501(c)(3) non-profit organization

A 501(c)(3) organization is a type of non-profit that is officially recognized by the IRS as serving the public good, such as charitable, educational, religious, scientific, or literary purposes. These organizations do not pay federal taxes on their income and donors can often deduct their contributions from taxes. They must operate primarily to fulfill their charitable mission, rather than to generate profit. This status helps them access funding, volunteers, and other resources to support their work for community benefit.