Wisconsin Charitable Organizations Required to Renew Registrations Annually with WDFI
LuAnn Peterson, SBWCP | 10.08.25
Charitable organizations registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (WDFI) must file an annual renewal with WDFI by July 31 (with late fee extension through September 30) each year to remain active. This requirement also applies to professional fundraising organizations which annual renewal is due August 31 (with late fee extension through October 31) each year. (A professional fundraiser is a person who is paid to solicit charitable contributions; see full definition at Wis. Stats. § 202.11(7).)
The online renewal involves answering a few online questions and paying the renewal fee, which can be done on the DFI website.
The annual renewal discussed above is different than the following additional annual filings with WDFI that may be required:
- Annual report for Chapter 181 nonstock corporations — filed in the quarter that the initial articles were filed with WDFI (for corporations formed in Wisconsin). This report includes reporting the names and addresses of directors and officers, registered agent information, and principal office address. It may be filed online with the required filing fee paid by credit card. To file, in the quarter of the year when your report is due, you can look up your organization at this link to start the process.
- Financial Annual Report — filed within 12 months after fiscal year-end. There are three different forms of financial reports to choose from, depending on the activity of your charitable organization. There is no fee to submit this report, and it cannot be done online. However, email and mail filing options are available. More information regarding the financial forms and how to submit them can be found on the DFI website.
- Filings specific to professional fundraising organizations. See WDFI’s FAQ page here.
If you have any questions regarding registration renewal, please reach out to a member of our Business Practice Group for further information.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided is for general informational purposes only. This post is not updated to account for changes in the law and should not be considered tax or legal advice. This article is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult with legal and/or financial advisors for legal and tax advice tailored to your specific circumstances.