professional fundraiser bonds

Quick Summary

Professional fundraiser bonds are required by many states as a condition of licensure for individuals or organizations that plan or conduct charitable solicitations for compensation. These surety bonds ensure compliance with state regulations, and their cost is determined by an applicant's financial profile and creditworthiness.

Last Updated: July 31, 2026

Why This Is Important, Professional Fundraiser Bond

A Professional Fundraising Counsel (“PFC”) is usually defined as an individual who for compensation plans, manages, advises, counsels, consults or prepares materials for, or with respect to, the solicitation of funds, belongings or property for charitable purposes. In-person solicitation is another standard method of charitable solicitation. Planned giving officers develop relationships with donors and potential donors by visiting with them at residence and work. In-person solicitations also include solicitations made door to door, on the road, and in the airport. Phone solicitation is a growing method of charitable solicitation. Nevertheless, charitable telemarketing is gaining wider attention from state agencies.

Rhode Island Professional Fundraiser Bond is required by The State of Rhode Island to comply with the state licensing requirements. Every state has drafted its own Rhode Island Professional Fundraiser Bond Form, so you will need a different Rhode Island Professional Fundraiser bond for every state in which you may be transacting business.

Professional Fundraiser Bond, An Overview

If you are engaged as a professional fundraiser in Michigan, you are required under Section 4 of Public Act 298 of 1992 to file a Michigan Uniform Professional Fundraising Bond as a condition of licensure. The following forms must be used when registering a charity or professional fund-raising group with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office or when filing annual reviews as required by Illinois law. If you have problems downloading any of these forms, please call the Charitable Trust Bureau at (312) 814-2595 for further assistance.

During the campaign, keep tabs on the flow of cash. Ensure you receive copies of original invoices as received, paid receipts as paid, bank statements, checks, and deposit slips. Monitor all expenses to ensure they are reasonable and ordinary. Immediately question any expenses that appear excessive or for which there is a lack of documentation. Your organization will be held accountable for all funds raised by the solicitation.

title agency bonds cost a fraction of the total amount of the bond — the exact amount of the bond is determined within each state and can differ considerably from the total value of the bond in other states. Each state’s department of insurance (or another type of similar agency) sets the bond requirements for title agents. The bond value is determined by sureties at the time they receive an applicant’s bond application. In order to determine the rate, sureties review the applicant’s personal credit rating, the applicant’s financial statements, and the applicant’s asset profile, among other potential financial indicators.

Business Fundraisers

Forbes CommunityVoice allows professional fee-based membership groups (“communities”) to connect directly with the Forbes audience by enabling them to create content — and participate in the conversation — on the Forbes digital publishing platform. The very first thing that your organization should recognize is that the California fundraising laws mainly deal with compliance by the fundraiser or coventurer, not the organization, and that they are meant to protect the charity and the public from fundraising scams. They are not meant to frustrate charities by making them wade through complex laws to verify they comply (although it is a side effect).

This penal sum is not the same as your actual bond cost. To get bonded, professional solicitors pay a premium, often annually and sometimes bi-annually. The premium is determined by the solicitor’s credit score and may range between 1% and 10% of the penal sum, depending on their credit score.

All About Professional Fundraiser Bond

Alabama law requires professional fundraisers, professional solicitors, and commercial co-venturers to register with the Attorney General’s Office in accordance with Ala Code § 13A-9-70 (1996). Generally, charities planning to solicit charitable contributions within a specific state must register with the appropriate state regulatory authority. Currently, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming do not require charities planning solicitations to register within the state. Of these states, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, and Vermont do require professional solicitors and professional fundraisers to comply with certain filing or registration requirements. Please be aware that these laws are consistently subject to change.

  • Professional fundraiser bonds serve as a financial guarantee that fundraisers will comply with state laws and ethical standards, protecting both donors and charitable organizations from fraudulent activities.
  • Bond amounts vary by state, typically ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, and are set by state regulatory agencies to ensure adequate coverage for potential claims.
  • Failure to maintain a valid bond can result in license suspension, fines, or legal action, underscoring the importance of timely renewal and compliance.

For more detailed information on state-specific requirements, consult the USA.gov State Attorneys General resource, which provides links to official state regulatory offices.