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The Nonprofit Sector in the United States: A Resource Guide

Consumer Information

Individuals and businesses are often solicited to donate money, goods or services to support national or local charities. Consumers should exercise due diligence by searching local, state, and national resources to ensure that the individuals and organizations soliciting contributions are legitimate.

This section provides information for consumers on nonprofit associations. Check the Form 990 page for additional information on this Internal Revenue Service form, which provides detailed information on tax-exempt organizations, nonexempt charitable trusts, and Section 527 political organizations.

These Library of Congress resources provide information on nonprofits and include reports from the Congressional Research Service, library guides, and web archives.

The following external websites provide information on charities, foundations, and nonprofits.

The following titles provide information on nonprofits and link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available. Current directory information is often available through subscribed resources available on site through our eresources page.