An organization that solicits charitable contributions nationally must typically register in 39 states and the District of Columbia before it starts to solicit unless it is a type that is specifically excluded or exempt under a state’s charitable solicitation registration statute. Educational institutions and their related foundations are exempt from registration under many state laws.  But they are not exempt from all of them. 

Educational institutions, that routinely solicit their alumni all over the country, are required to register in about a dozen states and are required to formally apply for exemption in approximately 10 others in order to legally solicit contributions in those states.  Educational institution foundations are required to register in approximately 18 states and formally apply for exemption in about 8 others.