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Are Nonprofit Organizations Different From Business
Mailers?
Nonprofit organizations and businesses use discount mailing
in the same way. Nonprofit organizations authorized by
the Postal Service are eligible for additional savings
on Standard Mail rates. Eligibility to use nonprofit
rates is based on both the organization’s eligibility
and the content of the mailpiece as established by federal
statutes. You can find complete rate information online.
Identifying Your Mailpiece
For Nonprofit Standard Mail, the name and return address
of
the authorized nonprofit organization must be printed
on the outside of the mailpiece
or prominently displayed on
the material being mailed.
How Do I Apply?
Organizations apply for authorization to mail at Nonprofit
Standard Mail Rates by submitting Form 3624, Application
to Mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates, at the
Post Office where the organization intends to mail.
For information about nonprofit rate eligibility and
how to apply, see Publication 417, Nonprofit
Standard Mail Eligibility, online or
pick up a copy at your local Post Office. |
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Organization Eligibility
Only certain types of nonprofit organizations may qualify for
authorization to mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Nonprofit
rates are considerably less than regular Standard Mail rates.
Typically, there are eight categories of organizations that
may be eligible:
- Agricultural
- Philanthropic
- Educational
- Labor
- Scientific
- Veterans
- Religious
- Fraternal
More recently, Congress authorized nonprofit rates for voter
registration officials and national and state committees
of political parties.
Simply being an IRS-approved nonprofit organization does
not qualify an organization for these rates. The following
types
of organizations are typically ineligible for nonprofit authorization:
- Automobile clubs
- Business leagues
- Chambers of commerce
- Individuals
- Mutual insurance associations
- Political organizations
- Service clubs
- Social and hobby clubs
- Trade associations
- Citizens’ and civic improvement associations
- Associations of rural electric cooperatives
Mailpiece Eligibility
As an authorized nonprofit organization, you can send only
your own mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Additionally,
the material that you send must meet certain content standards.
Advertising Content
Advertisements cannot be mailed at Nonprofit Standard Mail
rates if they promote any of the following:
- Credit, debit, or charge cards
- Insurance policies, unless they are promoted to
members, donors, supporters, or beneficiaries of your organization
and the policy
coverage is not otherwise generally commercially available
- Any travel arrangement, unless the arrangement is promoted
to members, donors, and supporters of your organization,
and the travel contributes substantially to your organization’s
qualifying purpose
- Advertising for products or services that are not substantially
related to your organization’s qualifying purpose
Product Content
The following products are mailable at Nonprofit Standard
Mail rates:
- A low-cost item. Cost is based on the price your
organization pays to acquire the product and not the sale
price. Because
the value is adjusted each year, you should see the Domestic
Mail Manual on pe.usps.com (section 703.1.6.11) to find
the current value of a low-cost item.
- An item donated to your organization
- Certain periodical publications
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