Complete your Hawaii consent form
Hawaii's Act 108 takes effect July 1, 2026. Please sign this consent form by July 1st, or donations to your organization will be paused until you do.
Complete Pledge's Hawaii consent form →Hawaii's Act 108 (HRS §467B-2.3) is in effect as of July 1, 2026. If your nonprofit receives donations from Hawaii-based supporters, there's one thing you need to do right now: sign a consent form. Here's what changed, why it happened, and how to make sure your donations keep flowing.
What changed — and why
Hawaii's Act 108 was motivated by concerns about transparency in online crowdfunding following the Maui wildfire relief efforts — specifically, whether funds raised through unverified individual campaigns were actually reaching their intended recipients. That donor confusion prompted the legislature to act.
It's worth noting what this law is and isn't a response to. The complaints that drove it came from unverified personal crowdfunding campaigns with no accountability to a legitimate nonprofit — not from established platforms operating with verified nonprofit partners. Hawaii's Attorney General cited concerns about donors unwittingly donating to fraudulent charities after the Lahaina wildfires. Pledge was actively involved in Maui relief efforts, powering some of the largest fundraisers on behalf of organizations including the Maui Food Bank — with full transparency, verified recipients, and proper fund distribution.
The result is a law that brings the broader online giving ecosystem up to a standard that responsible platforms were already meeting.
What it requires
The law establishes several core obligations for platforms like Pledge:
- RegistrationPlatforms must register with the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General before enabling solicitations.
- Written consentUnlike California's AB 488, Hawaii's law requires written consent from every recipient charity — no exceptions. Pledge handles this on your behalf.
- Donor disclosuresPlatforms must clearly disclose who receives donations, fees deducted, distribution timelines, and tax deductibility.
- Fund segregationCharitable funds must be held separately from platform operating funds.
- Prompt distributionDonations must be sent to recipient charities promptly, with an accounting of any fees.
- RecordkeepingPlatforms must maintain records for AG inspection and operate a formal complaint process.
What you need to do
If your nonprofit is based in Hawaii, or if you receive donations from Hawaii-based donors, an authorized representative needs to complete Pledge's consent form — typically an executive director, board chair, president, or officer. Prior use of the platform doesn't satisfy this requirement.
If consent isn't on file, we're required to pause donations from Hawaii-based donors until it is. Once you submit, everything is restored promptly.
Complete Pledge's Hawaii consent form →Make sure you're in good standing
Hawaii's law also requires platforms to verify that recipient organizations are in good standing before disbursing funds. Your nonprofit must:
- Be registered with the Hawaii AG's Charitable Organizations Registry
- Have filed required annual reports (Form 990 or equivalent)
- Not be prohibited from soliciting or operating in Hawaii
Check your status at the Hawaii AG's online registry.
Frequently asked questions
Does this affect donors who want to support my organization?
Yes. If consent isn't on file and your organization is paused, Hawaii-based donors won't be able to give to you through Pledge until it is. Submitting the form restores access promptly.
We've been on Pledge for years. Do we really need to sign something new?
Yes. Hawaii's law specifically requires written consent authorizing Pledge to enable fundraising for your organization. Prior use of the platform doesn't satisfy this requirement.
What if we're not a Hawaii-based nonprofit?
If you're headquartered elsewhere but receive donations from Hawaii-based donors, you'll need to complete the consent form too.
What if we've already missed the deadline?
It's fully reversible. Submit the form at any time and we'll restore your presence on Pledge promptly.
Can we withdraw consent later?
Yes, at any time. Reach out to our support team and we'll remove your organization from the platform. You can always reinstate by resubmitting.