what is the difference between a 501 c 3 and a 501 c 4 
a 501 c 3 organization is a nonprofit organization established exclusively for one of the following purposes charitable religious educational scientific literary testing for public safety fostering national or international amateur sports competition or preventing cruelty to children or animals these organizations are mostly prohibited from engaging in lobbying 6501 c 4 organizations which are also nonprofit are social welfare groups and are permitted to engage in lobbying 30the bottom line501 c 3 organizations are nonprofit groups with a dedicated mission most people are familiar with them as churches and charities but they also include private foundations they receive favorable tax treatment such as avoiding federal income and unemployment taxes as long as they operate to support their mission 