Virginia
Overall Free to Give Index 4.99/10
Rank 27th
Category Score (0–10) Rank (50 states)
Overall Free to Give Index 4.99 27th
Broad Policy Environment 4.36 29th
Nonprofit Freedom 5.36 28th
Donor Confidence 5.25 21st

Highlights

  • Donor privacy protections: Virginia provides privacy safeguards for charitable donors, strengthening trust and transparency in philanthropy.
  • Below average nonprofit freedom: The state ranks 28th in Nonprofit Freedom, with relatively steep startup and annual reporting requirements for both charities and paid solicitors. It does not require annual audits, however.
  • Weak broad policy environment: Virginia ranks 29th in the Broad Policy Environment, reflecting its steep occupational licensure regulations and relatively uncompetitive tax code.
  • Limited legal and fiscal protections: Virginia provides no donor standing, maintains very weak UPMIFA protections, limiting legal safeguards for charitable assets.

Detailed Scorecard

1. Broad Policy Environment

1A. Occupational Freedom (rescaled 0 to 10) 2.33
1B. Tax Competitiveness (rescaled 0 to 10) 3.65
1C. EFNA (0 to 10) 7.11

2. Nonprofit Freedom

2A. Charitable Startup Regulations

Requires charitable registration? Yes
Top Registration Fee $100.00
Minimum Registration Fee $100.00
Top Incorporation Fee $75.00
Minimum Incorporation Fee $75.00

2B. Charitable Reporting Regulations

Requires Annual Report? Yes
Top Annual Fee $325.00
Minimum Annual Fee $30.00
Requires Additional Corporate Filings Yes
Other Fees $25.00
Tiered Fee Structure Yes
Overlapping Regulators Yes

2C. Paid Solicitor Requirements

Commercial Fundraisers Must Register with the State Yes
Paid Solicitor Registration Fee $500.00
Paid Solicitor Renewal Fee $500.00
Surety Bond for Professional Fundraisers $20,000.00
Must Paid Solicitors Required to Report to the State in Order to Start Fundraising? Yes
Fundraising Consultant Registration Required Yes
Annual Financial Reporting by Commercial Fundraisers Required No
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 Yes
3C. State gives Donors Standing No
3D. State has UPMIFA Protections Yes (very weak)
3E. Donations are Generally Deductible Yes
3F. General Sales Tax Exemption Yes
3G. State has Never Proposed DAF Restrictions Yes
3H. New Regulations Require Legislative Approval No