501(c)(3)

noun

An organization that complies with section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. federal tax code. A non-profit organization exempt from some federal income taxes, due to being dedicated to charitable, religious, educational, scientific, public safety, promotion of amateur sport at the national or international level, prevention of cruelty to women or children or animals, or literary purposes.

Meanings

noun501(c)(3) (plural 501(c)(3)s)

plural 501(c)(3)s · alternative 501c3 · alternative 501 c 3 · alternative 501-c-3 · alternative 501.c.3. · alternative 501(c)3 · alternative c3

  1. USorganizationseconomicsAn organization that complies with section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. federal tax code. A non-profit organization exempt from some federal income taxes, due to being dedicated to charitable, religious, educational, scientific, public safety, promotion of amateur sport at the national or international level, prevention of cruelty to women or children or animals, or literary purposes.
    1 more example

    After the law was enacted in 2007, AIPAC, which had sponsored congressional trips to Israel since the 1990s, campaigned to create an exception for 501(c)(3) organizations that lobbying groups could use to get around the law. Both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) groups are tax-exempt nonprofits, but 501(c)(4) groups — including AIPAC — are considered “social welfare” organizations, which are allowed to spend more than 20 percent of their resources on lobbying the government.

    2023 November 18, Murtaza Hussein, “Meet the Secret Donors Who Fund AIPAC’s Israel Trips for Congress”, in The Intercept

Origin

From the section of the U.S. federal tax code.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

501(c)(3). (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/501%28c%29%283%29

MLA

“501(c)(3).” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/501%28c%29%283%29. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “501(c)(3),” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/501%28c%29%283%29.

Source: 501(c)(3) on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.