19.09.100 - Conditions applicable to solicitations. - Washington Statutes

Conditions applicable to solicitations.

The following conditions apply to solicitations as defined by RCW 19.09.020:

     (1) A charitable organization, whether or not required to register pursuant to this chapter, that directly solicits contributions from the public in this state shall make the following clear and conspicuous disclosures at the point of solicitation:

     (a) The name of the individual making the solicitation;

     (b) The identity of the charitable organization and the city of the principal place of business of the charitable organization;

     (c) If requested by the solicitee, the published number in the office of the secretary for the donor to obtain additional financial disclosure information on file with the secretary.

     (2) A commercial fund-raiser shall clearly and conspicuously disclose at the point of solicitation:

     (a) The name of the individual making the solicitation;

     (b) The name of the entity for which the fund-raiser is an agent or employee and the name and city of the charitable organization for which the solicitation is being conducted; and

     (c) If requested by the solicitee, the published number in the office of the secretary for the donor to obtain additional financial disclosure information on file with the secretary. The disclosure must be made during an oral solicitation of a contribution, and at the same time at which a written request for a contribution is made.

     (3) A person or organization soliciting charitable contributions by telephone shall make the disclosures required under subsection (1) or (2) of this section in the course of the solicitation but prior to asking for a commitment for a contribution from the solicitee, and in writing to any solicitee that makes a pledge within five working days of making the pledge. If the person or organization sends any materials to the person or organization solicited before the receipt of any contribution, those materials shall include the disclosures required in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, whichever is applicable.

     (4) In the case of a solicitation by advertisement or mass distribution, including posters, leaflets, automatic dialing machines, publication, and audio or video broadcasts, it shall be clearly and conspicuously disclosed in the body of the solicitation material that:

     (a) The solicitation is conducted by a named commercial fund-raiser, if it is;

     (b) The notice of solicitation required by the charitable solicitation act is on file with the secretary's office; and

     (c) The potential donor can obtain additional financial disclosure information at a published number in the office of the secretary.

     (5) A container or vending machine displaying a solicitation must also display in a clear and conspicuous manner the name of the charitable organization for which funds are solicited, the name, business address, and telephone number of the individual and any commercial fund-raiser responsible for collecting funds placed in the containers or vending machines, and the following statement: "This charity is currently registered with the secretary's office under the charitable solicitation act, registration number . . . ."

     (6) A commercial fund-raiser shall not represent that tickets to any fund-raising event will be donated for use by another person unless all the following requirements are met:

     (a) The commercial fund-raiser prior to conducting a solicitation has written commitments from persons stating that they will accept donated tickets and specifying the number of tickets they will accept;

     (b) The written commitments are kept on file by the commercial fund-raiser for three years and are made available to the secretary, attorney general, or county prosecutor on demand;

     (c) The contributions solicited for donated tickets may not be more than the amount representing the number of ticket commitments received from persons and kept on file under (a) of this subsection; and

     (d) Not later than seven calendar days prior to the date of the event for which ticket donations are solicited, the commercial fund-raiser shall give all donated tickets to the persons who made the written commitments to accept them.

     (7) Each person or organization soliciting charitable contributions shall not represent orally or in writing that:

     (a) The charitable contribution is tax deductible unless the charitable organization for which charitable contributions are being solicited or to which tickets for fund-raising events or other services or goods will be donated, has applied for and received from the internal revenue service a letter of determination granting tax deductible status to the charitable organization;

     (b) The person soliciting the charitable contribution is a volunteer or words of similar meaning or effect that create the impression that the person soliciting is not a paid solicitor unless such person is unpaid for his or her services;

     (c) The person soliciting the charitable contribution is a member, staffer, helper, or employee of the charitable organization or words of similar meaning or effect that create the impression that the person soliciting is not a paid solicitor if the person soliciting is employed, contracted, or paid by a commercial fund-raiser.

     (8) If the charitable organization is associated with, or has a name that is similar to, any unit of government each person or organization soliciting contributions shall disclose to each person solicited whether the charitable organization is or is not part of any unit of government and the true nature of its relationship to the unit of government. This subsection does not apply to a foundation or other charitable organization that is organized, operated, or controlled by or in connection with a registered public charity, including any governmental agency or unit, from which it derives its name.

     (9) No person may, in conducting any solicitation, use the name "police," "sheriff," "firefighter," "firefighters," or a similar name unless properly authorized by a bona fide police, sheriff, or firefighter organization or police, sheriff, or fire department. A proper authorization shall be in writing and signed by two authorized officials of the organization or department and shall be filed with the secretary.

     (10) A person may not, in conducting any solicitation, use the name of a federally chartered or nationally recognized military veterans' service organization as determined by the United States veterans' administration unless authorized in writing by the highest ranking official of that organization in this state.

     (11) A charitable organization shall comply with all local governmental regulations that apply to soliciting for or on behalf of charitable organizations.

     (12) An entity soliciting contributions for a charitable purpose shall not include in any solicitation, or in any advertising material for a solicitation, or in any promotional plan for a solicitation, any statement that is false, misleading, or deceptive. All solicitations, advertising material, and promotional plans must fully and fairly disclose the identity of the entity on whose behalf the solicitation is made.

     (13) Solicitations shall not be conducted by a charitable organization or commercial fund-raiser that has, or if a corporation, its officers, directors, or principals have, been convicted of a crime involving solicitations for or on behalf of a charitable organization in this state, the United States, or any other state or foreign country within the past ten years or has been subject to any permanent injunction or administrative order or judgment under RCW 19.86.080 or 19.86.090, involving a violation or violations of RCW 19.86.020, within the past ten years, or of restraining a false or misleading promotional plan involving solicitations for charitable organizations.

     (14) No charitable organization or commercial fund-raiser subject to this chapter may use or exploit the fact of registration under this chapter so as to lead the public to believe that registration constitutes an endorsement or approval by the state, but the use of the following is not deemed prohibited: "Currently registered with the Washington state secretary of state as required by law. Registration number . . . ."

     (15) No entity may engage in any solicitation for contributions for or on behalf of any charitable organization or commercial fund-raiser unless the charitable organization or commercial fund-raiser is currently registered with the secretary.

     (16) No charitable organization or commercial fund-raiser may engage in any solicitation for contributions unless it complies with all provisions of this chapter.

     (17) No entity may place a telephone call to a donor or potential donor for the purpose of charitable solicitation before eight o'clock a.m. or after nine o'clock p.m. pacific time.

     (18) No entity may, when contacting a donor or potential donor for the purpose of charitable solicitation, engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, intimidate, or torment any person in connection with the contact.

     (19) Failure to comply with subsections (1) through (18) of this section is a violation of this chapter.

[2007 c 471 § 8; 2007 c 218 § 64; 1994 c 287 § 2; 1993 c 471 § 9; 1986 c 230 § 11; 1983 c 265 § 9; 1982 c 227 § 7; 1977 ex.s. c 222 § 6; 1974 ex.s. c 106 § 3; 1973 1st ex.s. c 13 § 10.]

Notes: Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2007 c 218 § 64 and by 2007 c 471 § 8, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

Intent -- Finding -- 2007 c 218: See note following RCW 1.08.130.

Effective date -- 1982 c 227: "Sections 5 and 6 of this act shall take effect June 30, 1983. The remaining sections of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect March 1, 1982." [1982 c 227 § 25.]