Charitable organizations regularly contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for information about fundraising activities allowed under state law, and we’ve outlined answers to some of the most common questions.
- Can my charity hold a poker tournament or Monte Carlo night as a fundraiser? Please consult Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2915 and private legal counsel to determine if your proposed activity is allowed by law. Chapter 2915 also outlines specific limitations on locations and frequency for certain activities. You also can review the Ohio Attorney General’s Policy 201 for information on games of chance.
- Can my organization conduct a raffle and keep the proceeds? In Ohio, only certain kinds of organizations may conduct raffles: a charitable organization; a public school; a chartered nonpublic school; a community school; or a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization that is also a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization. If a 501(c)(3) organization conducts the raffle, 100 percent of the net profit from the raffle can go to the organization. If a 501(c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8), (c)(10), or (c)(19) conducts the raffle, the organization must distribute at least 50 percent of the net profit to a charitable purpose described in Ohio Revised Code Section 2915.01(v) or to a department or agency of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision.
- Do I need a license to conduct a raffle? Organizations that are eligible to conduct raffles do not need a license to conduct a raffle, but they must conduct raffles in compliance with Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2915. Raffles are defined in ORC Section 2915.01(CC) and their conduct is described in ORC 2915.092. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2915.10, all organizations conducting raffles have recordkeeping requirements related to expenses and prizes. These records must be kept at least three years.
- Can a charity pay someone to conduct charitable gaming or bingo? No. No one can be paid to conduct charitable gaming or bingo. Please consult Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2915 and the Ohio Attorney General’s Policy 201 for more information.
- Can I serve liquor at my fundraising event? Check with the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, to determine whether you qualify for a temporary liquor permit and which type of permit you need. Also review the Ohio Attorney General’s Liquor Permit Guide for Charities to understand the implications of signing a liquor permit application.
More frequently asked questions can be found on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.