{"id":11189,"date":"2021-04-12T02:47:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T09:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/?p=11189"},"modified":"2026-08-20T08:48:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:48:32","slug":"501c3-vs-501c4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4","title":{"rendered":"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) : Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You have an issue you feel passionately about. You\u2019ve identified an unmet need and determined an organizational solution. You have created your <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/nonprofit-mission-statement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpil=\"url\">mission statement<\/a> and recruited others who care about this issue to make a commitment to serve on your Board of Directors. You\u2019re now hoping to interview employees and volunteers and raise funds to support your cause.<\/p>\n<p>Your soon-to-be-incorporated nonprofit is ready to launch and is ready for official nonprofit status from the federal government. But you\u2019re faced with the question: do I file as a <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/how-to-start-a-501c3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">501(c)(3) nonprofit<\/a>\u00a0or 501(c)(4)?<\/p>\n<p>What is the <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/not-for-profit-vs-nonprofit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">difference<\/a> between the two? While certain aspects of these filings are similar, there are key differences\u00a0to take into consideration prior to applying. Your decision will alter the future of your organization.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Key Takeaways &#x1f4a1;<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Know the main difference between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations<\/strong>. A 501(c)(3) is generally organized for charitable purposes, while a 501(c)(4) serves social welfare purposes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consider tax-deductible donations<\/strong>. Contributions to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations can generally be tax-deductible, while donations to 501(c)(4) organizations generally are not.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Understand the political activity rules<\/strong>. Both types can engage in some political activity, but the limits and rules differ significantly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose the structure that fits your mission<\/strong>. Your organization\u2019s purpose, activities, and fundraising goals should guide which status is appropriate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check the requirements before applying<\/strong>. Review IRS rules and consider professional legal or tax advice when deciding which structure to pursue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What is the difference between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)?<\/h2>\n<p>As per the internal revenue code, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-donation-rules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">501(c)3<\/a> is a nonprofit organization for religious, charitable, scientific, and educational purposes. Donations to 501(c)3 are tax-deductible. Whereas on the other hand, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/start-a-501c4-organization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">501(c)4<\/a> is a social welfare group, and donations to 501(c)4 are not tax-deductible.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s break down 501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) in more detail:<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"h.27h49dcg89w1\">What\u2019s a 501(c)(3)?<\/h2>\n<p>The Definition:<\/p>\n<p>A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is typically created for religious, charitable, educational, scientific, and\/or educational intent. They are tax-exempt, conduct research, and are limited to an amount of lobbying, advocacy, or <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/political-fundraising\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">political activity<\/a>. <strong>Donations to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible<\/strong>. Social welfare organizations like churches, cancer research and support groups, women\u2019s shelters, and mentoring programs for at-risk youth are examples of 501(c)(3)groups.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"h.rgh6px74ez9x\">What\u2019s a 501(c)(4)?<\/h2>\n<p>The Definition:<\/p>\n<p>A 501(c)(4)\u00a0 nonprofit organization is a \u201csocial welfare group\u201d that can advocate for causes and propositions, like 501(c)(3)s. However, 501(c)(4)s can also endorse specific candidates &#8211; one of the most substantial differences between the two. <strong>Examples of this status include political action groups to advance reproductive or civil rights.<\/strong> While nonprofit organizations with this status are also tax-exempt, <strong>donations to 501(c)(4) groups are not tax-deductible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11197 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2261\" height=\"2032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3.png 2261w, https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3-300x270.png 300w, https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3-1024x920.png 1024w, https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3-768x690.png 768w, https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3-1536x1380.png 1536w, https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Infographic_501C3-2048x1841.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2261px) 100vw, 2261px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"h.e5cas6s85ys3\">An In-Depth Look<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"h.w74x8gw6z5fd\">Charitable vs. Social Welfare Purposes<\/h3>\n<p>501(c)(3)s are welfare organizations that are advocacy and education-based. They often provide direct services to their target population. The types of services provided are broad and diverse, including food distribution through food banks, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/medical-research-fundraising-tips\">medical research<\/a>, after-school programs, health clinics, and mental health services.<\/p>\n<p>These nonprofit organizations raise public awareness about their causes, and may even teach and train the public about them. They can push forward and endorse legal measures such as propositions so long as they\u2019re relevant to the nonprofit\u2019s purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Similar to 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s are considered social welfare organizations. They are tax-exempt from federal income taxes and aim to push their mission to the forefront of the public\u2019s consciousness. 501(c)(4)s are allowed to become far more politically involved and partisan than 501(c)(3) organizations.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"h.eqadyz30oujw\">Lobbying<\/h3>\n<p>If a nonprofit organization focused on addressing and ending racism learns that there is a candidate whose platform undermines its mission, its ability to address this will vary based on its federal nonprofit status.<\/p>\n<p>501(c)(3)s can coordinate nonpartisan get-out-the-vote, voter registration, and education drives, as well as nonpartisan voter protection activities.<\/p>\n<p>501(c)(4)s are unlimited in their abilities to lobby for and against the legislation, as well as support and oppose ballot measures. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled for the 2010 Citizens United decision, allowing corporations and labor unions to register as 501(c)(4)s, and therefore allow unlimited spending on politics with undisclosed <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/pac-fundraising-ideas\">donors through political action committees<\/a>\u00a0or PACs.<\/p>\n<p>Both 501(c)(3) organizations and those with 501(c)(4) status can advocate publicly for their causes, but because 501(c)(4)s are allowed to lobby and advocate in ways that 501(c)(3)s can\u2019t, 501(c)(4)s have more flexibility in advancing their issues. They can pay for costs necessary to a political organization, compare their own mission with a candidate\u2019s, ask candidates to sign pledges on any issue, and back candidates that reinforce their mission.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about nonprofit advocacy in <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/nonprofit-advocacy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"h.g5pfv6vtquun\">Political Campaign Intervention<\/h3>\n<p>As a 501(c)(3), the nonprofit organization can host a debate between all candidates to bring their views on race and equality to light, but they cannot endorse their candidate of choice. As a 501(c)(4), they would have the ability to endorse a candidate whose views align with their mission, support his or her campaign, and focus on getting out the vote efforts. However, donations to their cause \u2013 should it have 501(c)(4) status &#8211; would not be tax-deductible.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"h.ty277pcfjcvx\">Restrictions of 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s<\/h3>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/charities-non-profits\/other-non-profits\/social-welfare-organizations#:~:text=To%20be%20tax%2Dexempt%20as,exclusively%20to%20promote%20social%20welfare.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">social welfare organizations<\/a>, 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s must exclusively promote social welfare and benefit the community. Both welfare organizations cannot benefit any individual or shareholder.<\/p>\n<p>501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations cannot dictate which candidate receives which information\u2014if they want to lobby, they must lobby all interested candidates. The same goes for renting mailing lists and locations to organizations, legislators, and candidates &#8211; they must allow every candidate to rent, not just those they personally select.<\/p>\n<p>Should these causes spread into the political realm, 501(c)(3)s only have a limited ability to influence legislation and ballot measures. 501(c)(3)s are not allowed to endorse specific candidates. The nonprofits may also voice opinions of sitting elected officials, but they cannot make personal critiques of the individuals.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"h.s1g8msbqr385\">Similarities Between 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations can sponsor debates between candidates. 501(c)(3)s must allow all candidates to attend and give them the opportunity to speak on the issues. 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s can also give voter guides to the public with comparisons between candidates on views of the nonprofit\u2019s issue should the candidate endorse or condone an issue relevant to both tax-exempt organizations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like 501(c)(4)s, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations may also voice opinions of sitting elected officials, but they cannot make personal critiques of the individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"h.poztj0rq490b\">Examples of 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s<\/h3>\n<p>Cystic Fibrosis Research Inc. is a 501(c)(3) which endorses measures that are within the realm of its existing mission \u2013 for example, a state proposition to advance stem cell research. They do not endorse specific candidates &#8211; rather, they educate politicians on both sides of the political aisle to support legislation that will positively impact those living with cystic fibrosis and to vote against measures and bills that will harm or negatively impact their constituents.<\/p>\n<p>Ocean Champions is a 501(c)(4) environment organization that has a political action committee (Ocean Champions PAC). They describe themselves as \u201cthe only ocean group that helps elect the Members of Congress who fight for our oceans.\u201d By supporting members of Congress, they are utilizing their abilities as a 501(c)(4) organization to support its mission.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em><strong>MUST READ: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c6\">501(c)(3) Vs 501(c)(6) \u2013 A Detailed Comparison for Nonprofits<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"h.6vhqvympzfhy\">Can 501(c)(3)s Have 501(c)(4)s?<\/h2>\n<p>Many groups have managed to provide direct services and advance their missions as a 501(c)(3) organization, while also advancing their mission through the political arena by establishing a separate 501(c)(4) organization that aligns with their mission.<\/p>\n<p>One 501(c)(3) that also has an action fund is Planned Parenthood. While the organization itself is a nonprofit, advocating \u201cfor policy to expand access to health care,\u201d the nonprofit also has an action fund arm: Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF). Through this PPAF, Planned Parenthood is able to \u201cfight to advance and expand access to \u2026 health care and defend reproductive rights,\u201d as their mission states.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"h.gzr7pndy0ksv\">Conclusion: Choose What\u2019s Best for You<\/h2>\n<p>Depending on your ultimate goal, conduct in-depth research in order to determine which filing works best for you. Whether you\u2019re looking to endorse candidates or simply lobby on an issue relevant to your nonprofit, there is no wrong answer. Do your research, acknowledge your needs, and know that you\u2019re making a difference whether you\u2019re a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4).<\/p>\n<p>As a nonprofit you will need funds in order to survive and operate, whether it is through <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/grant-proposals\/\">grants<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-matching-gift-programs\/\">gifts<\/a>, or donations- <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/fundraising-ideas\/\">fundraising<\/a> is an essential and continuous effort for any nonprofit.<\/p>\n<p>Start maximizing your funds from the very beginning for your nonprofit by using effective and <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/top-donation-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">powerful tools<\/a> and platforms like Donorbox.<\/p>\n<p>Find more nonprofit tips and resources at our <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/\">Nonprofit Blog<\/a>. If you&#8217;re thinking of starting a nonprofit in the US, we also have dedicated articles for starting a nonprofit in different states in the US, including <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/start-a-nonprofit-in-texas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Texas<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/start-a-nonprofit-in-minnesota\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minnesota<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/start-a-nonprofit-in-oregon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oregon<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/start-a-nonprofit-in-arizona\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arizona<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/start-a-nonprofit-in-illinois\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Illinois<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-get-started-with-donorbox\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Sign up\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/orgs\/new?utm_source=Blog_Button&amp;utm_medium=Button&amp;utm_campaign=Button_Signup\"><span class='mb-text'>Get Started With Donorbox<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/h2>\n<p>This section will answer some common queries regarding 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>1. Can a 501(c)(3) organization change into a 501(c)(4) organization?<\/h3>\n<p>A 501(c)(3) organization cannot change into a 501(c)(4) organization. But it can dissolve to create a new 501(c)(4) organization. The dissolution clause may prevent the old nonprofit from distributing its assets to the new one, while still allowing it to make a grant with certain restrictions. Read more about it <a href=\"https:\/\/nonprofitlawblog.com\/501c3-organization-change-501c4-organization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>2. Does my 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit have to disclose donors?<\/h3>\n<p>While filing Form <a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/your-990-made-simple\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">990<\/a> returns, 501(c)(3) nonprofits need to disclose donor information for donations worth $5000 or more to the IRS. The private foundations under this status must also make their donor names available for public inspection. On the other hand, 501(c)(4) nonprofits are exempt from any disclosure.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>3. Are donations to volunteer fire companies tax-deductible?<\/h3>\n<p>Volunteer fire companies are exempt as social welfare organizations when they actively engage in fire fighting and disaster assistance. Hence, donations made to their causes are tax-deductible, but they must be solely for the public benefit.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Note: By sharing this information we [Donorbox] do not intend to provide legal, tax, or accounting advice, or to address specific situations. Please consult with your legal or tax advisor to supplement and verify what you learn here.<\/em><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/orgs\/new?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=footer-bannerc\" class=\"banner-link\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t  \t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/seemless-giving-tools.webp\" alt=\"Bottom banner\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You have an issue you feel passionately about. You\u2019ve identified an unmet need and determined an organizational solution. You have created your mission statement and recruited others who care about this issue to make a commitment to serve on your Board of Directors. You\u2019re now hoping to interview employees and volunteers and raise funds to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":68296,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"full-width-content","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[3,69],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[6357],"class_list":["post-11189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nonprofit-tips","category-trending","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.2 (Yoast SEO v28.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4): Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Should your organization should file for 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)? Read the key differences between the two and some key insights here!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) : Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Should your organization should file for 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)? Read the key differences between the two and some key insights here!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Nonprofit Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/donorbox\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/donorbox\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-04-12T09:47:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-20T15:48:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1120\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Chirasree Bose\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ravirajlh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Donorbox\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Raj\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Raj\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/33f08dd4dd363af0909a5a663903e014\"},\"headline\":\"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) : Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-04-12T09:47:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-20T15:48:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4\"},\"wordCount\":1721,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Nonprofit Tips\",\"Trending\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4\",\"name\":\"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4): Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-04-12T09:47:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-20T15:48:32+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/33f08dd4dd363af0909a5a663903e014\"},\"description\":\"Should your organization should file for 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)? Read the key differences between the two and some key insights here!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png\",\"width\":1120,\"height\":630},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/501c3-vs-501c4#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) : Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Nonprofit Blog\",\"description\":\"Nonprofit Tips from the Donorbox team\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/33f08dd4dd363af0909a5a663903e014\",\"name\":\"Raj\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/cropped-Raviraj-desk-96x96.jpgba116c9c188a8e3fdeef8c62e9aa9185\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/cropped-Raviraj-desk-96x96.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/cropped-Raviraj-desk-96x96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Raj\"},\"description\":\"Raj \\\/ Raviraj Hegde - Internal Donorbox growth\\\/sales leader. Expertise: Sales, marketing, growth leadership.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/donorbox\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/donorbox\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/ravirajlh\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/ravirajlh\",\"https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/ravirajlh\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Internal Donorbox growth\\\/sales leader\",\"hasOccupation\":{\"@type\":\"Occupation\",\"name\":\"Sales, marketing, growth leadership\",\"description\":\" Experience of \",\"qualifications\":null},\"affiliation\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Donorbox\"},\"worksFor\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Donorbox posts under Raj byline\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/donorbox.org\\\/nonprofit-blog\\\/author\\\/raj\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4): Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits","description":"Should your organization should file for 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)? Read the key differences between the two and some key insights here!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) : Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits","og_description":"Should your organization should file for 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)? Read the key differences between the two and some key insights here!","og_url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4","og_site_name":"Nonprofit Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/donorbox\/","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/donorbox","article_published_time":"2021-04-12T09:47:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-20T15:48:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1120,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Chirasree Bose","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ravirajlh","twitter_site":"@Donorbox","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Raj","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4"},"author":{"name":"Raj","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/33f08dd4dd363af0909a5a663903e014"},"headline":"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) : Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits","datePublished":"2021-04-12T09:47:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-20T15:48:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4"},"wordCount":1721,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png","articleSection":["Nonprofit Tips","Trending"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4","url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4","name":"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4): Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png","datePublished":"2021-04-12T09:47:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-20T15:48:32+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/33f08dd4dd363af0909a5a663903e014"},"description":"Should your organization should file for 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)? Read the key differences between the two and some key insights here!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/501-C3-Vs-501C4.png","width":1120,"height":630},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/501c3-vs-501c4#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) : Key Differences and Insights for Nonprofits"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/","name":"Nonprofit Blog","description":"Nonprofit Tips from the Donorbox team","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/33f08dd4dd363af0909a5a663903e014","name":"Raj","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cropped-Raviraj-desk-96x96.jpgba116c9c188a8e3fdeef8c62e9aa9185","url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cropped-Raviraj-desk-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cropped-Raviraj-desk-96x96.jpg","caption":"Raj"},"description":"Raj \/ Raviraj Hegde - Internal Donorbox growth\/sales leader. Expertise: Sales, marketing, growth leadership.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/donorbox","https:\/\/instagram.com\/donorbox","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ravirajlh\/","https:\/\/x.com\/ravirajlh","https:\/\/twitter.com\/ravirajlh"],"jobTitle":"Internal Donorbox growth\/sales leader","hasOccupation":{"@type":"Occupation","name":"Sales, marketing, growth leadership","description":" Experience of ","qualifications":null},"affiliation":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Donorbox"},"worksFor":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Donorbox posts under Raj byline"},"url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/author\/raj"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":6357,"user_id":9,"is_guest":0,"slug":"raj","display_name":"Raj","avatar_url":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cropped-Raviraj-desk-96x96.jpg","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":"Raviraj heads the sales and marketing team at Donorbox. His growth-hacking abilities have helped Donorbox boost fundraising efforts for thousands of nonprofit organizations."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11189"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=11189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}