Online Compendium of Federal and State Regulations for U.S. Nonprofit Organizations U.S. Postal Service Regulations for NPOs

The U.S. Postal Service offers a discounted rate, called "Nonprofit Standard (A)," for certain mailings by qualified nonprofit organizations. The complete regulations are given in USPS Publication 417, but some key points are:

• The rules for determining if an organization is a qualifying nonprofit organization are very different from the IRS tax-exemption rules.
• There are special rules restricting "advertisements," which includes promoting products and services, and also solicitations for funds if there is a "back-end premium" associated.
• There are special rules for "cooperative mailings" done jointly with commercial businesses.
• Periodicals must be sent at standard periodical rates, unless they qualify as "periodical look-alikes."
• There are special rules for mailed products, such as that the product must be at least one of:
  • A "low-cost" item, defined as $6.93 or less for 1997, or
  • Donated or contributed to the mailing organization.

The references below provide more information. The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers is an association of professional service providers that perform direct mail services for nonprofit organizations. The National Federation of Nonprofits is an association primarily of nonprofit organizations.

• U.S. Postal Service Publication 417: Nonprofit Standard Mail Eligibility Nonprofit and Other Qualified Organizations
  • In PDF format, from the USPS
  • In HTML format, from the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers
  • In HTML format, from KMA Companies
• NPO-FAQ: What about getting a nonprofit bulk mail permit?
• Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers
  • Breaking news
  • The basics of nonprofit mail
  • Eligibility Restrictions: What you need to know
  • Commonly asked questions and answers about nonprofit postal rates, rules and regulations
• National Federation of Nonprofits booklets (phone: 202-628-4380, email: nfndc@aol.com)
  • Eligibility for non-profit standard (A) postage rates
  • What to do when the postal service says "no" to nonprofit mailers
• USPS Postal Bulletin
• Univ. of Rochester Mail Services: Nonprofit Mailings

Main page | Legal basis for regulation | Tax-exempt status | Registration for soliciting | Charitable solicitations | Financial accounting | Other topics | Easing the burden | Glossary | Resources by state

Page maintained by: Eric Mercer <nporeg@muridae.com>

Page last updated 08Mar99

Online Compendium of Federal and State Regulations for U.S. Nonprofit Organizations

http://www.muridae.com/nporegulation/