Solicitor and Fund Raiser Counsel List

DISCLAIMER NOTICE

The Office of the Secretary of State is responsible for the registration and oversight of professional fund-raisers for charitable organizations. Under the Maryland Solicitations Act, there are two categories of professional fund-raisers: Fund-raising Counsel and Professional Solicitors. There is also a category of professional fund-raiser called a Public Safety Solicitor which solicits on behalf of public safety organizations.

• Fund-Raising Counsel - is a person or an organization who, for pay, advises a charitable organization about a charitable solicitation in Maryland or holds, plans or manages a charitable solicitation in Maryland. They may not directly solicit or receive charitable contributions from the public.

To comply with the Act, a Fund-Raising Counsel must renew their registration annually including the submission of an application, fee, and contracts that comply with the Act.

• Professional Solicitor - a person or organization who, for pay, advises a charitable organization about a charitable solicitation; holds, plans, or manages a charitable solicitation; or solicits or receives charitable contributions for a charitable organization, personally or through an associate solicitor.

To comply with the Act, a professional solicitor must renew their registration annually, including the submission of an application, fee, $25,000 surety bond in favor of the State of Maryland, fund-raising notices and contracts, and accounting reports for each campaign conducted on behalf of a charitable organization.

• Public Safety Solicitor - a person or organization who, for pay, solicits or receives public safety contributions, personally or through another. Public Safety Contributions are contributions solicited on behalf of a Public Safety Organization. Public Safety Organization means a person who is or purports to be a fire-fighting, ambulance, rescue, police, fraternal, or other law enforcement organization. To comply with the Maryland Solicitations Act, a Public Safety Solicitor must register separately for each Public Safety Organization with which they have a contract. Each application must be filed annually, including a fee per application and Surety Bond in favor of the State of Maryland.

Failure to submit required items for registration indicates non-compliance with the Act and the professional fund-raiser is not issued a new registration until all items are submitted. For additional information on the registration requirements or a particular fund-raiser, please contact the Charitable Organizations Division. This list is updated daily.