Chapter 202

202.14(2) (2) Bond. At the time of applying for registration under sub. (1), a professional fund-raiser shall file with and have approved by the department a bond, in which the professional fund-raiser is the principal obligor, in the sum of $20,000. If a professional fund-raiser does not at any time have custody of any contributions, the bond shall be in the sum of $5,000. The professional fund-raiser shall maintain the bond in effect as long as the registration is in effect. The bond, which shall be in a form prescribed by and acceptable to the department, shall run to the state and to any person who may have a cause of action against the principal obligor of the bond for any liabilities resulting from the obligor’s conduct of any activities as a professional fund-raiser or arising out of a violation of this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter.

202.14(2m) (2m) Annual report. Each professional fund-raiser registered under sub. (1) shall, on or before March 31 of each year, file a report with the department giving such reasonable and relevant information as the department may require concerning the business and operations conducted by the registrant. This report shall be in the form prescribed by the department.

202.14(3) (3) Solicitation notice.

202.14(3)(am) (am) Before performing services under a contract with a charitable organization that is required to be registered under s. 202.12 (1), a professional fund-raiser shall file with the department a completed solicitation notice in the form and manner prescribed by the department. Forms prescribed by the department under this paragraph may contain any content or requirement that the department, in its discretion, determines necessary. The charitable organization on whose behalf the professional fund-raiser is acting shall file with the department a written confirmation that the solicitation notice and any accompanying material are true and complete to the best of its knowledge.

202.14(3)(bm) (bm) Within 7 days after any material change occurs in information filed with the department under par. (am), the professional fund-raiser shall report the change, in writing, to the department.

202.14(4) (4) Contract.

202.14(4)(a) (a) A professional fund-raiser may not solicit contributions on behalf of a charitable organization that is required to be registered under s. 202.12 (1) unless the professional fund-raiser has executed a written contract with the charitable organization that clearly states the respective obligations of the professional fund-raiser and the charitable organization.

202.14(4)(e) (e) The contract required under par. (a) shall include all of the following:

202.14(4)(e)1. 1. The name of the professional fund-raiser.

202.14(4)(e)2. 2. The name of the charitable organization.

202.14(4)(e)3. 3. The beginning and expiration dates of the contract.

202.14(4)(e)4. 4. The terms of the contract, including a clear description of the services to be performed by the professional fund-raiser.

202.14(4)(e)5. 5. A clear statement of the financial arrangement between the professional fund-raiser and the charitable organization, including, if applicable, a statement of all of the following:

202.14(4)(e)5.a. a. The percentage or dollar amount of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization that shall be paid to, or retained by, the charitable organization.

202.14(4)(e)5.b. b. The percentage or dollar amount of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization that shall be paid to the professional fund-raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization’s charitable purposes.

202.14(4)(e)5.c. c. The fixed fee, if any, to be received by the professional fund-raiser.

202.14(4)(e)5.d. d. All contractual expenses to be incurred by the professional fund-raiser but charged to the charitable organization. This list of expenses shall contain specific dollar amounts or projected estimates of these costs.

202.14(4)(e)5.e. e. The costs per unit for the services to be provided and the projected number of units to be provided.

202.14(4)(e)6. 6. The signature of an owner or principal officer of the professional fund-raiser and the signatures of 2 authorized officers, directors, or trustees of the charitable organization.

202.14(7) (7) Financial report. Within 90 days after completing services under a contract described in sub. (4), and on the anniversary of the signing of a contract described under sub. (4) lasting more than one year, the professional fund-raiser shall, if the charitable organization is required to be registered under s. 202.12 (1), account in writing to the charitable organization for all contributions received and all expenses incurred under the contract. The professional fund-raiser shall retain the accounting for at least 3 years and make it available to the department upon request.

202.14(8) (8) Depositing contributions. A professional fund-raiser shall deposit, in its entirety, a contribution of money received by the professional fund-raiser, on behalf of a charitable organization required to be registered under s. 202.12 (1), in an account at a financial institution within 5 days after its receipt. The account shall be in the name of the charitable organization. The charitable organization shall have sole control of all withdrawals from the account.

202.14(9) (9) Record keeping.

202.14(9)(a) (a) During the period in which a contract described in sub. (4) is in effect and for not less than 3 years after its completion, a professional fund-raiser shall retain all of the following records:

202.14(9)(a)1. 1. The name and, if known to the professional fund-raiser, the address of each person contributing and the date and amount of the contribution.

202.14(9)(a)2. 2. The name and residence address of each employee, agent, or other person involved in the solicitation.

202.14(9)(a)3. 3. A record of all contributions that are at any time in the custody of the professional fund-raiser.

202.14(9)(a)4. 4. A record of all expenses incurred by the professional fund-raiser which the charitable organization is required to pay.

202.14(9)(a)5. 5. A record of the location and account number of each financial institution account in which the professional fund-raiser deposits contributions.

202.14(9)(b) (b) If under a contract described in sub. (4) the professional fund-raiser sells tickets to an event and represents that the tickets will be donated to an organization for use by others, the professional fund-raiser shall retain for the period specified in par. (a) all of the following:

202.14(9)(b)1. 1. The name and address of the donors and the number of tickets donated by each donor.

202.14(9)(b)2. 2. The name and address of the organization receiving donated tickets and the number of donated tickets received by the organization.

202.14(9)(c) (c) The professional fund-raiser shall make all records described in this subsection available for inspection by the department upon request.

202.14(10) (10) Nondisclosure. The department may not disclose information under sub. (9) (a) 1. to any person except to the extent necessary for investigative or law enforcement purposes and except that the department may, if requested under s. 49.22 (2m), disclose information regarding the name, address, or employer of or financial information related to an individual to the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

202.14(11) (11) Solicitation disclosure requirements.

202.14(11)(a) (a) Prior to orally requesting a contribution or contemporaneously with a written request for a contribution, a professional fund-raiser shall clearly and conspicuously disclose all of the following:

202.14(11)(a)1. 1. The name of the charitable organization, as it appears on file with the department, on whose behalf the solicitation is being made.

202.14(11)(a)2. 2. A clear description of the primary charitable purpose for which the solicitation is made.

202.14(11)(a)3. 3. That the contribution is not tax-deductible, if this disclosure is applicable.

202.14(11)(a)4. 4. The name of the professional fund-raiser, as it appears on file with the department, and that the solicitation is being conducted by a professional fund-raiser who is being paid for his, her, or its services.

202.14(11)(a)5. 5. If the individual acting on behalf of the professional fund-raiser identifies himself or herself by name, the individual’s legal name.

202.14(11)(a)6. 6. Upon request by a person from whom a charitable contribution is sought, the percentage of the contribution that will be paid to the charitable organization as a result of the person’s contribution. If the professional fund-raiser does not receive a percentage of the contribution, the professional fund-raiser shall disclose the dollar amount it was to or will receive.

202.14(11)(b) (b) If a solicitation is made orally, including a solicitation made by telephone, the professional fund-raiser shall, within 5 days after the solicitation, send to each person contributing or pledging to contribute a written confirmation, receipt, or reminder of the contribution.

202.14(11)(c) (c) In addition to the information required by par. (a) 1. to 5., any written solicitation, and any confirmation, receipt, or reminder required by par. (b), shall, unless the charitable organization has obtained a disclosure exemption under s. 202.12 (6m) (e), conspicuously state the following verbatim: “A financial statement of the charitable organization disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue, and expenses for the preceding fiscal year will be provided to any person upon request.”

202.14(11)(d) (d) The financial statement under par. (c) shall, at a minimum, divide expenses into categories of management and general, program services, and fund-raising. If the charitable organization is required to file financial information with its annual report under s. 202.12 (3), the financial statement under par. (c) shall be consistent with the financial information reported in that annual report.

202.14(11)(e) (e) The professional fund-raiser may not represent that tickets to an event will be donated to an organization for use by others unless all of the following conditions are met:

202.14(11)(e)1. 1. The professional fund-raiser has a commitment, in writing, from the organization stating that the organization will accept donated tickets and specifying the number of donated tickets that the organization is willing to accept.

202.14(11)(e)2. 2. The professional fund-raiser solicits contributions for donated tickets from no more contributors than the number of tickets that the organization has agreed to accept under subd. 1.

202.14(11)(f) (f) The disclosures required by this subsection are required unless the professional fund-raiser is soliciting a contribution for a charitable organization that is not required to be registered under s. 202.12 (1).

202.14 History History: 1991 a. 278, 315; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 191; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 209; 2013 a. 20 s. 2211; Stats. 2013 s. 202.14; 2015 a. 163 ss. 89 to 105, 113, 115.

202.15 202.15 Charitable sales promotions. If a commercial coventurer conducts a charitable sales promotion on behalf of a charitable organization that is required to be registered under s. 202.12 (1), the commercial coventurer shall disclose in each advertisement for the charitable sales promotion the dollar amount, or percentage of price, per unit of goods or services purchased or used that will benefit the charitable organization or charitable purpose. If the actual dollar amount or percentage cannot reasonably be determined on the date of the advertisement, the commercial coventurer shall disclose an estimated dollar amount or percentage. The estimate shall be based upon all of the relevant facts known to the commercial coventurer and to the charitable organization regarding the charitable sales promotion.

202.15 History History: 1991 a. 278; 2013 a. 20 s. 2212; Stats. 2013 s. 202.15.

202.16 202.16 Prohibited acts.

202.16(1) (1) No charitable organization, fund-raising counsel, or professional fund-raiser may, in the conduct of his, her, or its affairs, including the planning, management, or execution of a solicitation or charitable sales promotion, do any of the following:

202.16(1)(a) (a) Use an unfair or deceptive act or practice.

202.16(1)(b) (b) Imply that a contribution is for or on behalf of a charitable organization or use any emblem, device, or printed matter belonging to or associated with a charitable organization without first being authorized in writing to do so by the charitable organization.

202.16(1)(c) (c) Use a name, symbol, or statement so closely related or similar to that used by another charitable organization that the use of the name, symbol, or statement would tend to confuse or mislead a person being solicited.

202.16(1)(d) (d) Represent or lead anyone in any manner to believe that the person on whose behalf a solicitation or charitable sales promotion is being conducted is a charitable organization or that the proceeds of the solicitation or charitable sales promotion will be used for charitable purposes if that is not the fact.

202.16(1)(e) (e) Lead anyone in any manner to believe that another person sponsors, endorses, or approves a solicitation or charitable sales promotion if the other person has not sponsored, endorsed, or approved the solicitation or charitable sales promotion in writing.

202.16(1)(f) (f) Use the fact of registration to lead any person to believe that the registration constitutes an endorsement or approval by the state.

202.16(1)(g) (g) Represent directly or by implication that a charitable organization will receive a fixed or estimated percentage of the total funds collected greater than that established under s. 202.14 (4).

202.16(1)(h) (h) Represent or cause another to represent that contributions are tax-deductible unless they so qualify under the federal Internal Revenue Code.

202.16(1)(i) (i) Represent or cause another to represent that the person has previously approved or agreed to make a contribution when in fact the person has not given this approval or agreement.

202.16(1)(j) (j) Represent or cause another to represent that the person has previously contributed to the same organization or for the same purpose when in fact the person has not so contributed.

202.16(1)(k) (k) Fail to apply contributions in a manner substantially consistent with the solicitation or the purposes expressed in the solicitation.

202.16(1)(L) (L) Represent in any manner that registration constitutes an endorsement or approval by the department or the department of justice.

202.16(2) (2) In deciding whether an act or practice is unfair or deceptive within the meaning of sub. (1) (a), definitions, standards and interpretations relating to unfair or deceptive acts or practices under chs. 421 to 427 apply.

202.16 History History: 1991 a. 278; 2013 a. 20 s. 2214; Stats. 2013 s. 202.16; 2015 a. 163.

202.17 202.17 Administration and investigations.

202.17(1) (1) Public records. Except as provided in ss. 202.13 (5) and 202.14 (10), applications, reports, contracts, and agreements of charitable organizations, fund-raising counsel, professional fund-raisers, and unpaid solicitors and all other documents and information retained by or filed with the department under this subchapter are available for inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1).

202.17(2) (2) Fiscal records; inspection; retention. All charitable organizations, fund-raising counsels, professional fund-raisers, and unpaid solicitors shall keep true records concerning activities regulated by this subchapter in a form that will enable them accurately to provide the information required by this subchapter. Upon demand, those records shall be made available to the department for inspection and copying. The records shall be retained by the charitable organization, fund-raising counsel, professional fund-raiser, or unpaid solicitor for at least 3 years after the end of the fiscal year to which they relate.

202.17(3) (3) Exchange of information. The department may exchange with the appropriate authority of any other state or of the United States information with respect to charitable organizations, fund-raising counsel, professional fund-raisers, unpaid solicitors, and commercial coventurers.

202.17(4) (4) Examination of documents and witnesses.

202.17(4)(a) (a) If the department of justice has reason to believe a person has violated or is violating this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter, it may conduct an investigation to determine whether the person has violated or is violating those provisions. The department of justice may subpoena persons and require the production of books and other documents to aid in its investigations of alleged violations of this subchapter.

202.17(4)(b) (b) A person upon whom a notice of the taking of testimony or examination of documents is served under this subsection shall comply with the terms of the notice unless otherwise provided by the order of a court of this state.

202.17(4)(c) (c) The department of justice may file in the circuit court for the county in which a person resides or in which the person’s principal place of business is located, or in the circuit court for Dane County if the person is a nonresident or has no principal place of business in this state, and serve upon the person, a petition for an order of the court for the enforcement of this subsection. Disobedience of a final order entered under this paragraph by a court is punishable as a contempt of court under ch. 785.

202.17(5) (5) Substitute service upon department. A charitable organization, fund-raising counsel, professional fund-raiser, or commercial coventurer that has its principal place of business outside of this state or is organized under laws other than the laws of this state and that is subject to this subchapter shall be considered to have irrevocably appointed the department as its agent for the service of process or notice directed to the charitable organization, fund-raising counsel, professional fund-raiser, or commercial coventurer or to any of its partners, principal officers, or directors in an action or proceeding brought under this subchapter. Service of process or notice upon the department shall be made by personally delivering to and leaving with the department a copy of the process or notice. That service shall be sufficient service if the department immediately sends notice of the service and a copy of the process or notice to the charitable organization, fund-raising counsel, professional fund-raiser, commercial coventurer, or other person to whom it is directed by registered mail, with return receipt requested, at the last address known to the department.

202.17 History History: 1991 a. 278; 1995 a. 27; 2013 a. 20 s. 2215; Stats. 2013 s. 202.17; 2015 a. 163.

202.18 202.18 Penalties and enforcement.

202.18(1) (1) 

202.18(1)(a) (a) The department of justice may bring an action to prosecute a violation of this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter, including an action for temporary or permanent injunction.

202.18(1)(b) (b) Upon finding that a person has violated this subchapter or the applicable rules promulgated under s. 202.07 (4m) or this subchapter, the court may make any necessary order or judgment, including but not limited to injunctions, restitution, and, notwithstanding s. 814.04, award of reasonable attorney fees and costs of investigation and litigation, and, except as provided in par. (c), may impose a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $10,000 for each violation.

202.18(1)(c) (c)

202.18(1)(c)1. 1. A person who violates s. 202.17 (4) (b) may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000, unless the person establishes reasonable cause for the violation.

202.18(1)(c)2. 2. A person who, with intent to avoid, prevent, or interfere with a civil investigation under this subsection, does any of the following may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000:

202.18(1)(c)2.a. a. Alters or by any other means falsifies, removes from any place, conceals, withholds, destroys, or mutilates any documentary material in the possession, custody, or control of a person subject to notice of the taking of testimony or examination of documents under s. 202.17 (4).

202.18(1)(c)2.b. b. Knowingly conceals relevant information.

202.18(1)(d) (d) A charitable organization, fund-raising counsel, professional fund-raiser, commercial coventurer, or any other person who violates the terms of an injunction or other order entered under this subsection may be required to forfeit, in addition to all other remedies, not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 for each violation. The department of justice may recover the forfeiture in a civil action. Each separate violation of an order entered under this subsection is a separate offense, except that each day of a violation through continuing failure to obey an order is a separate offense.

202.18(1)(e) (e) No charitable organization may indemnify an officer, employee, or director for any costs, fees, restitution, or forfeitures assessed against that individual by the court under par. (b), (c), or (d) unless the court determines that the individual acted in good faith and reasonably believed the conduct was in or not opposed to the best interests of the charitable organization.

202.18(2) (2) The department or the department of justice may accept a written assurance of discontinuance of any act or practice alleged to be a violation of this subchapter or the rules promulgated under this subchapter from the person who has engaged in the act or practice. The assurance may, among other terms, include a stipulation for the voluntary payment by the person of the costs of investigation, or of an amount to be held in escrow pending the outcome of an action or as restitution to aggrieved persons, or both. The department or department of justice may at any time reopen a matter in which an assurance of discontinuance is accepted for further proceedings if the department or department of justice determines that reopening the matter is in the public interest.