Door-to-Door Fundraising in California: The Rules

Look the organization up in the Attorney General's Registry before the first shift and again before each new round of doors. An organization that is delinquent, suspended or revoked may not solicit donations in California, so a lapsed renewal stops the program until it is fixed. Three dates keep the standing current: the Form CT-1 registration, filed within 30 days of the first donation or grant; the yearly Form RRF-1 renewal, due 4 months and 15 days after the fiscal year ends; and the program's first shift, which comes after both.

California's in-person rule asks the canvasser to show the prospective donor a signed Solicitation or Sale for Charitable Purposes Card before asking, or to hand over a brochure carrying the same information and say that it does. A principal, staff member or officer signs and dates the card under penalty of perjury. Print it in at least 10-point type with:

• the name and address of the organization the money is for
• the name and business address of the paid individual who does the actual soliciting
• how the money will be used, when there is no organization or fund
• that the organization is not tax-exempt, when that is the case
• the share of the gift that is tax-deductible, or the words "This contribution is not tax deductible"

An organization whose name suggests police, firefighters or veterans also gives its total membership and how many members work or live in the county. Put the card in the shift kit and the volunteer briefing. In Activate, choose Civic and community programs, write your own field question and invite volunteers to record standard responses; the card goes to the door with each volunteer.

A volunteer paid nothing can make a shorter disclosure at the door: the organization's name and address, the charitable purpose, and a line saying that revenue and expense information, including fundraising costs, is available from the organization's office. Teach that version in the briefing, and have the office ready to send the information within 7 days of a request. Unpaid volunteers aged 18 or younger collecting for a 501(c)(3) organization make no disclosures under the card rule.

A firm paid to knock for the charity registers as a commercial fundraiser with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers before soliciting, and renews by January 15 each year. It also files a notice of intent to solicit at least 10 working days before each campaign starts, naming the fundraising methods to be used. Count those 10 working days back from the launch date when setting the program calendar. The Registry's commercial fundraiser page lists the firm's other requirements.