What is a Professional Solicitor in Pennsylvania

Per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a professional solicitor is defined as:

“Any person who is retained for financial or other consideration by a charitable organization to solicit in this Commonwealth contributions for charitable purposes directly or in the form of payment for goods, services or admission to fundraising events, whether such solicitation is performed personally or through his agents, servants or employees or through agents, servants or employees especially employed by or for a charitable organization who are engaged in the solicitation of contributions, the sale of goods or services or the production of fundraising events under the direction of such person, or a person who plans, conducts, manages, carries on, advises, consults, whether directly or indirectly, in connection with the solicitation of contributions, sale of goods or services or the production of fundraising events for or on behalf of any charitable organization, but does not qualify as a professional fundraising counsel within the meaning of this act.  A person who is otherwise a professional fundraising counsel shall be deemed a professional solicitor if his compensation is related to the amount of contributions received.”

All professional Solicitors in PA have to register with the State Department.

A professional solicitor shall, at the time of making application for registration and renewal of registration, file with and have approved by the department a surety bond,  in the sum of $25,000, or a greater amount as prescribed by the regulations of the department and which shall have one or more sureties satisfactory to the department whose liability in the aggregate as such sureties will at least equal that sum and maintain the bond in effect as long as the registration is in effect. The bond shall run to the Commonwealth for use of the secretary, Attorney General and any person who may have a cause of action against the obligor for any losses resulting from malfeasance, nonfeasance or misfeasance in the conduct of solicitation activities. A professional solicitor which is a partnership or corporation may file one $25,000 bond or an amount specified by regulation of the department on behalf of all its partners, members, officers, directors, agents and employees.