Non-Profit Mailing Restrictions
Non-Profit Mailing Restrictions for 501(c) (3) status 5/2/05 (USPS Publication 417)
The Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association has received Non-Profit bulk mailing permission. This status may be used in addition to our standard bulk mailing permit and is limited as to its privilege. It does offer significant postal savings to the association but has limited application.
The most common use will be in the mailing of the Commentator. To mail under the non-profit rate, certain minor alterations will have to be made in the format of the publication and some content restrictions observed.
Format Requirements:
- Must have a title clearly recognizable from other content on first page.
- Must be printed.
- Must contain an identification statement on one of first five pages that includes the following:
- Title
- Issue date (may be omitted if on first or cover page).
- Statement of frequency showing when issues are published (daily, monthly, monthly except August etc – must be published at least quarterly to qualify)
- Name and address of authorized organization including street number, street name, and ZIP+ four or five digit ZIP code.
- Issue number. Every issue must be numbered consecutively in a series that that may not be broken by assigning numbers to issues omitted. The issue number may be printed on the front cover or cover page instead of the identification statement.
- Must contain at least 25% non-advertising matter in each issue.
Content Restrictions:
- NO advertising for credit, debit, charge cards or similar financial instruments or accounts.
- Restricts advertising for insurance policies.
- Restricts advertising for travel arrangements
Prohibitions on credit, insurance and travel arrangements are very broad and go beyond the normal advertising definition of publishing for payment. This restriction includes mention of commercial programs or destinations in articles as well as formal advertisements.
Examples of restricted wording:
- “Enjoyed stay at South Seas”
- “Will be cruising to several marinas including South Seas and Fort Myers City Marina”
- “Will be traveling to Europe with XYZ travel”
- “Use our new PGICA VISA Card”
Probably acceptable:
- Cruise will include Sanibel and Captiva stops – see website or call for details”
- Enjoyed stops on way to Tampa”
- “See website or call for travel programs to Europe”
Credit card, insurance and travel may be advertised without restriction if the issue is mailed as “presorted” instead of “Non profit” on the permit imprint, associated paperwork for Mailing reflects change, and verbal notification is made to postal clerk at time of mailing.
Note: It was pointed out that while we may refer to ourselves as “PGI Civic Association” in mailings, if we do we must be identified as:
Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association PGI Civic Association (return address)
THE NON PROFIT MAILING PERMIT MUST NEVER BE USED BY ANYONE EXCEPT THE PERMIT HOLDER!
Sample Identification statement:
June 2005 Published monthly except August
Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association
2001 SHreve Street
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Vol. 20, No. 6