How to get a fundraising license

You must register with the state and get a "Certificate for Solicitation." After you get your "Certificate for Solicitation," you can apply for the City of Boston's Solicitation Certificate.

The City certificate allows you to raise funds in public places, or sell items for charity in Boston.

Print out and complete the fundraising application. You'll also need to give us several other documents about your charity group:

• your "Certificate for Solicitation" from the state
• your charity’s most recent annual financial statement
• copies of any materials you plan to use, like brochures or flyers
• a copy of your nonprofit’s identification badge
• a list of all the streets where you plan to solicit funds, and
• copies of any labels you plan to use for solicitation.

Before you give us your application, you must have it signed by the Boston Police captain in the local district where you plan to fundraise. You must submit a separate application for each district where you plan to fundraise.

Bring or mail your completed application, documents, and payment to:

Consumer Affairs and Licensing

1 City Hall Square, Room 817

Boston, MA 02215

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

You can only make your payment by mail with a certified check or a money order.

We’ll contact you once we process your application. If it’s approved, we’ll create a license and invoice that you can pick up and pay for at Consumer Affairs in City Hall.

The fee is $10 per day. You may pay by credit card (no American Express), debit card, business check, certified check, or money order.  Make checks payable to the "City of Boston."

You will need to bring your license to Boston Police headquarters and get it approved by the commissioner. Their address is:

1 Schroeder Plaza

Boston, MA 02120

After the police commissioner signs off on your application, you need to bring it back to our office at Consumer Affairs for a final stamp of approval.