Nonprofit Stamps

Nonprofit stamps, also called nonprofit postage or USPS nonprofit Marketing Mail, are pre-canceled, discounted postage options available exclusively to qualifying nonprofit organizations in the United States. Rather than paying standard First-Class rates, eligible nonprofits can send bulk mailings for as little as $0.136–$0.178 per piece, representing savings of up to 60% compared to standard commercial postage.

For mission-driven organisations, these savings translate directly into more dollars going toward programs, outreach, and donor engagement instead of mailing overhead.

If you're a nonprofit organisation looking to stretch every dollar of your mailing budget, this guide covers everything you need: eligibility requirements, current USPS nonprofit postage rates, the difference between physical stamps and indicia, and best practices for running cost-efficient bulk mail campaigns.

TL;DR

• Nonprofit organizations can significantly reduce mailing costs by using USPS nonprofit postage stamps.
• Nonprofit postage can save organizations up to 60% on mailing expenses.
• Eligible nonprofits must register with the IRS and obtain a mailing permit from USPS.
• Bulk mail discounts for nonprofits require a minimum of 200 pieces.

Key Takeaways 

• Nonprofit stamps and indicia help nonprofits to send bulk mail at heavily discounted prices.
• A nonprofit needs to register with the IRS, complete the USPS Form 3624, gain a mailing permit, and maintain a minimum volume to avail nonprofit prices.
• You cannot use nonprofit mail for sending personal correspondence, invoices, statements, or any commercial marketing materials.
• USPS restricts nonprofits from sharing their nonprofit rates with for-profit partners to avoid misuse.
• It is advisable to update your mailing list with the National Change of Address (NCOA) database before mailing to avoid paying for undeliverable mail.

Nonprofits can't just buy nonprofit stamps and start mailing materials at discounted rates. Even if your nonprofit is tax-exempt, it is necessary to formally apply and meet the eligibility requirements set by USPS. So, it is a multi-step process where you must submit official documentation to prove your eligibility. Here's what you need to do:

Register Your Organization With the IRS

As a nonprofit organization, you must register with the IRS as a tax-exempt organization before approaching USPS. This registration will fall under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. You will be one step closer to using nonprofit postage stamps by completing this step.

USPS specifies nonprofits into ten strict categories: 

• Religious
• Educational
• Scientific
• Philanthropic (Charitable)
• Agricultural
• Labor
• Veterans
• Fraternal Qualified Political Committees
• State or Local Voter Registration Officials.

Submit PS Form 3624 to the USPS

Your nonprofit also needs a mailing permit from the USPS. In this registration process, you must provide information about your organization, mission, and mailing activities. 

To apply, complete PS Form 3624 and submit it to your local post office. This process might take a few weeks. Be sure to include your IRS letter and supporting documents.

Acquire a Bulk Mail Permit

You must pay to process bulk mail. Nonprofits apply for a standard Mailing Permit using PS Form 3615. The nonprofit authorization might be free, but there's a one-time application fee for a Permit Imprint account, plus an annual mailing fee to keep sending bulk mailers.

Meet the Minimum Volume USPS Requirements

Your nonprofit mailings have to meet specific requirements set by USPS. They are exclusively meant for bulk mail. Every batch of mailers must have at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail. You must also comply with size and weight limits, content requirements, and mailing frequency restrictions.

Pay Annual Filing Fees

As a nonprofit organization, you must pay an annual fee to maintain your mailing permit to use nonprofit postage stamps.

Comply With Reporting Requirements

Reporting requirements include providing evidence of nonprofit status, providing annual statements of mailing activity, and keeping accurate records.

Using nonprofit postage stamps during the eligibility period requires planning and compliance with USPS guidelines. You can also consult USPS or seek professional advice to meet all the requirements. Check out the USPS Publication 417 to learn more about the eligibility requirements.

Here’s what more you need to know about eligibility for nonprofit stamps;

• Religious
• Educational 
• Scientific
• Philanthropic 
• Agricultural
• Labor
• Veterans 
• Fraternal
• Political Committees
  

Nonprofits have an advantage over companies when it comes to postage pricing. Small-volume nonprofit mail is subject to different rates by the USPS. You can categorize them as letter mail, marketing packages, large envelopes, or Parcel Select Lightweight Packages. Refer to the table below for USPS Marketing Mail Nonprofit rates:

February 2026.

Source: USPS 

*Last updated February 2026.

Using Nonprofit Postage Stamps

When discussing “stamps for nonprofits,” we refer to pre-canceled stamps. USPS uses this special type of stamp for mailing. These stamps are more affordable than regular postage, but the cost is not charged until after posting the mail piece.

If you use First-Class Mail for a standard 1-ounce letter, you might need to pay between $0.78 for a regular stamp or $0.74 with a postal meter.

Nonprofit Stamp vs. Indicia: Which Should You Use?

Nonprofits have two primary ways to apply postage to bulk mailings: a physical pre-canceled nonprofit stamp or a printed indicia (a permit imprint showing postage has been paid). Here's how they compare:

Rates reflect USPS nonprofit Marketing Mail as of February 2026. Actual savings depend on presort depth and mail preparation.

Do you want to learn about postage prepayment? Indicia will tell you about the prepayment status by an authorized mailer. Instead of a physical nonprofit stamp, you can use an indicia to show permit information to USPS. You can use it to deliver and pay for letters, postcards, self-mailer envelopes, and more.

Indicia is directly printed onto the mailpiece. So, your organization can save incredible amounts of time it takes to apply physical postage stamps by hand. However, you must meet the USPS bulk mail requirement of at least 200 pieces or a combined weight of 50 pounds.

It is vital to follow specific guidelines when preparing an indicia. Here is a partial list of requirements for a nonprofit indicia:

• Line 1: “NONPROFIT ORG”
• Line 2: “US POSTAGE PAID”
• Line 3: City and state where you have the permit
• Line 4: “PERMIT NO”
• The indicia must be readable and have font no smaller than 4pt text
• The information must be in the upper right section near the delivery address

What About the Drawbacks of Using a Nonprofit Indicia?

If your nonprofit organization can meet the requirements, then an indicia can save you a lot of money. Yet, there are a few things that you must know about:

• The delivery speed could be drastically lower than that of First-Class Mail. Delivering your mail with nonprofit stamps can take up to 21 days. Yet, local addresses have a greater chance of having faster delivery.
• You must have at least 200 pieces of mail to obtain the benefits of indicia.
• If you want to keep your indicia, it is mandatory to mail them at least once every 24 months. Otherwise, you will revoke your indicia.
• The nonprofit has to meet the USPS requirements to use indicia.
• You may need to wait up to two weeks for the application process. It is advisable to fill out your application online.

The donation response doesn't entirely depend on what type of postage you apply to the mail envelopes. You can use a meter, stamp, or indicia depending on your requirements. However, your mail service provider will incur extra costs for meters and stamps. Indicia could be a cost-effective method to add postage when printing the envelope.

Most nonprofits know that the outer envelopes do not yield net gains. It's always better to use an indicia to save on mailing costs. Variety is also critical to make your mailpiece stand out every time. 

It is advisable to focus on the outer envelope design and tagline with each mailing to see the difference. The tagline is the best way to tease and encourage potential donors to open the envelope and learn more about your cause or mission. They are less likely to respond if the tagline is off-message and doesn't convey what you want to achieve.

Should You Stamp the Reply Envelopes?

Postage is highly critical for reply envelopes, but not the type. Donors do notice a change! Try sending a courtesy reply envelope requesting a donation to start with the stamp. This change might improve donations, so vary the type of reply envelopes you send.

Some nonprofits provide reply envelopes with affixed first-class stamps. This strategy encourages potential donors to take action instead of wasting the stamp. However, it would only be effective in targeting high-end donors who might donate more than $100. 

Successful nonprofit marketers know how changing the reply postage with each mailing could make a huge difference. Only high-end donors should be getting envelopes with first-class stamps on them. Adding these will cost more, but the results are also worth it.

Which Mailpieces to Post Via Nonprofit Mail?

• Postcards and Self-Mailers: These collaterals are highly eye-catching and economical for promotional and brand awareness campaigns.
• Remittance Envelopes and Business Reply Mail: These sensitive mailpieces are best suited to secure donations or pledges from individuals or businesses.
• Letter Packs: This format is popular for returning a high open rate and success for brand awareness and event invitations.
• Banners and Signage: These high-quality mailings are ideal for highlighting visibility whenever physical locations are involved in a campaign.

Best Practices to Use USPS Nonprofit Stamps

Never Share with For-Profits

Your mail pieces must never benefit another organization. It is not possible to mail on behalf of a for-profit company under your nonprofit authorization.

Send Bulk Mail

Have at least 200 pieces or 50 lbs of mail. Adding a few extra recipients to hit the threshold won't hurt your wallet — you'll only save more.

Brand Your Mailers

Include your organization's name and return address on the outer envelope. The return address must match your post office nonprofit authorization form.

Mail to Another Nonprofit

The Cooperative Mail Rule (CMR) allows two nonprofits to share costs or risks of mailing at nonprofit rates. For-profit organizations may not participate.

Update Your Mailing Lists

Run an NCOA update before each mailing to ensure addresses are current. This avoids paying postage on undeliverable mail pieces.

Check the Weight

Avoid overloading envelopes. Keep weight under 3 ounces and use thinner paper stocks to stay below rate thresholds and control costs.

Consider the Design

The complexity of your design can affect eligibility. Any content that looks like commercial advertising could disqualify you from nonprofit rates.

Track Your Results

Keep tracking response rates, donation amounts, and overall ROI. This helps you measure campaign success and refine future mailings.

Proactively Plan Campaigns

Plan mailing lists, design, printing, and submission well in advance. Pre-planning enables you to take advantage of bulk discounts more consistently.

Add a Reply Envelope

Include a pre-addressed reply envelope if you expect a donation. Ensuring sufficient postage on the reply envelope improves donor response rates.

How to Automate Nonprofit Mail With PostGrid

Do you want a reliable Direct Mail Software for your nonprofit mailing needs? PostGrid provides the ideal solution to create, print, and send all your direct mail pieces.

You can use stamps for nonprofits and our platform to ensure the best posting rates. Moreover, we also provide flexible pricing options to help you get the best out of your money. It saves you from dealing with the actual printing, presorting, and mailing process. 

You can just use an online dashboard to run all your physical mail campaigns. Besides, native integrations are available to connect your mailing workflows with CRMs, ERPs, or marketing automation software, making your nonprofit mailers trigger-driven.

Whether you send a few hundred or thousands of mail pieces, our platform is ready to scale according to your needs, helping you get the best value from nonprofit stamps with our services. If your nonprofit uses a CRM to manage all its operations, you can integrate our API effortlessly into your system and launch seamless direct mail campaigns. 

We provide the best tracking and analytics tools to help you evaluate campaign performance, so you never live in oblivion after launching your direct mail campaigns. 

You can also access our template editing tools to personalize your pieces according to recipients, helping you leave a more personal touch, which is critical for donor engagement. Finally, PostGrid and all its partners follow HIPAA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, GDPR, and SOC-2 compliance standards to keep your nonprofit's compliance record clean.