"With the introduction of California’s AB 488 law, new registration requirements now apply to certain fundraising activities. If you’ve tried to create a fundraiser and received a message that your organization needs to update its registration, here’s what that means and what to do to be successful moving forward.
Registration Requirements
This new law means all organizations that fundraise with Double Good are required to have updated registration with all governing agencies - this could be the IRS, state regulators, or another regulator that oversees nonprofit compliance. According to government records, your organization is currently listed as having invalid registration.
This can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, an organization may fall out of compliance if it misses an annual IRS filing, misses a state charity renewal deadline, has an expired or suspended charity registration, or has outstanding compliance or reporting issues.
Sources of Registration Status
Your organization will need to update its registration status with the relevant government agencies. You can look up your organization’s status with the IRS here (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search).
If your organization is registered in California, you can review details and renewal instructions on the California Attorney General’s website (https://oag.ca.gov/charities). Additionally, you can learn more about California AB 488 here (https://ca-ab488.com/).
Please note that updates made through these entities are not immediate. It may take some time for your organization’s compliance status to be reflected in our system. Once your registration is updated, you’ll be able to create a fundraising event on Double Good.
Fundraiser Registration FAQs
Why am I seeing a message that my organization needs to update its registration?
With the introduction of California’s AB 488 law, new registration requirements now apply to certain fundraising activities. All organizations that fundraise with Double Good are required to maintain current and valid registration with the appropriate governing agencies. Based on available government records, your organization is currently listed as having invalid or outdated registration, which prevents you from creating a fundraiser at this time.
I didn’t have to do this before - What does “registration” mean?
Registration refers to your organization’s compliance status with required regulators. This may include:
- The IRS
- State charity regulators
- Other agencies that oversee nonprofit compliance
As part of compliance with California’s AB 488 law, to fundraise with Double Good, your organization must be in good standing with all applicable authorities.
Why might my organization’s registration need to be updated?
There are several common reasons an organization may fall out of compliance, including:
- Missing an annual IRS filing
- Missing a state charity renewal deadline
- Having an expired or suspended charity registration
- Outstanding compliance or reporting issues
These situations can happen even to well-run organizations if deadlines are missed or paperwork is delayed.
How can I check my organization’s registration status?
You can review your organization’s status directly with the relevant agencies:
- IRS: Look up your organization’s status using the IRS nonprofit search tool
- California organizations: Visit the California Attorney General’s website to review registration details and renewal instructions
If your organization operates in another state, check with that state’s charity regulator.
What do I need to do to update this?
You’ll need to update your organization’s registration directly with the appropriate government agency. Double Good isn’t able to make these updates on your behalf.
Once your registration is current and reflected in official records, you’ll be able to create a fundraiser.
Does this mean my organization is no longer a nonprofit?
Not necessarily. In most cases, an invalid registration means there’s a missing filing, renewal, or compliance step that needs attention. Once resolved with the appropriate agency, your organization can return to good standing.
What if I believe this is a mistake?
If you believe your registration is already current, we recommend:
1. Double-checking your status directly with the appropriate agency
2. Allowing time for any recent updates to be fully processed
If the issue continues after that, feel free to reach out to our support team for help.
Can Double Good manually approve or override registration requirements?
We’re unable to manually approve fundraisers or bypass registration requirements, since our system relies on official government records to verify eligibility and maintain the integrity of our platform and participating organizations.
Once your organization’s registration is up to date and reflected in those records, you’ll be able to move forward with creating a fundraiser.
Who can help with registration questions?
Registration questions are best handled by:
- The IRS
- Your state charity regulator
- Your organization’s accountant, attorney, or compliance advisor
Still need help?
Our support team is always happy to help point you in the right direction—just reach out anytime."