 |
An authorization to mail at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates is a privilege reserved by law to authorized organizations. Civil and criminal penalties apply to false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements made in connection with a Nonprofit Standard Mail mailing. Authorized organizations must therefore follow these rules:
· An authorized organization must not use the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates to send matter in behalf of or produced for an unauthorized organization or entity.
· An authorized organization must make sure that only its own matter is mailed under its Nonprofit Standard Mail authorization.
· An authorized organization must not "rent," delegate, or lend its Nonprofit Standard Mail authorization to any other person or organization.
· An authorized organization must make sure that a postage statement is presented with each mailing and that the signature on the postage statement certifies the eligibility of the mail for the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates.
Authorized voting registration officials may mail Standard Mail (A) material at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates only if the material is authorized by or required to be mailed under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. 39 U.S.C. 3629.
Authorized organizations may enter an individual bulk mailing at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates if all these standards are met:
· The mailing is made up of Standard Mail (A) matter only.
· The mailing is eligible to be classified as a bulk mailing (that is, the mailing contains at least 200 addressed pieces or 50 pounds of addressed pieces).
· The mailing is prepared according to postal standards in the Domestic Mail Manual.
· The mailing is the organization's own mail (see chapter 5).
· The mailing does not contain products or advertising ineligible for mailing at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates (see chapter 6).
· The mailing is accompanied by the appropriate postage statement.
All matter mailed at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates must identify the authorized organization. If a return address is included on the mailpiece, the address must be the authorized organization's address. The authorized organization's name and return address must appear in at least one of two places:
· On the outside of the mailpiece.
· In a prominent place on the material mailed.
Organizations may mail using a d.b.a. (doing business as) or a.k.a. (also known as) name if the name is shown on the authorization to mail at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. If an organization is currently authorized to mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates and requests to have the name on the authorization changed to the d.b.a or a.k.a. name, the Postal Service requires a copy of the certificate from the state that recognizes the use of the d.b.a. or a.k.a. name, accompanied by a letter from the organization requesting a name change to the d.b.a. or a.k.a. name.
Alternately, the organization may maintain its authorization in its incorporated name and obtain a separate authorization to mail at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates in its d.b.a. or a.k.a. name. In order to do so, the organization must file a PS Form 3624, Application to Mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates, in the d.b.a. or a.k.a. name. The application should include the information listed in 3-1 as well as a copy of the certificate from the state that recognizes the use of the d.b.a. or a.k.a. name, accompanied by a letter from the organization requesting to use the d.b.a. or a.k.a. name.
If an organization not authorized to mail at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates requests an authorization in the name of the d.b.a. or a.k.a., the Postal Service requires a PS Form 3624 in the name of the d.b.a. or a.k.a. The application should include the information listed in 3-1 as well as a copy of the certificate from the state that recognizes the use of the d.b.a. or a.k.a. name, accompanied by a letter from the organization requesting to use the d.b.a. or a.k.a. name.
> Note: Evidence will generally be in the incorporated name of the organization.
A return address is required on the outside of the mailpiece when postage is paid by precanceled adhesive stamps.
Because evidence other than the mailpiece might be critical for determining eligibility for the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates, postal clerks cannot always appropriately determine eligibility at the time of acceptance. If it is later determined that an accepted mailing was ineligible, the Postal Service collects the difference between the rates for Nonprofit Standard Mail and regular Standard Mail (A) by assessing the authorized organization or any party that caused the ineligible matter to be entered at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates.