Safe to say there is a lot of paperwork required to register your charitable cause and if you want to fundraise across state boundaries the paperwork increases even further. Start by registering your non-profit in the state where it is based and then register in all the other states in which you plan to ask for donations. This applies to online fundraising as well as in-person activities, so if you are intending to get national coverage for your non-profit, make sure you register in every state.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to fill in 50 odd registration documents, as many states accept the Unified Registration Form, just be aware of exceptions to this rule and of variations in fees, supporting documentation and deadlines from state to state.
This is not the place to provide an exhaustive list of each state’s requirements for registering a non-profit organization, but it is important that you are aware of everything you are legally obliged to do in each of the states in which you plan to fundraise, as you may face penalties or even felony charges for non-compliance. The National Council of Non-Profits is a useful resource for anyone looking to register a non-profit, whether it is a small local cause or a big national charity.