Aloha! HI New Fundraising Platform Coming July 2026

Earlier this year, Hawaii passed a law very similar to California’s AB 488, the first-of-its-kind statute regulating online charitable fundraising platforms (“CFPs”) in the U.S. The new law, which mirrors California’s, requires online fundraising platforms to register with the Attorney General’s office, get written consent from charities before using their names, and provide specific disclosures to donors about how funds are handled, including fees and processing times. The goal is to increase transparency and accountability while not unduly burdening platforms.

Charities Responsibilities

Charities must be in good standing in HI when using a CFP. So, if your nonprofit is targeting Hawaii residents, be sure you are registered with the HI Attorney General and keep the annual charity registration current.  HI is one of the states with online registration that is easy to use and makes sense!  That said, the HI annual renewal fees are on the steep side when compared to other state filing fees.

In Closing…

Hawaii has yet to publish regulations to facilitate its new law or any online forms.  The initial effective date of January 1, 2026 was extended to July 1, 2026 – maybe I need to check the launch out in person?