Charitable giving: online fundraising.

Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Irwin
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact penalties for non-compliance are not specified in the bill.

Online Fundraising for Charities

AB-576 requires online platforms helping charities raise money to register with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and only work with charities that are in good standing.

What This Bill Does

Requires charitable fundraising platforms to register with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers before they can solicit donations for charities.
Allows these platforms to use electronic lists to verify if a charity is in good standing.
Authorizes entities to rely on an application programming interface (API) when determining good standing.
Requires the Attorney General to establish rules and regulations for API specifications.

Who It Names or Affects

Online fundraising platforms that help raise money for charities.
Charities that use these online platforms to get donations from people.
The Attorney General’s office, which will oversee registration and compliance.

Terms To Know

Application Programming Interface (API): A set of rules for computer programs to talk to each other and share information.
Registry of Charities: A list kept by the Attorney General that shows which charities are following all the rules.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exact monetary thresholds for when a charity must provide yearly information.
It is unclear what specific penalties there will be for non-compliance with these new requirements.
Details of the API and its rules are left to future regulations by the Attorney General.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2025-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 576, as amended, Irwin.
Charitable giving: online fundraising.
The Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act requires a charitable fundraising platform to register with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, under oath, before soliciting, permitting, or otherwise enabling solicitations, as specified, and requires a platform charity to register with the Attorney General pursuant to specified law. The act requires a charitable fundraising platform or platform charity to only enable solicitations or to receive, control, or distribute funds from donations for specified organizations that are in good standing, and authorizes those entities to rely on specified electronic lists when determining good standing.
This bill would additionally authorize those entities to rely on an
application programming interface, as specified. The bill would require the Attorney General to establish rules and regulations for the specifications for an application programming interface, as specified.
Existing law requires a charity engaged in a solicitation or sales solicitation for charitable purposes that meets certain monetary thresholds to annually prepare and provide to certain information to the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities, including the total revenue and contributions received by the charity.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would relate to online charitable giving, charitable fundraising, and platform charities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF