In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. “Associate solicitor” means a person who, for pay, solicits or receives charitable contributions for a professional solicitor. “Charitable contribution” means a contribution made on a representation that it will be used for a charitable purpose. “Charitable contribution” includes the payment, transfer, or enforceable pledge of financial help, including money, credit, property, or services. “Charitable contribution” does not include: an unsolicited gift; a government grant or government money; membership assessments, dues, or fines; a payment for property sold or services rendered by a charitable organization, unless the property is sold or the services are rendered in connection with a charitable solicitation; a public safety contribution as defined in subsection (j) of this section; and an authorization for or a discount on the use of services or materials, equipment, or facilities, including those relating to: advertising; and broadcast airtime, including public service announcements. “Charitable organization” means: a person that: is or holds itself out to be a benevolent, educational, eleemosynary, humane, patriotic, philanthropic, or religious organization; and solicits or receives charitable contributions from the public; or an ambulance, fire fighting, fraternal, rescue, or police or other law enforcement organization when it solicits charitable contributions from the public. “Charitable organization” includes an area, branch, chapter, office, or similar affiliate that solicits charitable contributions from the public within the State for a charitable organization that is organized or has its principal place of business outside the State. “Charitable organization” does not include: an agency of the State government or of a political subdivision; or a political club, committee, or party. “Charitable representative” means a professional solicitor, associate solicitor, or fund-raising counsel. “Charitable solicitation” means an oral or written request for a charitable contribution, regardless of whether the person who makes the request receives the charitable contribution. “Charitable solicitation” includes: a fund-raising drive, event, campaign, or other activity; an announcement to the news media seeking charitable contributions; except as provided in § 6-621 of this title, the distribution of a written advertisement or other publication that, directly or implicitly, seeks charitable contributions; and the sale of, or offer or attempt to sell an admission, advertisement, advertising space, book card, chance, coupon, device, magazine, membership, merchandise, patron listing, subscription, tag, ticket, or other tangible item in connection with which: an appeal is made for charitable contributions; the name of a charitable organization is used expressly or implicitly to induce a purchase; or a statement is made that some or all of the proceeds from the sale are to be used for a charitable purpose. “Disclosure statement” means a written statement that includes the following information: a statement that a copy of the current financial statement of the charitable organization is available on request; the name of the charitable organization and the address and telephone number where requests for a copy of the financial statement should be directed; and a statement that, for the cost of copies and postage, documents and information submitted under this title are available from the Secretary of State. “Fund–raising counsel” means a person who, for pay: advises a charitable organization about a charitable solicitation in Maryland or holds, plans, or manages a charitable solicitation in Maryland; but does not directly solicit or receive charitable contributions from the public. “Fund–raising counsel” does not include: an attorney because of giving legal advice; an attorney, investment counselor, or banker because of advising a client or customer to contribute to a charitable organization; a salaried officer or employee of a charitable organization that keeps a permanent office in the State; a person who prepares a grant proposal for submission to a specific charitable organization, corporation, or foundation; or a person who is engaged as an independent contractor directly by a charitable organization and who: prints, reproduces, or distributes written materials prepared by a charitable organization or an employee of the charitable organization; performs artistic or graphic services relating to written materials prepared by a charitable organization or an employee of the charitable organization; or is regularly and primarily engaged in the planning and organizing of meetings, social events, or other similar activities, but who does not solicit charitable contributions as a part of the person’s services. “Professional solicitor” means a person who, for pay: advises a charitable organization about a charitable solicitation; holds, plans, or manages a charitable solicitation; or solicits or receives charitable contributions for a charitable organization, personally or through an associate solicitor. “Professional solicitor” does not include: an attorney, investment counselor, or banker because of advising a client or customer to contribute to a charitable organization; a salaried officer or employee of a charitable organization that keeps a permanent office in the State; or a person who solicits, receives, or collects used personal property, including household goods, furniture, appliances, or clothing, if the property is displayed or resold to the public at a retail establishment. “Public safety contribution” means a contribution made on a representation that it will be used for the purposes of a public safety organization. “Public safety organization” means a person who is or purports to be a fire fighting, ambulance, rescue, police, fraternal, or other law enforcement organization. “Public safety solicitor” means a person who, for pay, solicits or receives public safety contributions, personally or through another. “Public safety solicitor” does not include: an attorney, investment counselor, or banker because of advising a client or customer to make a public safety contribution; or an individual who is a member, salaried officer, or employee of a public safety organization that is affiliated with a State or local agency and keeps a permanent office in the State.

In this section, “member” includes a student, former student, parent of a student or former student, present or former board member, and staff member of an accredited school, college, or university. In this section, “member” does not include an individual who is granted membership on making a charitable contribution as the result of a charitable solicitation. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, this title does not apply to fund-raising by a volunteer organization of firefighters or rescue or ambulance personnel for its ambulance, fire fighting, or rescue operations. This title applies to a public safety solicitor employed by a volunteer organization of firefighters or rescue or ambulance personnel. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a charitable organization is exempt from the registration and disclosure requirements of this title if the charitable organization: does not employ a professional solicitor; and solicits charitable contributions for a named individual and the gross amount is delivered to the individual; is a religious organization, a parent organization of a religious organization, or a school affiliated with a religious organization; and has in effect a declaration of tax-exempt status from the government of the United States; solicits charitable contributions only from its members; does not receive more than $25,000 in charitable contributions from the public during the year for which a registration statement and annual report otherwise would be required; or only receives contributions from for-profit corporations and organizations determined to be private foundations by the government of the United States. A charitable organization claiming exemption under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall submit evidence of its entitlement to an exemption upon request of the Secretary of State. A charitable organization that fails to submit evidence satisfactory to the Secretary of State under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is not exempt from the requirements of this title.