Rhode Island Charitable Organization Registration

Rhode Island at a glance

Registration: Required, unless an exemption applies. Department of Business Regulation, Securities Division handles it. Source
Filing: Annual Renewal. Source
Renewal: Your renewal is due 30 days before your registration expires, one year after the department approved it. Source
Renewal fee: $90. Source
Extension: Available; the deadline section says how. Source
Exemptions: 17 listed, each quoted. Source

Every deadline, fee and exemption quotes its source and links to it.

Overview

Regulatory Agency: Department of Business Regulation, Securities Division
Registration Required: Yes

Track your Rhode Island deadlines automatically

Your Rhode Island renewal is due 30 days before your registration expires, one year after the department approved it. CharityFile emails reminders before that date once you add your registration date. Reminders need a paid plan or a live trial. Initial registration is due prior to any solicitation.

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Fee Schedule

Applies to	Fee
All organizations	$90

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source

“For filing the registration, the department shall receive a fee of ninety dollars ($90.00)”

Annual filing

Your renewal is due 30 days before your registration expires, one year after the department approved it

Extension. The extension covers only Form 990, the audited financial statement and the related items the statute names, not the re-registration itself. File the annual registration form by its due date with an extension request letter that states the IRS due date; the financial information is then due on the IRS due date, and after that on the IRS extension dates. For each further extension, send another letter or a copy of the IRS extension request. An organization that submits compiled financial statements gets extensions of up to six months in total on written request.

Extension source: “The due date on which to submit financial information (IRS Form 990 or audited annual financial statements) shall initially be extended until the IRS due date, and then until the IRS extension dates, as necessary. For the initial request, the registrant shall submit to the department an extension request letter with the annual registration form stating the IRS due date. For any further extensions, the registrant shall submit an additional letter or a copy of the IRS request for an extension form. The extensions apply to Form 990, the annual audited financial statement, and any other information referred to in § 5-53.1-2(a)(9), (11), and (12). With respect to organizations that submit compiled financial statements referred to in subsection (a) of this section, extensions will be granted upon written request, totaling not more than six (6) months.” — webserver.rilegislature.gov

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified October 14, 2026 (2 days ago) · send source

“Registration under this section shall expire one year following the approval of the application by the department, unless the director prescribes a different period by rule or order. Re-registration shall also be for a similar period of one year and may be effected by filing an application on forms prescribed by the director no later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the prior registration.”

Required Documents

Annual Renewal. Forms and instructions: Agency page

Charitable Organization Application
For the initial registration and the renewal
Source: dbr.ri.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“To apply or renew online, Click Here! Requirements for all Charitable Organization Applications, Click Here for PDF version.”
Audited Financial Statement
For the renewal
When: Annual gross income in excess of $1,000,000.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Charitable organizations having annual gross income of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or less shall be considered to have met the financial requirements of this section by providing either an IRS Form 990 or the following financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year compiled by an independent public or certified accountant:”
IRS Form 990
For the initial registration and the renewal
When: Required except a new organization that has not completed its first fiscal year.
Source: dbr.ri.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“All charities must provide an IRS 990 form (unless your charitable organization is new and has not completed their first fiscal year)”

Exemptions

Corp foundation govt only
Persons soliciting contributions solely from corporations
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(5) Persons soliciting contributions solely from corporations, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies.”
Support organization
Foundations or associations exclusively for the benefit of religious…
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(6) Foundations or associations exclusively for the benefit of religious organizations, education institutions, nonprofit or charitable hospitals, and public libraries.”
Veterans
Veterans' organizations and their auxiliaries so long as the veterans'…
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(8) Veterans' organizations and their auxiliaries so long as the veterans' organizations are chartered under chapter 6 of title 7.”
Public library
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(9) Public libraries.”
Historical society
Historical societies duly organized under the laws of this state.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(10) Historical societies duly organized under the laws of this state.”
Art museum
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(11) Free, not-for-profit, public art museums.”
Grange
Grange organizations and their auxiliaries.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(12) Grange organizations and their auxiliaries.”
Volunteer fire rescue
Volunteer fire and rescue associations.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(14) Volunteer fire and rescue associations.”
Land trust
Land trusts duly organized under the laws of this state.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(15) Land trusts duly organized under the laws of this state.”
Food bank
Not-for-profit and nonprofit food banks or food pantries
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 30, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“(16) Not-for-profit and nonprofit food banks or food pantries; provided, however, the Rhode Island community food bank shall not be included within this classification.”
Educational
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“Educational institutions, including parent-teacher associations, the curricula of which in whole or in part are registered or approved by a governmental agency”
Hospital
Hospitals that are nonprofit and charitable.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“Hospitals that are nonprofit and charitable.”
Individual relief
Persons requesting any contributions for the relief of any individual
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“Persons requesting any contributions for the relief of any individual, specified by name at the time of the solicitation, if all of the contributions collected, without any deductions whatsoever, are turned over to the named beneficiary.”
Membership
Organizations that solicit only from their own membership
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“Organizations that solicit only from their own membership”
Nursing home
Institutions indirectly or affiliated with but that are not operated
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Institutions indirectly or affiliated with but that are not operated, supervised, or controlled by any religious organizations or religious society that own, maintain, and operate homes for the aged, orphanages, and homes for unwed mothers.”
Religious
Churches or recognized denominations and religious organizations
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“Churches or recognized denominations and religious organizations, societies, and institutions operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious organization or society”
Small organization
Any charitable organization that does not intend to solicit and receive and…
Threshold: $25,000 (contributions)
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source
“Any charitable organization that does not intend to solicit and receive and does not actually raise or receive contributions in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) during a fiscal year of the charitable organization, provided none of its fundraising functions are carried on by professional fundraisers”

Duties that apply only to some organizations

If the organization holds property as a charitable trust or trustee
“Submit an annual report to the RI Attorney General by July 1 of each year ($50).”
Source: sos.ri.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source

Enforcement in Rhode Island

Penalties

Any person who willfully and knowingly violates any provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced for the first offense to pay a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or undergo imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, and for the second and any subsequent offense to pay a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or to undergo imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws §5-53.1-15 · verified September 23, 2026 (23 days ago) · send source

“Any person who willfully and knowingly violates any provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced for the first offense to pay a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or undergo imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, and for the second and any subsequent offense to pay a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or to undergo imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rhode Island require charitable solicitation registration?

Yes. Rhode Island requires charitable organizations, as its statute defines them, to register. The Department of Business Regulation, Securities Division handles registration.

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified September 24, 2026 (22 days ago) · send source

“Every charitable organization, except as otherwise provided in § 5-53.1-3, that acts, operates, transacts business in this state, or intends to solicit contributions from persons in this state by any means whatsoever, shall, prior to any solicitation, file with the director upon forms prescribed by the department, the following information:”

How much does Rhode Island charitable registration cost?

The initial registration fee is $90. The annual filing fee in Rhode Island is $90.

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · verified April 29, 2026 (5 mo ago) · send source

“For filing the registration, the department shall receive a fee of ninety dollars ($90.00), to be paid at the time of registration.”

When is the Rhode Island charitable registration filing deadline?

In Rhode Island, your renewal is due 30 days before your registration expires, one year after the department approved it. Initial registration is due prior to any solicitation. Extension. The extension covers only Form 990, the audited financial statement and the related items the statute names, not the re-registration itself. File the annual registration form by its due date with an extension request letter that states the IRS due date; the financial information is then due on the IRS due date, and after that on the IRS extension dates. For each further extension, send another letter or a copy of the IRS extension request. An organization that submits compiled financial statements gets extensions of up to six months in total on written request.

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · send source

“The due date on which to submit financial information (IRS Form 990 or audited annual financial statements) shall initially be extended until the IRS due date, and then until the IRS extension dates, as necessary. For the initial request, the registrant shall submit to the department an extension request letter with the annual registration form stating the IRS due date. For any further extensions, the registrant shall submit an additional letter or a copy of the IRS request for an extension form. The extensions apply to Form 990, the annual audited financial statement, and any other information referred to in § 5-53.1-2(a)(9), (11), and (12). With respect to organizations that submit compiled financial statements referred to in subsection (a) of this section, extensions will be granted upon written request, totaling not more than six (6) months.”

What documents are required for Rhode Island charitable registration renewal?

The primary form is Annual Renewal. Forms and instructions: https://dbr.ri.gov/banking-securities-and-charitable-organizations/securities-and-charities/charitable-organizations

Are there any exemptions from Rhode Island charitable registration?

Yes. This guide cites these Rhode Island exemptions:

Corp foundation govt only
Support organization
Veterans
Public library
Historical society
Art museum
Grange
Volunteer fire rescue
Land trust
Food bank
Educational
Hospital
Individual relief
Membership
Nursing home
Religious
Small organization
Whether an exemption applies depends on your facts. Read the quoted source above.

Where do I file Rhode Island charitable registration?

Filings go to the Department of Business Regulation, Securities Division; the agency page names the current method.

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