Carnival Producer is ‘Professional Solicitor’ Under Charitable Solicitation Registration Law

Court says advertising events in connection with charities constitutes solicitation and requires registration

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has upheld the determination by the Department of State that a for-profit company that operates a portable amusement park providing rides, games and food for carnivals and pays a percentage of the ride fees to charities and other nonprofits is a “professional solicitor” that must register under the state’s charitable solicitation registration act. It has upheld a cease and desist order prohibiting the company from running its carnivals within the state without registering as a solicitor. Houghton Enterprises is a family-owned business that provides the carnivals for nonprofits and pays 30% of the ride ticket fees to the nonprofit, while keeping 70% of the...

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SAY THAT AGAIN?

October 29, 2024

Marketers love to make their prospects feel special. But they sometimes don’t seem to want you to think about what they say to do it.

I received two items recently that made me wonder what they were thinking.

I got a package of discount coupons in the mail that touted a “specially curated” set of offers. I thought they might have my personal interests at heart until I saw it was addressed to “Resident.”

I also got a text message saying that “Kellyanne Conway wants YOU and only YOU to know what the latest polling shows” about the Presidential election. I could click the link to read the “exclusive” memo.

And I will be the only one to know? Really? Do they really think the recipients are that stupid?

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Carnival Producer is ‘Professional Solicitor’ Under Charitable Solicitation Registration Law

Carnival Producer is ‘Professional Solicitor’ Under Charitable Solicitation Registration Law