501(c)(3) Public Charity vs Private Foundation

Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Editorial Team

Updated on March 05, 2023

Difference Between 501(c)(3) Public Charity and Private Foundation

A 501(c)(3) is a public charity, meaning that at least one third of its income must come from public donations. A private foundation is usually funded by a single individual or a small pool of individuals, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

501(c)(3) Public Charity vs Private Foundation FAQs

About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website, view his author profile on Amazon, or check out his speaker profile on the CFA Institute website.

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