NAICS Code for Non Profit Organizations

Updated: 2026
Reviewed By: SICCODE.com Industry Classification Review Team

There is no single NAICS code for “nonprofit organizations.” “Nonprofit” is a legal and tax status, not an industry. NAICS classifies organizations by primary operational activity—what the organization does day-to-day.

A nonprofit hospital, school, museum, foundation, trade association, or church may each fall into completely different NAICS sectors depending on their dominant activity.

Use the NAICS Code Lookup Directory to verify definitions and code boundaries, and see the NAICS Classification & Reference Center for governance and methodology context.

Jump to:

Quick nonprofit type → NAICS code reference

Use this as a fast starting point, then confirm fit by reviewing the definition and included/excluded activities on the linked code page.

If your nonprofit is primarily… Start with NAICS… Important note
Distributing grants (foundation / giving program) 813211 Confirm grantmaking is the primary output.
Health awareness & fundraising 813212 Awareness/fundraising—not direct medical care.
Advocacy & policy influence 813319 Confirm advocacy is the dominant activity.
Human rights / civil liberties 813311 Confirm primary output is rights/advocacy work.
Environment / conservation / wildlife 813312 Confirm conservation activity is primary.
Trade or professional association 813910 / 813920 Member support must be primary focus.
Religious organization 813110 Includes churches and houses of worship.
Operating programs / delivering services (school, hospital, museum, daycare) Use the program’s industry code Not 813xxx if services are delivered directly.

Status vs. activity Most common confusion

Pro-tip: NAICS answers “What does this organization do?” while IRS status answers “What is this organization for tax purposes?”

  • Nonprofit status (e.g., 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 527) is determined by IRS rules and organizational purpose.
  • NAICS code is determined by the organization’s primary operational activity (services delivered, programs run, or membership function).
  • Risk if you choose wrong: misrouting in databases, incorrect benchmarking peer sets, and inconsistent reporting across partners and systems.

⚠️ Critical distinction: Program-operating nonprofits

If your nonprofit primarily operates programs or delivers services (hospital, school, museum, daycare, shelter, job training center), you are typically classified by the industry of the service provided, not by 813xxx membership or advocacy codes.

  • Nonprofit hospital → 622110
  • Nonprofit school → 611xxx (Educational Services)
  • Nonprofit museum → 712110
  • Nonprofit daycare → 624410

How to choose the correct nonprofit NAICS code

Rule of thumb

  • Choose the code that matches the primary activity that consumes the most resources and represents the organization’s core output.
  • Verify the definition and exclusions (avoid keyword-only matching).
  • Document the decision (a one-paragraph note is usually sufficient for repeatability).

For NAICS fundamentals, see What Is a NAICS Code?.

For boundary interpretation, see NAICS Included vs. Excluded Activities.

Hybrid organizations (common in practice)

If your nonprofit both distributes grants and operates programs, choose the code representing the dominant activity (largest share of resources/output), and keep a short note for repeatability.

Example note: “Classified as 813211 (Grantmaking Foundation) because 65% of annual budget supports grant distribution; remaining 35% supports direct programs.”

Visualizing the classification logic

Question If YES If NO
Is the primary output distributing grants? Start with grantmaking codes (foundations and giving services) and confirm definition fit. Continue to the next question.
Is the primary output advocacy / rights / policy influence? Start with social advocacy or human rights categories and confirm included/excluded activities. Continue to the next question.
Is the organization membership-led (trade, profession, civic)? Start with membership association categories (business, professional, civic/social). Continue to the next question.
Is the organization religious services led? Start with religious organizations. Use the directory to locate the best-fit definition by activity.

Common NAICS codes used for nonprofits (813110–813990)

The codes below frequently appear in nonprofit classification workflows. Each link opens the SICCODE.com directory page for definition review and boundary confirmation.

IRS exempt organizations and tax considerations

IRS categories are separate from NAICS classification, but they are commonly referenced together in governance, reporting, and audit contexts.

IRS categories (examples)

Best practice

  • Maintain both fields in your records: NAICS (activity) and IRS category/status (tax).
  • Do not infer NAICS from tax status (and do not infer tax status from NAICS).
  • Keep documentation for code assignment to preserve consistency across years and teams.

Common misclassifications and risk control

Most common errors

  • Grantmaking vs. operating programs: selecting a foundation code when the organization primarily runs direct services.
  • Advocacy vs. membership: choosing a social advocacy code when the primary output is member support and standards.
  • Cause-based guessing: classifying by mission theme (e.g., “education”) instead of operational activity.
  • Keyword-only matching: selecting the closest-sounding label without checking exclusions.
  • Using 813990 as a default: treating “other” as a catch-all without checking closer definitions first.

Risk control checklist

  • Identify the primary activity (resources consumed + output delivered).
  • Confirm boundaries (included/excluded activities) in the destination definition.
  • Record a short classification note (why this code fits, and what was excluded).
  • Re-check after change (new programs, restructuring, mergers, or expansion).

Nonprofit organization data and list services

Need a nonprofit organization list by NAICS code?

SICCODE.com maintains verified nonprofit organization data across 813xxx categories and service-based nonprofit sectors, including education, health services, social assistance, arts, and religious organizations.  

Data can be filtered by NAICS code, geography (state, county, ZIP), organization size, and other firmographic criteria. Delivery options include CSV, Excel, and structured formats suitable for integration workflows.

Common use cases include fundraising research, partnership development, benchmarking, compliance review, and vendor prospecting.

View nonprofit list options →

FAQ

  • What is the NAICS code for a nonprofit organization?
    There is no single NAICS code for nonprofits. Organizations are classified based on primary operational activity.
  • What is the NAICS code for a 501(c)(3)?
    501(c)(3) is an IRS tax status. NAICS depends on the organization’s dominant activity (what it does operationally).
  • Can a nonprofit have multiple NAICS codes?
    Many databases store a primary NAICS code and may also store secondary codes. When possible, assign the most defensible primary code based on dominant activity.
  • Should I use 813990 as a catch-all?
    Use “other” categories only after checking more specific definitions. Confirm included/excluded activities on the destination code page.
  • Where can I verify NAICS code definitions and boundaries?
    Use the NAICS Code Lookup Directory to validate definitions and included/excluded activities.

Next steps: Verify codes or access nonprofit data

Verify definitions first, then document your selection for consistency across reporting systems.

Browse NAICS Directory Access Nonprofit Lists Contact