§ 6–401
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. § 6-401 (2026)
Title 6. Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives
Subtitle 4. Charitable Organizations
§ 6–401LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A charitable organization shall register and receive a registration letter from the Secretary of State before the charitable organization:
(1)
solicits charitable contributions in the State;
(2)
has charitable contributions solicited on its behalf in the State; or
(3)
solicits charitable contributions outside of the State, if the charitable organization is in the State.
(b)
A separate registration statement and a registration letter is necessary before any of the following charitable organizations can solicit:
(1)
a federated fund-raising organization consisting of independent charitable organizations, including a united fund and a community chest, that:
(i)
have joined to solicit charitable contributions and distribute them among themselves; but
(ii)
keep their own operating authority and control; or
(2)
an independent charitable organization, including one that is a member of a federated fund-raising organization, unless it is specifically exempted or it does not solicit charitable contributions other than as a member of a federated fund-raising organization.
(c)
(1)
A parent organization shall submit a consolidated registration statement for the affiliates, branches, or chapters in the State that it coordinates, controls, or supervises.
(2)
An affiliate, branch, or chapter of a charitable organization shall:
(i)
report information needed for a consolidated registration statement to its parent organization;
(ii)
submit a separate registration statement; and
(iii)
receive a registration letter from the Secretary of State prior to soliciting.
(3)
For purposes of this subsection, an independent member agency of a federated fund-raising organization is not an affiliate, branch, or chapter.