{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-business-regulation-6-401","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Business Regulation § 6–401","heading":"","body":"(a) A charitable organization shall register and receive a registration letter from the Secretary of State before the charitable organization:\n(1) solicits charitable contributions in the State;\n(2) has charitable contributions solicited on its behalf in the State; or\n(3) solicits charitable contributions outside of the State, if the charitable organization is in the State.\n(b) A separate registration statement and a registration letter is necessary before any of the following charitable organizations can solicit:\n(1) a federated fund-raising organization consisting of independent charitable organizations, including a united fund and a community chest, that:\n(i) have joined to solicit charitable contributions and distribute them among themselves; but\n(ii) keep their own operating authority and control; or\n(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.\n(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.\n(2) An affiliate, branch, or chapter of a charitable organization shall:\n(i) report information needed for a consolidated registration statement to its parent organization;\n(ii) submit a separate registration statement; and\n(iii) receive a registration letter from the Secretary of State prior to soliciting.\n(3) For purposes of this subsection, an independent member agency of a federated fund-raising organization is not an affiliate, branch, or chapter.","path":["Article - Business Regulation"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gbr\u0026section=6-401","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:56:23Z","sha256":"6a3488d3fb3deab695d6e3f13be254e0e3cb9687f91baebc867471a13156ac44","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-business-regulation-6-307","next":"us-md/md.-code-business-regulation-6-402"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}