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California Fundraising Requirements for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)s

 

This article explains that, under California law governing charitable fundraising platforms, all 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations on ActBlue must, beginning January 1, 2025, consent to their name being used in certain solicitations, show an address on contribution receipts, and include specific disclosures in Express Lane solicitations. It then walks through each requirement: consenting by continuing to use the platform (with an opt-out through support), ActBlue enabling the receipt address on your behalf using the address on file as of 12/31/2024, and the two statements required before a donor contributes to California residents via Express Lane (the merchants of record and tax deductibility). It closes by noting that ActBlue does not give legal or compliance advice and directing questions to your counsel.

Disclaimer: ActBlue user roles and permissions  dictate what users can do on our platform. If the tools or features mentioned in this article are unavailable to you, please speak to your Dashboard Admin(s) about updating your permissions. 

In this article:

  1. Consent and how to opt out
  2. Address shown on receipts
  3. ActBlue Express Lane disclosures

California law regulates certain Charitable Fundraising Platforms and Platform Charities, including AB Charities and ActBlue Civics. This law includes but is not limited to, the following points. 

In accordance with California’s law, all 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations on ActBlue’s platform beginning January 1, 2025, must: (1) consent that their name be used in certain solicitations, (2) provide an address on contribution receipts, (3) make certain disclosures when soliciting donations via Express Lane. 

Consent and how to opt out 

By continuing to use ActBlue’s platform, you consent to have the name of your organization used in solicitations such as Tandem forms and community forms. To opt out, please contact us. 

Address shown on contribution receipts 

All ActBlue donation receipts must contain the address of any entity involved in soliciting funds. 

ActBlue will enable this on your behalf. The address used will be that which we have on file as of 12/31/2024. I

If you have any questions, please contact us.

ActBlue Express Lane disclosures 

If you are soliciting California residents, you must include the following disclaimers in the text of your Express Lane solicitations, near other required Express Lane disclaimers:

  1. Before a donor makes a contribution, include a statement that:
    • For donations to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, the respective merchants of record for this transaction are ActBlue Charities Inc. and ActBlue Civics Inc. ActBlue subsequently gives your contribution to the organization or cause that you have selected on the contribution form within 30 days.
  2. Before a donor makes a contribution, include a statement as to the donation's tax deductibility.
    • This necessarily varies. Please include a statement of tax deductibility as it applies to your organization.  

ActBlue does not give legal or compliance advice. Please contact your counsel for questions regarding Charitable Fundraising Platforms or related requirements.