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Can I offer contests that involve charity donations in Illinois? What are the requirements?

To offer contests that involve charity donations in Illinois, organizations must comply with certain requirements.

Requirements for Offering Contests that Involve Charity Donations in Illinois

  1. Registration: Any organization that intends to solicit charitable donations in Illinois must register with the Attorney General’s office [1.6][1.7]. This includes organizations that plan to offer contests that involve charity donations.
  2. Disclosure: If a professional fund raiser or solicitor is used to solicit charitable donations, the public must be informed that the solicitation is being made by a paid professional fund raiser. The fund raiser’s name and a statement that contracts and reports regarding the charity are on file with the Illinois Attorney General must also be provided [1.8].
  3. Misuse of Charitable Assets: Any knowing use of charitable assets to conduct or further, directly or indirectly, an act or actions set forth in Article 29D of the Criminal Code of 2012 shall be a misuse of charitable assets and breach of fiduciary duty relative to all other Sections of this Act [1.4].
  4. Exemptions: Certain organizations are exempt from registration and report filing provisions of the Solicitation for Charity Act. However, if the gross contributions received by such charitable organization during any 12 month period ending December 31 of any year shall be in excess of $15,000, it shall file reports as required under this Act and the provisions of this Act shall apply [1.7].

In addition, all fees and penalties collected by the Attorney General pursuant to the Solicitation for Charity Act shall be paid and deposited into the Illinois Charity Bureau Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys in the Fund shall be appropriated to the Attorney General for charitable trust enforcement purposes as an addition to other appropriated funds and be used by the Attorney General to provide the public with information concerning charitable trusts and organizations and for charitable trust enforcement activities [1.2][1.3].

Conclusion

To offer contests that involve charity donations in Illinois, organizations must register with the Attorney General’s office, disclose the use of professional fund raisers or solicitors, avoid misuse of charitable assets, and comply with the exemptions outlined in the Solicitation for Charity Act. All fees and penalties collected by the Attorney General will be deposited into the Illinois Charity Bureau Fund and used for charitable trust enforcement purposes.

Source(s):
Jurisdiction

Illinois