Free Interactive Tool
Determine Your Nonprofit’s NTEE Code
A Comprehensive View of National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) Code System
The National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system was developed by the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) and is used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and NCCS to classify tax-exempt organizations. A specialist from the IRS assigns an NTEE code to each organization exempt under I.R.C. § 501(a) as part of the process of closing a case when the organization is recognized as tax-exempt.
Use our NTEE Code Builder below to learn more about the NTEE Code Classification System for US Nonprofits or to determine the correct code for your organization to help with grants and donations.
Explore NTEE Codes
The National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system was developed by the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) and is used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and NCCS to classify tax-exempt organizations.
How Do NTEE Codes Get Assigned?
A specialist from the IRS assigns an NTEE code to each organization exempt under I.R.C. § 501(a) as part of the process of closing a case when the organization is recognized as tax-exempt. For more information and more detailed definitions of these codes developed by the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), visit the Urban Institute.
What is the Right NTEE Code for My Organization?
GC Insights has created a tool to help nonprofit organizations and their support teams find the most appropriate NTEE code and explore possible permutations based on mission, activities and organizational types. Use the NTEE Code Builder below to determine which NTEE Code is best for your organization. Please note that GC Insights accepts requests for re-classification from an officer of the organization. Please allow up to 7 business days for changes to take effect after approval. Additional steps must be taken directly with the IRS for any NTEE code augmentation.
NTEE Code Builder
1. Select an NTEE Major Group
The NTEE classification system divides the universe of nonprofit organizations into 25 major groups. The major groups represent broad subsectors of the charitable organization universe.
2. Select the Organization's Specific Activity Area
Activity Codes further subdivide the organization in the major groups by specific activity areas.
3. Select the Type of Organization
NTEE Common Codes represent the activities of the organization, such as research, fundraising, and technical assistance, which are common to all major groups.
For more information and more detailed definitions of these codes developed by the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), visit the Urban Institute.
Many private organizations, donors, and foundations rely on the NTEE code to approve grants, but in close to 33% of cases, there are significant discrepancies between the code reported by the IRS, the one reported by the NCCS, and the one inferred from the mission statement of the organization. If you think that your NTEE code needs to be adjusted with the IRS, follow these guidelines from the IRS. Our NTEE Letter Generator can help you craft a well-structured letter to the IRS to streamline the process for creating a compelling request to change your NTEE Code and secure the appropriate funding, grants, and benefits for your nonprofit!
Update of Your Organization’s Data
Need to update your nonprofit's information (website, address, NTEE Code, UN SDG classification)? Use our IRS Letter Generator to create a clear, accurate request letter for the IRS. It's a fast, reliable way to ensure your records are up-to-date. Access the tool here.
Check Out Our Other NTEE Code Tools
Nonprofit Data for Business Use
GC Insights works hard to ensure we have the cleanest nonprofit data in the industry. We license our data through custom datasets and our API, impact-driven donors, solution providers, and nonprofit leaders to facilitate the understanding of the US nonprofit sector and power the social impact solutions of tomorrow. Learn more about our data licensing.
Looking for free nonprofit data? Learn about our complimentary daily query limits here .