IRS 501(c)(3) Requirements

Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Subject Matter Experts

Updated on March 29, 2023

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IRS 501(c)(3) Requirements

The IRS has numerous considerations and criteria that 501(c)(3) organizations must adhere to, but they have a few basic requirements:

  • The organization must be not-for-profit
  • At least one third of the organization's income must come from public donations
  • The organization must not engage in lobbying or political activity

IRS 501(c)(3) Requirements FAQs

About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.

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