The world of nonprofit organizations involves several conditions and regulations. These rules or statuses include the 501(c)(6) and 501(c)(3) statuses, each with its unique rules, purposes and benefits.
Both share similarities in being exempted from federal income taxes by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, learning their differences will help you understand which is the right one for your nonprofit organization.
This guide explains the difference between 501(c)(6) versus 501(c)(3) status for nonprofit organizations. This knowledge will help you ensure that your organization complies with federal regulations and thrives in its mission.
What Is a 501(c)(6) Organization?
A 501(c)(6) organization is a group that helps businesses and professionals by providing benefits like events, resources, and a community, all funded by fees from its members. These organizations focus on supporting their members’ business goals rather than charity work.
Types of 501(c)(6) organizations include:
- Professional and trade associations: These groups support people in specific jobs or industries. They offer training, set standards, and help members connect and support each other.
- Chambers of commerce: Local businesses join these groups to help their community’s economy grow. They work together to attract more business and support local companies.
- Real estate boards: These boards help real estate professionals by providing them with the latest market information and education and ensuring they follow high work standards.
- Professional football leagues: These leagues promote the sport, handle TV rights, and work to make the game more popular and successful.
The Massachusetts Pharmacists Association is an excellent example of a 501(c)(6) organization. It helps pharmacists by offering classes, advocating for laws that benefit pharmacists, and creating a network for pharmacists to support each other.
Organizations like your local chamber of commerce or a trade group for your industry are other examples of 501(c)(6) organizations. They help businesses in specific fields like finance, tech, services, or food to grow and succeed. Through these groups, companies can work together to make their industry better. Online payment service providers are essential for these organizations to manage their finances and transactions smoothly.
What Is a 501(c)(3) Organization?
A 501(c)(3) organization does good things for society, like helping people, advancing education, or protecting animals. These groups don’t have to pay taxes because they focus on:
- Religion: Supporting religious activities or spreading religious teachings.
- Science: Doing research or projects that help us learn more about the world.
- Education: Teaching people or creating educational programs.
- Literature: Promoting reading, writing, and other literary activities.
- Testing for public safety: Making sure things are safe for everyone.
- Sports: Supporting amateur sports competitions that don’t aim to make a profit.
- Preventing cruelty: Helping to stop harm to animals or children.
501(c)(3) organizations focus on helping by educating people or caring for the environment. Some examples include schools that don’t aim to make a profit and hospitals focusing on community health.
There are a few different kinds of 501(c)(3) organizations:
- Public charities: These get money from the public, like donations from many people. They do a lot of direct work to help others.
- Private foundations: These usually have one primary source of money, like a family or a business, and they give grants or support to other charities.
- Private operating foundations: These are a mix, having their projects and giving grants to other groups.
An example of a 501(c)(3) organization is the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects, which works on improving how big building projects are managed. Most people think of this kind of organization when they hear “nonprofit.” They’re the groups asking for donations at the store or on TV, doing important work for the community, the environment, or animals in need. These organizations use event management software tools to organize their activities and fundraising events efficiently.
Donations to 501(c)(3) groups can lower one’s taxes, as they support good causes. Whether these organizations receive funding from a broad base of contributors or a few large donors, they all share the common goal of improving the world in their unique ways.
3 Key Differences Between 501(c)(6) and 501(c)(3)
When comparing 501(c)(6) versus 501(c)(3) organizations, it’s crucial to understand how they differ in three main areas.
1. Purpose
A 501(c)(3) is all about charity or education, while a 501(c)(6) organization is more about helping businesses or professionals.
501(c)(3) organizations help people find homes, give out food, teach kids or support religious activities. Their main goal is to do good for the public. For example, a group that helps teach reading to kids or feeds homeless people is a 501(c)(3).
501(c)(6) organizations help businesses or professionals improve and grow. This could mean using membership software to organize networking events or provide training to help members improve their skills. A local chamber of commerce that supports businesses in a town is an example of a 501(c)(6). Nonprofit membership programs are a vital component for these organizations to maintain engagement and support among their members.
2. Tax Deductions
In terms of tax deductions, there’s a clear difference between 501(c)(6) versus 501(c)(3) organizations. Understanding these differences is critical to avoiding violations that could lead to trouble for your organization.
When individuals donate to a 501(c)(3) organization, they can often reduce their taxable income because these donations are tax-deductible. This arrangement allows supporters to benefit from a tax break while contributing to charitable causes, creating a mutually beneficial situation for both the donor and the charity.
Contributions to 501(c)(6) organizations, such as business leagues or chambers of commerce, do not qualify for this tax advantage. The IRS does not classify such donations as charitable, eliminating the possibility of a tax deduction for these contributions.
However, businesses may be able to deduct their membership fees to these 501(c)(6) organizations as a business expense, offering a different form of tax benefit.
501(c)(6) organizations don’t offer a tax deduction for donations but provide valuable support to their members and the industry. So, supporting them is more about helping the industry and less about getting a tax break.
3. Lobbying and Political Activities
501(c)(6) organizations can get heavily involved in lobbying. They can even participate in political campaigns if these activities align with their mission and don’t become their primary focus. They must tell their members how much of their dues go towards lobbying. If they don’t, they might have to pay extra taxes.
501(c)(3) organizations are more restricted. They can lobby for causes related to their mission, but there’s a limit. They can’t participate in political campaigns, support candidates, or get involved in electioneering.
While they can’t lobby as freely as 501(c)(6) organizations, 501(c)(3) groups can still advocate for their causes within certain boundaries set by the IRS. Learning management systems (LMS) are crucial for both types of organizations to provide education and training about their causes, whether for professional development in a 501(c)(6) or educational content in a 501(c)(3).
Choosing the Right Path for a Nonprofit Organization
When individuals are thinking about starting a nonprofit, knowing whether to go for a 501(c)(6) versus 501(c)(3) is vital. It all comes down to what they want their organization to do.
A 501(c)(6) may be the appropriate choice if the goal is to support businesses and professionals. However, if the aim is to contribute through charitable acts, education, or scientific endeavors, then a 501(c)(3) might be more suitable.