Charity Nonprofit Organizations Across the United States

The United States has well over a million organizations with federal tax-exempt status. Most are charities, foundations, associations or service groups that work in one town or county. Our directory lists 11,203 charity and nonprofit entries across 43 states, from food banks and youth programs to historical societies and trade associations. This page explains how the system works so you can find the right organization faster.

Not every listing is a walk-in service. High Desert Outreach Center on Bartlett Avenue in Adelanto, San Bernardino County, is a local service provider. The Missouri Rural Water Association in Ashland, Boone County, is a statewide association. The Derby Historical Society on Elm Street in Ansonia, New Haven County, focuses on local heritage. Reading the name and county first tells you what kind of group you are dealing with.

California leads the database with 1,885 listings, followed by New York with 1,164 and Florida with 744. Illinois, Ohio and Massachusetts each add several hundred more. These counts show how many organizations we have on file, not how good any of them are. A state with fewer entries may simply have fewer, larger organizations.

Federal, State, County and City: Who Oversees a Charity Nonprofit

Four levels of government touch a charity, and each one handles a different piece. Knowing which is which saves time when you have a question or a complaint.

The federal role: tax status and annual reporting

The Internal Revenue Service decides whether an organization qualifies for tax exemption, most often under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. That status lets the group avoid federal income tax. It also lets donors deduct gifts if they itemize. The IRS requires an annual information return as well. Very small groups file the short e-Postcard, Form 990-N. Mid-sized groups may use Form 990-EZ, and larger ones file the full Form 990. A group that skips the filing three years in a row loses its exemption automatically. The federal government does not run the programs, inspect the pantry or set the opening hours.

The state role: incorporation, registration and sales tax

A charity usually begins as a corporation or trust created with the state, commonly through the secretary of state. Many states also require a charity to register before it asks the public for money. The office that handles this differs from place to place. In California, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts and Michigan, the attorney general's office supervises charities. In Florida the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services handles charitable solicitation registration, and in Colorado the Secretary of State does. State revenue departments decide sales tax exemptions separately, and federal status does not grant one automatically.

The county and city role: property, health and permits

Counties often process property tax exemptions through the assessor, although in some states a state agency makes the final call. County health departments inspect kitchens, which matters for food pantries and meal programs. Cities control zoning, building permits, occupancy limits and business licenses. A thrift store or a shelter can be fully legal under state law and still need a city permit to open. When you see a listing such as Arvada Community Food Bank at 8555 West 57th Avenue in Arvada, Jefferson County, the county and city in the address tell you which local offices apply.

How Rules, Services and Fees Change From State to State

No single national rulebook covers everything a charity does. These are the areas where states differ most:

  • Registration thresholds: Some states ask nearly every charity that solicits donations to register. Others exempt religious groups, small organizations or those that do not pay outside fundraisers.
  • Filing fees: Incorporation fees, annual report fees and charity registration fees are set state by state, and the amounts vary widely.
  • Sales tax: Some states issue charities an exemption certificate. Others limit it to purchases tied directly to the mission, or do not offer one at all.
  • Property tax: Rules on which buildings qualify differ, and many places require a one-time or yearly application with the county.
  • Professional fundraisers: Many states require paid solicitors and fundraising consultants to register or post a bond.
  • Public records: Registration filings and annual reports are public in most states, but how easy they are to search varies.

Service patterns differ too. Remote communities often depend on a single regional group, such as the International Sonoran Desert Alliance at 400 West Vananda Avenue in Ajo, Pima County. Denser areas have many overlapping agencies, such as the Family Service Association of South Jersey at 312 West Absecon Boulevard in Absecon, Atlantic County. Both are real entries in our data, and they show how different the local picture can be.

If you are comparing states, start with the largest: Charity Nonprofit in California, Charity Nonprofit in New York and Charity Nonprofit in Florida. Each has its own regulator, its own registration rules and its own mix of organization types.

What to Bring or Check Before You Contact a Local Charity

If you need help from a program

Call first. Pantries, assistance programs and outreach centers often change their hours, and many serve only certain ZIP codes or counties. The phone number in each listing is the quickest way to confirm. For example, Arvada Community Food Bank lists 303-424-6685, and High Desert Outreach Center lists 760-246-7874.

Ask what documents to bring. A photo ID is common. Proof of address, such as a utility bill or lease, is also frequently requested. Some programs want the number of people in your household. Income limits are common for financial help but less so for food. Bringing a few documents on the first visit usually avoids a second trip.

If you want to donate or volunteer

Confirm the organization's tax status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool before you give. Then read its most recent Form 990, which shows revenue, expenses and leadership. Ask for a written receipt. To claim a deduction for a gift of $250 or more, you need a written acknowledgment from the charity. If you receive goods or services worth more than a token amount in return for a payment over $75, the charity must tell you what portion is deductible.

Choosing the Right State Page and Avoiding Common Mistakes

Pick the state where the organization's office is physically located, not where its mission reaches. Many city names repeat across the country, which causes the most confusion. There is an Aberdeen in Harford County, Maryland, home to Arc Employment Services at 4513 Old Philadelphia Road. There is another Aberdeen in Moore County, North Carolina, home to the Mira Foundation at 112 North Poplar Street. Addison also appears twice in our data. The Research Foundation at 1904 Pinnacle Road is in Steuben County, New York, while the Darussalam Foundation at 1544 West Wrightwood Court is in DuPage County, Illinois. Check the county before you drive anywhere.

Several mistakes come up again and again:

First, people assume every foundation takes walk-in requests. Many foundations make grants to other groups and run no public services, so call or check the website before visiting. Second, people treat IRS status and state standing as the same thing. A charity can be federally exempt yet delinquent on its state annual report or solicitation registration. Third, donors hand over cash without a receipt, which leaves them nothing to document a deduction. Fourth, people overlook the county. Property tax, health inspection and many human-services contracts run through county offices, so the county named in a listing matters.

When you are ready, open the page for your state. The biggest are Charity Nonprofit in Illinois and Charity Nonprofit in Ohio, and each lists organizations by city and county so you can narrow the search quickly.

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Reading Charity Nonprofit Listings From Aberdeen to Ajo

Our entries cover towns of very different sizes, and the details shown for each one are the quickest way to judge what you are looking at. Every listing gives a street address, a county and usually a phone number. Use the county to work out which local offices apply, and use the phone number to confirm hours and eligibility before you go.

A few examples show the range. Community Foundation of Dickinson County sits at 213 North Broadway Street in Abilene and can be reached at 785-263-1863. The Astra Foundation is at 4 Maddy Lane in Acton, Middlesex County, at 978-266-3700. Indiana Youth Project is at 4511 Columbus Avenue in Anderson, Madison County, at 765-393-1719. Action Aid USA is at 1112 16th Street Northwest in Washington, D.C. Some of these give grants, some run programs and some represent a cause, so ask what each one actually does. For Colorado entries such as Arvada, see Charity Nonprofit in Colorado.

Frequently Asked Questions About Charity Nonprofits in the United States

Both, in different ways. The Internal Revenue Service grants tax-exempt status and collects the annual Form 990 series. The state creates the corporation, usually through the secretary of state, and most states also register charities that solicit donations. The attorney general or a consumer agency enforces those rules and investigates misuse of funds. Counties and cities add property tax, health and permit requirements. For a complaint about how donations are spent, start with your state's charity regulator, since the IRS focuses mainly on tax compliance.

Do three checks. First, search the organization in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool to confirm its status has not been revoked. Second, look it up in your state's charity registry, which is run by the attorney general, secretary of state or another office depending on the state. Third, compare the name and address with the listing in our directory and call the number shown. Be careful with look-alike names, because some groups copy the names of well-known charities. A legitimate group will give you its legal name and employer identification number if you ask.

Requirements are set by each organization, so call first. Typical requests include a photo ID, proof of address such as a recent utility bill or lease, and the number of people in your household. Programs that give financial help may ask for income documents or a past-due notice. Bring bags or boxes if the pantry asks you to. Also ask about service areas, because many groups serve only certain ZIP codes or one county. Arvada Community Food Bank, for example, lists 303-424-6685 in our directory for questions like these.

No. Gifts are generally deductible only when the recipient is a qualified organization, most often a 501(c)(3) public charity or private foundation. Other nonprofits, such as some trade associations and membership groups, are tax-exempt but not eligible for deductible donations. Dues paid to an association such as a rural water or breeders group may be treated as a business expense instead. Confirm the organization's classification in the IRS search tool. You must also itemize deductions on your federal return to claim a charitable gift, and you need a written receipt for gifts of $250 or more.

The usual order is to form a nonprofit corporation with your state, normally by filing articles of incorporation with the secretary of state. Next, obtain an employer identification number from the IRS and apply for federal exemption, using Form 1023 or the shorter Form 1023-EZ if you qualify. Then register for charitable solicitation if your state requires it, and ask your state revenue department about sales tax exemption. Finally, contact the county assessor about property tax and the city about business licenses and zoning. Fees and timelines vary a lot by state.

Many American towns share names, so a city search alone can mislead you. Our data includes Aberdeen in both Harford County, Maryland, and Moore County, North Carolina. It also includes Addison in Steuben County, New York, and DuPage County, Illinois. The Research Foundation and the Darussalam Foundation are both listed under Addison but are hundreds of miles apart. Always match the state and county as well as the city, and check the area code on the phone number, which usually points to the right region.

Read its latest Form 990. It reports total revenue, program spending, administrative and fundraising costs, and the pay of top officers. Larger charities must provide copies to anyone who asks, and the IRS also makes returns available online. Very small groups file only the Form 990-N e-Postcard, which has little financial detail, so ask the organization directly for its annual report or budget summary. Many state charity regulators also post annual filings, and a few require audited financial statements once a charity passes a revenue threshold set by that state.