Section 6-401 - Registration required. - Maryland Statutes

§ 6-401. Registration required.
 

(a)  In general.- A charitable organization shall register and receive a registration letter from the Secretary of State before the charitable organization: 

(1) solicits charitable contributions in the State; 

(2) has charitable contributions solicited on its behalf in the State; or 

(3) solicits charitable contributions outside of the State, if the charitable organization is in the State. 

(b)  For federated, member-agency, and parent organizations.- A separate registration statement and a registration letter is necessary before any of the following charitable organizations can solicit: 

(1) a federated fund-raising organization consisting of independent charitable organizations, including a united fund and a community chest, that: 

(i) have joined to solicit charitable contributions and distribute them among themselves; but 

(ii) keep their own operating authority and control; or 

(2) an independent charitable organization, including one that is a member of a federated fund-raising organization, unless it is specifically exempted or it does not solicit charitable contributions other than as a member of a federated fund-raising organization. 

(c)  For affiliates, branches, and chapters.-  

(1) A parent organization shall submit a consolidated registration statement for the affiliates, branches, or chapters in the State that it coordinates, controls, or supervises. 

(2) An affiliate, branch, or chapter of a charitable organization shall: 

(i) report information needed for a consolidated registration statement to its parent organization; 

(ii) submit a separate registration statement; and 

(iii) receive a registration letter from the Secretary of State prior to soliciting. 

(3) For purposes of this subsection, an independent member agency of a federated fund-raising organization is not an affiliate, branch, or chapter. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 41, §§ 3-201, 3-202; 1992, ch. 4, § 2; 2006, ch. 459.]