Florida Statutes
Chapter 496 - Solicitation of Funds
496.407 - Financial Statement.


(1) A charitable organization or sponsor that is required to initially register or annually renew registration must file an annual financial statement for the immediately preceding fiscal year on a form prescribed by the department.
(a) The statement must include the following:
1. A balance sheet.
2. A statement of support, revenue and expenses, and any change in the fund balance.
3. The names and addresses of the charitable organizations or sponsors, professional fundraising consultant, professional solicitors, and commercial co-venturers used, if any, and the amounts received therefrom, if any.
4. A statement of functional expenses that must include, but is not limited to, expenses in the following categories:
a. Program service costs.
b. Management and general costs.
c. Fundraising costs.


(b) The financial statement must be audited or reviewed as follows:
1. For a charitable organization or sponsor that receives less than $500,000 in annual contributions, a compilation, audit, or review of the financial statement is optional.
2. For a charitable organization or sponsor that receives at least $500,000 but less than $1 million in annual contributions, the financial statement shall be reviewed or audited by an independent certified public accountant.
3. For a charitable organization or sponsor that receives $1 million or more in annual contributions, the financial statement shall be audited by an independent certified public accountant.

(c) Audits and reviews shall be prepared in accordance with the following standards:
1. An audit shall be prepared by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, including the Statements on Auditing Standards.
2. A review shall be prepared by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with the Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services.

(d) An audited or reviewed financial statement must be accompanied by a report signed and prepared by the independent certified public accountant performing such audit or review.


(2)(a) In lieu of the financial statement described in subsection (1), a charitable organization or sponsor may submit a copy of its Internal Revenue Service Form 990 and all attached schedules filed for the preceding fiscal year or a copy of its Internal Revenue Service Form 990-EZ and Schedule O filed for the preceding fiscal year. A charitable organization or sponsor that submits such forms or schedules may redact information that is not subject to public inspection pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s. 6104(d)(3) before submission.
(b) Forms and schedules described in paragraph (a) submitted by a charitable organization or sponsor that receives $500,000 or more in annual contributions must be prepared by a certified public accountant or another professional who prepares such forms or schedules in the ordinary course of his or her business.

(3) Upon a showing of good cause by a charitable organization or sponsor, the department may extend the time for the filing of a financial statement required under this section by up to 180 days, during which time the previous registration shall remain active. The registration shall be automatically suspended for failure to file the financial statement within the extension period.
(4) The department may require that an audit or review be conducted for any financial statement submitted by a charitable organization or sponsor if the department finds any discrepancies, which may include, but are not limited to, irregular or inconsistent information, in the charitable organization’s or sponsor’s financial statement.
History.—ss. 7, 26, ch. 91-208; ss. 4, 19, ch. 94-287; s. 9, ch. 2013-251; s. 8, ch. 2014-122.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XXXIII - Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Investments, and Solicitations

Chapter 496 - Solicitation of Funds

496.401 - Short Title.

496.402 - Legislative Intent.

496.403 - Application.

496.404 - Definitions.

496.405 - Registration Statements by Charitable Organizations and Sponsors.

496.4055 - Charitable Organization or Sponsor Board Duties.

496.406 - Exemption From Registration.

496.407 - Financial Statement.

496.4071 - Supplemental Financial Disclosure.

496.4072 - Financial Statements for Specific Disaster Relief Solicitations.

496.409 - Registration and Duties of Professional Fundraising Consultant.

496.410 - Registration and Duties of Professional Solicitors.

496.4101 - Licensure of Professional Solicitors and Certain Employees Thereof.

496.411 - Disclosure Requirements and Duties of Charitable Organizations and Sponsors.

496.412 - Disclosure Requirements and Duties of Professional Solicitors.

496.4121 - Collection Receptacles Used for Donations.

496.413 - Contributions Solicited for or Accepted on Behalf of a Named Individual.

496.414 - Duties of Commercial Co-Venturers.

496.415 - Prohibited Acts.

496.416 - Violation as Deceptive or Unfair Trade Practice.

496.417 - Criminal Penalties.

496.418 - Recordkeeping and Accounting.

496.419 - Powers of the Department.

496.4191 - Additional Penalty; Immediate Suspension.

496.420 - Civil Remedies and Enforcement.

496.421 - More Stringent Local Provisions Not Preempted by Ss. 496.401-496.424.

496.422 - Duties of the Department of State.

496.423 - Public Information; Annual Report.

496.424 - Rulemaking Authority.

496.425 - Solicitation of Funds Within Public Transportation Facilities.

496.4255 - Public Airport Not Required to Grant Permit or Access.

496.426 - Registration and Solicitation Requirements.

496.430 - Disqualification From Certain Tax Exemptions.