What Is a 501(c)(6) Membership Based Nonprofit?

The 501(c)(6) designation includes membership-based organizations or clubs that promote the business interests of their members, such as trade associations and sports leagues.

Learn more about 501(c)(6) membership-based nonprofits, the criteria to become one, and the benefits granted by the IRS.

What Is a 501(c)(6) Nonprofit?

A 501(c)(6) membership-based nonprofit is an organization that exists to promote its members' business interests, without the goal of making a profit. In addition, these organizations must make sure that no one individual or shareholder benefits financially from the organization's income. While charitable nonprofits must serve a public good and be supported by the public, a trade association and similar organizations do not have to serve the public good.

The IRS includes many nonprofits under the umbrella of its 501(c) tax code, and like charitable organizations, these nonprofits enjoy a federal tax exemption and other benefits. A nonprofit business group may also accept unlimited contributions from corporations, individuals, and labor unions without disclosing names or amounts of specific donations. However, contributions are not tax-deductible for an individual's tax return, only as business expenses.

How 501(C)(6) Nonprofits Work

In general, to meet the requirements of IRC 501(C)(6), organizations should:

• Be an association of people with a common business interest, and its purpose must be to promote this common interest
• Be a membership organization and have a significant base of membership support
• Not be organized for profit
• Not have any part of net earnings be to the benefit of a shareholder or individual
• Have activities directed at improving business conditions rather than the performance of particular services for members
• Not engage in a regular business that would ordinarily be carried on for profit

There are several common types of 501(c)(6) organizations, such as:

• Chambers of commerce
• Trade associations
• Real estate boards
• Professional associations
• Pro football leagues (these are business-based leagues, not amateur sports organizations, such as those included under the 501(c)(7) designation)
• Boards of trade
• Business leagues

These types of organizations have a business purpose but do not provide services for individuals, only the group. A business league must also represent an entire industry or industry segment within a particular area, which means that businesses with a specific brand would not qualify. On the other hand, chambers of commerce and boards of trade promote all businesses' interests within a particular category in a given area, such as San Francisco or the greater Chicago area.

How to Get 501(C)(6) Status

To apply for 501(C)(6) status, you must fill out IRS Form 1024, which can be found online, and submit a user fee. In addition to this, you will need the following information:

• Organizational activities
• Present and future sources of funding
• Names of officers and directors
• Affiliations with other organizations
• Financial information
• Services that will be performed for members
• Employer Identification Number

Like charitable organizations, business associations will need to make everything public, including your tax-exempt determination letter, tax forms (Form 990), IRS application, and supporting documents. Be prepared to provide these documents to anyone who asks for them.