Ohio
Overall Free to Give Index 4.67/10
Rank 33rd
Category Score (0–10) Rank (50 states)
Overall Free to Give Index 4.67 33rd
Broad Policy Environment 3.73 41st
Nonprofit Freedom 6.28 25th
Donor Confidence 4.00 35th

Highlights

  • Weak broad policy environment: Ohio ranks 41st in the Broad Policy Environment, indicating a less favorable mix of occupational freedom, tax competitiveness, and low economic freedom.
  • Middling nonprofit freedom: Ohio ranks 25th in Nonprofit Freedom, reflecting a mid-range regulatory environment with no audit requirements, but relatively steep registration and annual reporting requirements.
  • Significant gaps in donor and asset protections: The state offers no donor privacy, no donor standing, and only very weak UPMIFA protections.

Detailed Scorecard

1. Broad Policy Environment

1A. Occupational Freedom (rescaled 0 to 10) 2.00
1B. Tax Competitiveness (rescaled 0 to 10) 3.10
1C. EFNA (0 to 10) 6.08

2. Nonprofit Freedom

2A. Charitable Startup Regulations

Requires charitable registration? Yes
Top Registration Fee $200.00
Minimum Registration Fee $0.00
Top Incorporation Fee $99.00
Minimum Incorporation Fee $99.00

2B. Charitable Reporting Regulations

Requires Annual Report? Yes
Top Annual Fee $200.00
Minimum Annual Fee $0.00
Requires Additional Corporate Filings Periodic
Other Fees $25.00
Tiered Fee Structure Yes
Overlapping Regulators No

2C. Paid Solicitor Requirements

Commercial Fundraisers Must Register with the State Yes
Paid Solicitor Registration Fee $200.00
Paid Solicitor Renewal Fee $200.00
Surety Bond for Professional Fundraisers $25,000.00
Are Paid Solicitors Required to Report to the State in Order to Start Fundraising? Yes
Fundraising Consultant Registration Required Conditionally
Annual Financial Reporting by Commercial Fundraisers Required Yes
Must File Contracts Between Charities and Commercial Fundraisers Yes
Individual Solicitors Employed by Professional Fundraisers Must Register Separately? No

2D. General Audit threshold (revenue)

General Audit threshold (revenue) N/A

3. Donor Confidence

3A. State has Never Introduced Disclosure No
3B. State has Privacy Law No
3C. State gives Donors Standing No
3D. State has UPMIFA Protections Yes (very weak)
3E. Donations are Generally Deductible No
3F. General Sales Tax Exemption Yes
3G. State has Never Proposed DAF Restrictions Yes
3H. New Regulations Require Legislative Approval Yes