Format

Definitions

What a term means, without the circular definition

  • 7 pages
  • All sourced and dated

Most explanations of nonprofit terminology are written by people who already understand the term. You end up with 501(c)(3) defined as an organization with 501(c)(3) status, which helps nobody and costs you an afternoon.

Each of these gives a plain definition, then the distinction that actually matters: what it gets confused with, what it does not mean, and what changes for you in practice depending on which side of the line you are on.

These are the pages people quote, so they are written to still be correct once quoted out of context.