As of February 1, 2020, charities and professional fundraisers that raise funds in California are required to file the Attorney General’s (AG) newly updated forms for charity, raffle, and professional fundraiser registrants.
Annual Treasurer’s Report (Form CT-1)
Charitable organizations whose total revenue for the fiscal year is under $50,000 must file Form CT-TR-1 with the AG Office. This form requires a charity to report its year-end balance sheet, revenue statement, and other financial information. The form is due no later than four months and fifteen days after the organization’s accounting period ends (May 15 for calendar year filers).
Private Foundations are not required to file Form CT-TR-1 and instead must file Form 990-PF with the annual registration renewal report (Form RRF-1). Also, if a charity files the Form 990-EZ (not required for organizations whose total revenue is less than $50,000), the 990-EZ can be filed with the Attorney General’s Office in lieu of the CT-TR-1.
Annual Registration Renewal Form (Form RRF-1)
Every charitable corporation, unincorporated association, and trustee doing business or holding property in California is required to annually renew its registration with the AG Registry of Charitable Trusts. Each year a Form RRF-1 must be filed with the applicable renewal fee.
The AG recently updated this form to require more detail. Significant changes to the form include:
- requirement to report noncash donations;
- additional question regarding negative unrestricted net assets;
- listing of DBAs and names the organization uses or has used;
- expansion on question on use of professional fundraising services to include use of a commercial coventure;
- removal of question “During this reporting period, did non-program expenditures exceed 50% of gross revenue?”; and
- signature of Authorized Agent (previously required signature of Authorized Officer).
Changes were also made to the professional fundraiser forms and the raffle forms. To learn more about these changes, visit the website for the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Chérie Williams at cwilliams@windes.com or at 844.4WINDES (844.494.6337).