Nonprofit organizations raising money beyond state lines are subject to many legal regulations. The following is a general registration timeline: Prior to beginning your fundraising, register. First, register with the state where you reside. Each state where you solicit donations requires you to register. Even if you don't actively solicit there, you should register in New York and Florida if you accept gifts online because these states require registration for all donations. If you accept donations online, you must register in every state where you do so. The Unified Registration Form is accepted in many states, although each state has various dates, costs, and supporting documents. However, if you don't file correctly, your nonprofit might face fines and possible felony charges. Therefore, make sure you familiarize yourself with the particular registration procedures for each state where you conduct fundraising! When conducting fundraising, organizations should adhere to the following industry standards: Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for the Giving Institute The AFP's Code of Ethical Standards and Principles Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner from the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning and CASE Additionally, NGOs and fundraisers should consistently and continuously assess their actions against an established code of ethics.