License & Permit
Fundraising Counsel Bond
A bond some states require from consultants who plan or manage a charity's fundraising but do not ask for donations themselves.
- Required by
- State charity regulators, such as the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
- Bond amount
- Set by whoever requires the bond. We confirm it.
What this bond guarantees
The bond runs to the state and to anyone with a claim against the counsel (the obligee). It guarantees the counsel will follow the state's charitable solicitation law, and a charity or the state can claim for losses from a violation.
Who needs it
- Fundraising consultants
- Fund-raising counsel firms that may hold charity contributions
What the underwriter looks at
- Whether the counsel handles contributions
- Owner credit
- Registration history
Requirements vary by state and by who asks for the bond. Send us the request you received and we will confirm exactly what it calls for.
Common questions
Is fundraising counsel the same as a professional solicitor?
No. Counsel plans and advises but does not solicit donations. A professional solicitor asks the public for money, and its bond is usually larger or required in more states.
Does my state require this bond?
Only some do. Wisconsin requires a $20,000 bond for fund-raising counsel. Florida's statute requires a bond only from professional solicitors, and Ohio no longer requires fund-raising counsel to register.