicitor or seller informs the prospective donor or purchaser that the information as required below is contained in the printed material. Information on the card or printed material shall be presented in at least 10-point type and shall include the following:
(c) When the solicitation is not a sales solicitation, any individual volunteer who receives no compensation of any type from, or in connection with, a solicitation by any charitable organization may comply with the disclosure provisions by providing the name and address of the charitable organization on behalf of which all or any part of the money collected will be utilized for charitable purposes, by stating the charitable purposes for which the solicitation is made, and by stating to the person solicited that information about revenues and expenses of the organization, including its administration and fundraising costs, may be obtained by contacting the organization’s office at the address disclosed. The organization shall provide this information to the person solicited within seven days after receipt of the request. (d) A volunteer who receives no compensation of any type from, or in connection with, a solicitation or sales solicitation by a charitable organization which has qualified for a tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and who is 18 years of age or younger, is not required to make any disclosures pursuant to this section. California Business and Professions Code § 17510.3 If the initial solicitation or sales solicitation is made by radio, television, letter, telephone, or any other means not involving direct personal contact with the person solicited, including over the Internet, this solicitation shall clearly disclose the information required by Section 17510.3. This disclosure requirement shall not apply to any radio or television solicitation of 60 seconds or less. If the gift is subsequently made or the sale is subsequently consummated, the solicitation or sale for charitable purposes card shall be mailed to or otherwise delivered to the donor, or to the buyer with the item or items purchased. California Business and Professions Code § 17510.4 |
| Florida |
(2) A charitable organization or sponsor soliciting in this state must include all of the following disclosures at the point of solicitation:
(3) Every charitable organization or sponsor which is required to register under s. 496.405 must conspicuously display in capital letters the following statement (including registration number) on every printed solicitation, written confirmation, receipt, or reminder of a contribution:
“A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA OR ONLINE AT www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com, REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” REGISTRATION #: CH_______
The statement must include a toll-free number and website for the division which can be used to obtain the registration information. If the solicitation consists of more than one piece, the statement must be displayed prominently in the solicitation materials. If the solicitation occurs on a website, the statement must be conspicuously displayed on any webpage that identifies a mailing address where contributions are to be sent, identifies a telephone number to call to process contributions, or provides for online processing of contributions. Florida Statutes, Title XXXIII § 496.411 |
| Georgia |
(a) Every charitable organization, paid solicitor, or solicitor agent required to be registered under this Code section, at the time of any solicitation that occurs in or from this state, shall include the following disclosures:
Georgia Code Ann. § 43-17-8 |
| Illinois |
“Contracts and reports regarding [name] are on file with the Illinois Attorney General.”
…Engages in any public solicitation and therein purports to relate the purpose or purposes for which the funds are solicited, such shall then be fully and accurately identified to the prospective donor. |
| Iowa |
A charitable organization shall provide, upon request and without cost to the requesting party, financial disclosure information concerning contributions received and disbursements for the organization’s last complete fiscal year, or, if the organization has not completed a full fiscal year, for its current fiscal year, to the attorney general or a person requesting the information within five days of the request. I.C.A. § 13C.2 |
| Maine |
It is a violation of this chapter for any person or entity to solicit contributions from a prospective donor without fully disclosing to the prospective donor, at the time of solicitation but prior to the request for contributions, the name and physical address of the charitable organization for which the solicitation is being conducted. 9 M.R.S.A. § 5012 |
| Maryland |
“For the cost of postage and copying, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Secretary of State, Charitable Division, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, 800-825-4510.”
(g) “Disclosure statement” means a written statement that includes the following information:
The disclosure statement must be displayed conspicuously on a charitable solicitation and on a receipt for a charitable contribution. Maryland Ann. Code, Business Regulation Article § 6-411 |
| Michigan | No disclosure statement required. However, the state Attorney General’s office strongly encourages inclusion of the organization’s Michigan registration number in all solicitations written as: “MICS No._____.” |
| Minnesota |
Prior to orally requesting a contribution or contemporaneously with a written request for a contribution, the following information shall be clearly disclosed:
If the solicitation is made by direct personal contact, the required information shall also be disclosed prominently on a written document which shall be exhibited to the person solicited. If the solicitation is made by radio, television, letter, telephone, or any other means not involving direct personal contact, the required information shall be clearly disclosed in the solicitation. M.S.A. § 309.556 |
| Mississippi |
Any written confirmation, receipt and reminder of a contribution made pursuant to an oral solicitation and any written solicitation shall conspicuously state verbatim:
“The official registration and financial information of [insert the legal name of the charity as registered with the Secretary of State] may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement by the Secretary of State.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 79-11-523(3) |
| Nevada |
A solicitation for a contribution by, for or on behalf of a charitable organization or nonprofit organization, including, without limitation, a solicitation by means of electronic mail or other electronic medium or device, must disclose the following information:
A solicitation for a contribution by, for or on behalf of a charitable organization or nonprofit organization by means of electronic medium or device, other than electronic mail, is deemed to comply with the requirements of subsection 1 if:
A solicitation or pledge drive conducted by a charitable organization or nonprofit organization as part of a broadcast telethon, radiothon, webcast or any similar form of broadcast communication is not required to provide the disclosure required by this section throughout the broadcast event, but must disclose the information to a prospective donor before the donor commits or pledges to make a contribution. A disclosure provided in connection with an appeal for funds to benefit a particular person or his or her immediate family must contain:
NRS 82A.200 |
| New Jersey |
Prior to soliciting any contribution (except for an in-person solicitation) either telephonically, electronically or in writing, a charitable organization, unless exempt from registration pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:48-3.3 and all independent paid fund raisers, commercial co-venturers and solicitors shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following:
…(c) If a contribution or pledge results from an oral or written solicitation, including a telephone solicitation but excluding any in-person solicitation, a written confirmation or receipt or written reminder shall, upon request of the contributor, be sent to the contributor. Every confirmation, receipt or reminder shall include the clear and conspicuous disclosure of the following:
(d) Every printed solicitation, written confirmation, receipt or written reminder shall include the following statement which shall be conspicuously printed:
INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.
NJ Admin. Code 13:48-11.2 (a) All canisters, honor boxes and public vending machines used to raise funds for charitable organizations required to be registered under the Act shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following:
(b) In addition to the requirements in (a) above, all canisters, honor boxes and public vending machines shall include the following statement which shall be conspicuously printed and displayed:
INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.
NJ Admin. Code 13:48-11.3 A charitable organization that limits its membership to persons who are or formerly were employed as officers statutorily authorized to enforce the criminal laws of this State or that is a parent organization that includes local units that so limit membership shall:
NJ Stat. § 45:17A-30 |
| New York |
1. Any solicitation, by any means, including but not limited to oral solicitation, by or on behalf of a registered charitable organization which is required to file financial reports pursuant to this article and has filed all such reports, shall include therein a statement that upon request, a person may obtain from the organization or from the charities registry on the attorney general’s website, a copy of the last financial report filed by the organization with the attorney general. Such statement shall specify the address of the organization and the address of the attorney general, to which such request should be addressed and in the case of a written solicitation, must be placed conspicuously in the material with print no smaller than ten point bold face type or, alternatively, no smaller than the size print used for the most number of words in the statements. Provided, however, such statement need not be made where the space for a printed advertisement or promotional time in any media has been donated or made available to the charitable organization at no cost and such space or time does not reasonably permit inclusion of such statement. 2. Any solicitation used by or on behalf of any charitable organization shall include:
NY EXC Law § 174-B |
| North Carolina |
(b) Disclosures. – A charitable organization or sponsor soliciting in this State shall include all of the following disclosures at the point of solicitation:
(c) Printed Disclosure. – Every charitable organization or sponsor that is required to obtain a license under G.S. 131F-5 shall conspicuously display in type of a minimum size nine points, the following statement on every printed solicitation, written confirmation, receipt, or reminder of a contribution:
“Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at [telephone number]. The license is not an endorsement by the State.”
The statement shall be made conspicuous by use of one or more of the following: underlining, a border, or bold type. When the solicitation consists of more than one piece, the statement shall be displayed prominently in the solicitation materials, but not necessarily on every page. N.C.G.S.A. § 131F-9 |
| Ohio |
Every charitable organization, whether or not required to register pursuant to this chapter, that directly solicits contributions in this state shall make the following disclosures at the point of solicitation:
Ohio R.C. § 1716.10 |
| Oregon |
Any written or oral statement made in connection with a solicitation of contributions that the person or organization conducting the solicitation is registered or has filed, will file or is required to file any report with the Attorney General, or any statement of similar import, shall be immediately followed by a statement of equal prominence that such registration or report in no way constitutes or implies any indorsement, sanction or approval of the solicitation, its purposes, the manner in which it is conducted or the person or organization conducting it, by the Attorney General or any other governmental agency or officer. O.R.S. § 128.893 |
| Pennsylvania |
(a) Solicitation limitation. – A charitable organization may only solicit contributions for the charitable purpose expressed in solicitation for contributions or the registration statement of the charitable organization and may only apply contributions in a manner substantially consistent with that purpose. (b) Solicitation disclosures. – A charitable organization soliciting in this Commonwealth shall include all of the following disclosures at the point of solicitation:
(c) Notice on printed solicitation. – On every printed solicitation or written confirmation, receipt and reminder of a contribution, the following statement must be conspicuously printed verbatim:
“The official registration and financial information of (insert the legal name of the charity as registered with the department) may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.”
10 P.S. § 162.13 |
| Rhode Island |
(a) Any written solicitation used by or on behalf of any charitable organization shall provide a description of the programs and activities for which it has expended or will expend contributions it receives from the solicitation or shall include therein a statement that, upon written request to a specified person at the charitable organization, a person may obtain from the charitable organization a description. In addition, any written solicitation shall state in clear and unambiguous language whether or not contributions are deductible for federal income tax purposes in accordance with applicable law. The requirements of this section shall be satisfied by written notice to the donor or prospective donor. This written notice requirement shall be deemed satisfied if made once during the solicitation process, including at the time of confirmation of receipt of any contribution. (b) If any charitable organization solicits contributions for or makes contributions through a solicitation to another organization which is not its affiliate as defined in § 5-53.1-4, the written solicitation shall include a statement that the contributions have been made and that a list of all organizations which have received contributions from the soliciting organization during the most recently completed fiscal year of the charitable organization for which information is required to be filed in accordance with § 5-53.1-2 may be obtained from that organization. A United Way, federated fund or incorporated community appeal, by or through which a donation is merely transferred to another organization selected by the donor, does not need to include the donor selected transferee organizations in the list. The requirements of this section shall be satisfied by a written notice to the donor or prospective donor. This written notice requirement shall be deemed satisfied if made once during the solicitation process, including at the time of confirmation of receipt of any contribution. (c) A charitable organization shall comply with all requests made pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section within fifteen (15) days of their receipt. RI Gen L § 5-53.1-12 (2012) |
| Virginia |
“Financial statements are available from the State Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.”
Every charitable organization required to be registered pursuant to § 57-49 and every professional solicitor required to be registered pursuant to § 57-61 soliciting contributions from prospective contributors shall disclose to the potential donor contemporaneously at the point of a written request or on a written receipt for donations made in response to an oral request that a financial statement is available from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services upon request. |
| Washington |
“The notice of solicitation required by the State Office of Consumer Affairs is on file with the Washington Secretary of State, and information relating to financial affairs of [name] is available from the Secretary of State, and the toll-free number for Washington residents: 800-332-4483.”
All entities soliciting contributions for charitable purposes must comply with the requirements of this section except entities exempted from registration are not required to make the disclosures under subsections (1)(c), (4)(b) or (c), and (5)(b) of this section. The following conditions apply to solicitations as defined by RCW 19.09.020:
…(Please continue reading at: RCW 19.09.100) RCW 19.09.100 |
| West Virginia |
No charitable organizations subject to this article may solicit funds from the public except for charitable purposes or expend funds raised for charitable purposes not stated in its solicitation materials. All registered charitable organizations and their professional fund raisers and solicitors are required to disclose in writing:
Every printed solicitation shall include the following statement:
“West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.”
The disclosure statement shall be conspicuously displayed on any written or printed solicitation. Where the solicitation consists of more than one piece, the disclosure statement shall be displayed on a prominent part of the solicitation materials. W. Va. Code, § 29-19-8 |
| Wisconsin |
(1) Except as provided in sub. (4), if a professional fund-raiser or unpaid solicitor solicits a contribution for a charitable organization that is required to be registered under s. 440.42 (1), the professional fund-raiser or unpaid solicitor shall, at the time of the solicitation or with a written confirmation of a solicitation, prior to accepting a contribution, make the following disclosures to the person from whom the contribution is solicited:
(2) The financial statement under sub. (1) (b) shall, at a minimum, divide expenses into categories of management and general, program services and fund-raising. If the charitable organization is required to file an annual financial report under s. 440.42 (3) (a), the financial statement under sub. (1) (b) shall be consistent with that annual financial report. (3) In addition to the requirements under subs. (1) and (2), except as provided in sub. (4), if a professional fund-raiser solicits on behalf of a charitable organization that is required to be registered under s. 440.42 (1), all of the following apply:
(4) A charitable organization that operates solely within one community and that received less than $50,000 in contributions during its most recently completed fiscal year may apply to the department for an exemption from the disclosure requirements under this section. The department shall promulgate rules specifying the criteria for eligibility for an exemption under this paragraph and shall grant exemptions from the disclosure requirements under this section to a charitable organization that satisfies those criteria. W.S.A. 440.455 |
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