There are many types of nonprofits—31 in fact. I find this fascinating.
All are exempt from federal and most state taxes, but each type has different rules for lobbying, tax deductible contributions, etc.. The most common exemption for nonprofits comes from Section 501(c)(3) of the US Government’s Internal Revenue Code, which is why nonprofits are often called ‘501c3’s’.
All the Types of Nonprofit
There is likely a special kind of nonprofit for every type of organization you can think up. But if you don’t see anything you like, go straight to the source. Read the IRS guidelines on the Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization. Without further ado, here are all the nonprofits as of June 2017:
501(c)(1)
These are corporations organized under Act of Congress, such as Federal Credit Unions.
501(c)(2)
These are holding corporations for exempt organizations; they hold title to the property of an exempt group.
501(c)(3)
This is the most common type of nonprofit. It includes charitable, cruelty prevention, educational, literary, public safety, religious, scientific, and sports organizations.
501(c)(4)
These are civic leagues, social welfare organizations, and local associations of employees that promote community welfare, charitable, education or recreational goals.
501(c)(5)
Labor, agricultural, and horticultural organizations with the goal of improving conditions of work, and to improve products and efficiency.
501(c)(6)
Business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, etc. that seek to improve business conditions.
501(c)(7)
Social and recreation clubs to promote pleasure, recreation, and social activities.
501(c)(8)
Fraternal beneficiary societies and associations to provide payment of life, sickness, accident, or other benefits to their members.
501(c)(9)
Voluntary employees’ beneficiary associations to provide payment of life, sickness, accident, or other benefits to their members.
501(c)(10)
Domestic Fraternal Societies and Associations, devoting its earnings to charities—specifically not life, sickness, or accident benefits.
501(c)(11)
Teacher's retirement fund associations for retirement benefits.
501(c)(12) Just kidding. There is no longer a 501(c)(12).
501(c)(13)
Cemetery companies, as simple as that.
501(c)(14)
State chartered credit unions and mutual reserve funds.
501(c)(15)
Mutual insurance companies of association that provide insurance to members, typically at a cost.
501(c)(16)
Cooperative organizations to finance crop operations.
501(c)(17)
Supplemental unemployment benefit trust to provide supplemental unemployment compensation benefits.
501(c)(18)
Employee funded pensions created before June 25, 1959.
501(c)(19)
Post or organization of past or present members of the armed forces.
501(c)(20)
Group legal services organizations
501(c)(21)
Black lung trusts funded by coal mine operators
501(c)(22)
Withdrawal liability payment fund to provides funds to meet the liability of employers withdrawing from a multi-employer pension fund.
501(c)(23)
Veterans organization created before 1880.
501(c)(25)
Title holding corporations or trusts with multiple parents, holding title and paying over income from property to 35 or fewer parents or beneficiaries.
501(c)(26)
State-sponsored organization providing health coverage for high-risk individuals.
501(c)(27)
State-sponsored workers’ compensation reinsurance organization to reimburse members for losses under workers’ compensation acts.
501(d)
Religious and apostolic associations for regular business activities and communal religious community.
501(e)
Cooperative hospital service organizations
501(f)
Cooperative service organizations of operating educational organizations, performing collective investment services for educational organizations.
501(k)
Child care organizations, providing care for children.
501(n)
Charitable risk pools, pooling certain insurance risks of 501(c)(3) organizations.
501(a)
Farmers’ cooperative associations, marketing and purchasing for agricultural producers.