Nonprofit Abbreviations
91 abbreviations · part of Organization & Company Abbreviations
Abbreviations for well-known charities, advocacy groups, think tanks, youth and service organizations, veterans' groups, health charities and humanitarian NGOs, along with general terms from the nonprofit sector such as NGO and 501(c)(3). Descriptions are neutral and factual: they give each group's founding, headquarters, mission and legal status without endorsing or criticizing its positions.
| Abbreviation | Stands for | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 4-H | 4-H | Youth development program run by the Cooperative Extension System of land-grant universities and the US Department of Agriculture, offering hands-on projects in… |
| 501(c)(3) | Section 501(c)(3) organization | US tax-exempt organization operated for charitable, religious, educational, scientific or similar purposes, to which donations are generally tax-deductible. |
| 501(c)(4) | Section 501(c)(4) organization | US tax-exempt "social welfare" organization that may lobby without limit and engage in some political campaign activity, provided politics is not its primary purpose. |
| AA | Alcoholics Anonymous | Worldwide fellowship of people who help each other stay sober through mutual support and its Twelve Steps program of recovery, meeting in local groups. |
| AAA | American Automobile Association | Federation of regional motor clubs in the United States that provides roadside assistance, travel planning, insurance and discounts to members, and publishes national… |
| AARP | AARP (formerly American Association of Retired Persons) | Nonprofit membership organization for people aged 50 and older, with tens of millions of members, that advocates on Social Security, Medicare and other issues affecting… |
| AAUW | American Association of University Women | Nonprofit that advances equity for women and girls through research, advocacy, education and fellowships, known for reports on the gender pay gap. |
| ACLU | American Civil Liberties Union | Nonprofit legal and advocacy organization that defends individual rights under the US Constitution, including free speech, privacy, due process, voting rights and equal… |
| ACS | American Cancer Society | National health organization that funds cancer research, publishes screening guidelines and statistics, offers patient support services such as free lodging and rides… |
| ADA | American Diabetes Association | National health organization that funds diabetes research, advocates for people with diabetes and publishes the annual Standards of Care in Diabetes used by clinicians. |
| ADF | Alliance Defending Freedom | Christian conservative legal organization that litigates cases on religious liberty, free speech, marriage, abortion and parental rights. |
| ADL | Anti-Defamation League | Organization that works against antisemitism and other forms of hatred, tracking incidents, researching extremism and providing education programs. |
| AEI | American Enterprise Institute | Washington think tank that conducts research on economics, foreign and defense policy, health, education and society from a center-right perspective emphasizing free… |
| AFP | Americans for Prosperity | Conservative and libertarian political advocacy group that campaigns for lower taxes, less regulation and limited government through grassroots chapters, lobbying and… |
| AFSP | American Foundation for Suicide Prevention | Nonprofit that funds suicide prevention research, offers education programs and supports people who have lost someone to suicide. |
| AHA | American Heart Association | US nonprofit founded in 1924 that funds cardiovascular and stroke research, writes clinical guidelines with the American College of Cardiology, and sets the CPR and… |
| AIPAC | American Israel Public Affairs Committee | Lobbying organization that advocates for strong US-Israel relations, meeting with members of Congress and mobilizing supporters. |
| ALA | American Lung Association | Health organization that works to improve lung health and prevent lung disease through research, tobacco control advocacy, education and its annual State of the Air… |
| ALEC | American Legislative Exchange Council | Membership organization of state legislators and private-sector members that develops and shares model legislation, generally favoring free markets and limited… |
| ARC | American Red Cross | US humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief, collects and supplies a large share of the nation's donated blood, teaches first aid and CPR and supports… |
| ASPCA | American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | Animal welfare organization based in New York City that rescues animals, runs adoption and veterinary programs, operates an animal poison control center and advocates… |
| BBB | Better Business Bureau | Private nonprofit network that rates businesses from A+ to F, handles consumer complaints and mediates disputes, and accredits businesses that agree to its standards… |
| BBBS | Big Brothers Big Sisters of America | Youth mentoring organization that matches adult volunteers ("Bigs") with children ("Littles") in one-to-one relationships, through community and school-based programs… |
| BGCA | Boys & Girls Clubs of America | National organization that supports thousands of local clubs providing after-school and summer programs, homework help, sports and mentoring, mainly for young people… |
| BLM | Black Lives Matter | Decentralized social movement protesting police violence and racism against Black people, and the name of related organizations including the Black Lives Matter Global… |
| BSA | Boy Scouts of America | US scouting organization for youth that teaches outdoor skills, leadership and citizenship through Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and other programs, and awards the Eagle Scout… |
| CAIR | Council on American-Islamic Relations | Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization that challenges discrimination against Muslims, provides legal assistance and publishes reports on anti-Muslim bias. |
| CAP | Center for American Progress | Washington think tank that develops progressive policy proposals on the economy, health care, climate, immigration and other issues, with an affiliated advocacy arm… |
| CARE | CARE International | Humanitarian organization that fights global poverty and provides emergency relief, with a focus on women and girls. |
| CBO | Community-based organization | Local nonprofit or grassroots group that works within a specific neighborhood or community, often run by residents, to provide services or advocate on local issues such… |
| CFR | Council on Foreign Relations | Nonpartisan membership organization and think tank on US foreign policy, which publishes the journal Foreign Affairs and hosts meetings with world leaders at its New… |
| CORE | Congress of Racial Equality | Civil rights organization founded in Chicago in 1942 that pioneered nonviolent direct action against segregation and organized the 1961 Freedom Rides on interstate buses. |
| CRS | Catholic Relief Services | International humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, providing emergency relief, agriculture, health and development programs in more than… |
| CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies | Bipartisan think tank in Washington that researches defense, security, geopolitics and economics, known for its war games, satellite imagery analysis and commentary… |
| CSO | Civil society organization | Broad term for any organization outside government and business that represents citizens' interests, including NGOs, charities, trade unions, faith groups, professional… |
| D.A.R.E. | Drug Abuse Resistance Education | School program in which police officers teach students about avoiding drugs, alcohol, violence and peer pressure, best known for its red logo and "D.A.R.E. to keep kids… |
| DAF | Donor-advised fund | Charitable giving account held at a sponsoring nonprofit, such as a community foundation or a fund linked to an investment firm, into which donors contribute assets for… |
| DAR | Daughters of the American Revolution | Lineage society for women who can prove descent from someone who aided American independence, devoted to historic preservation, education and patriotism. |
| DAV | Disabled American Veterans | Nonprofit that helps disabled veterans and their families obtain VA benefits through free claims assistance from trained service officers, and runs programs such as… |
| EDF | Environmental Defense Fund | Environmental organization known for science-based advocacy and market-based solutions, such as emissions trading, to address climate change, pollution and ocean health. |
| EFF | Electronic Frontier Foundation | Nonprofit that defends civil liberties in the digital world, including privacy, free expression and innovation, through litigation, technology projects and advocacy. |
| FFA | National FFA Organization | Youth organization for students in high school agricultural education programs, developing leadership and career skills in agriculture, food science and natural… |
| FIRE | Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression | Nonprofit that defends free speech, due process and academic freedom, originally on college campuses and since 2022 across American society, through litigation… |
| GLAAD | GLAAD (formerly Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) | LGBTQ media advocacy organization that monitors news and entertainment coverage, works with media companies on representation and presents the annual GLAAD Media Awards. |
| GSUSA | Girl Scouts of the USA | Youth organization for girls that teaches leadership, outdoor skills, science and entrepreneurship, famous for its annual cookie sales. |
| HRC | Human Rights Campaign | Largest US LGBTQ advocacy organization, which lobbies for legal protections, supports candidates and publishes the Corporate Equality Index rating companies' policies. |
| HRW | Human Rights Watch | International human rights organization that investigates and reports on abuses in about 100 countries and advocates for accountability. |
| HSUS | Humane Society of the United States | National animal protection organization that campaigns on issues such as factory farming, puppy mills, wildlife trade and animal testing, and supports sanctuaries and… |
| INGO | International nongovernmental organization | Nongovernmental organization that operates in more than one country, typically in humanitarian aid, development, human rights or environmental protection. |
| IRC | International Rescue Committee | Humanitarian organization that responds to crises in more than 40 countries with health care, education and economic support, and helps refugees resettle in US cities. |
| JDRF | Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation | Leading nonprofit funder of research on type 1 diabetes, supporting work on cures, prevention, insulin delivery technology and treatments, and advocating for research… |
| K of C | Knights of Columbus | Catholic fraternal service organization for men that carries out charitable work in parishes and communities and operates a large life insurance business for members… |
| LULAC | League of United Latin American Citizens | Oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States, working on education, voting rights, civil rights and economic opportunity through councils across the… |
| MADD | Mothers Against Drunk Driving | Nonprofit that works to end drunk and drugged driving, support victims of impaired-driving crashes and prevent underage drinking. |
| MDA | Muscular Dystrophy Association | Nonprofit that funds research and provides care and support for people with muscular dystrophy, ALS and other neuromuscular diseases, including a network of specialized… |
| MSF | Médecins Sans Frontières | International medical humanitarian organization, known in English as Doctors Without Borders, that provides emergency medical care in conflicts, epidemics, natural… |
| NA | Narcotics Anonymous | Twelve-step fellowship for people recovering from drug addiction, adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous, holding tens of thousands of meetings a week around the world. |
| NAACP | National Association for the Advancement of Colored People | Oldest and one of the largest US civil rights organizations, working to end racial discrimination through legal action, voter mobilization, lobbying and local branches. |
| NAMI | National Alliance on Mental Illness | Largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States, providing free education programs, support groups and a helpline for people with mental illness and… |
| NARAL | NARAL Pro-Choice America | Abortion-rights advocacy organization that lobbies and campaigns for access to abortion and contraception. |
| NCMEC | National Center for Missing & Exploited Children | Private nonprofit that serves as the US clearinghouse on missing and sexually exploited children, assisting families and law enforcement, distributing AMBER Alerts with… |
| NGO | Nongovernmental organization | Organization that operates independently of government, usually on a nonprofit basis, to pursue social, humanitarian, environmental or advocacy goals. |
| NOW | National Organization for Women | Feminist organization that campaigns for gender equality, reproductive rights, an end to violence against women and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, with chapters… |
| NPO | Nonprofit organization | Organization that uses its revenue to pursue its mission rather than distributing profits to owners or shareholders. |
| NRA | National Rifle Association | US organization that promotes firearms ownership, training and marksmanship and lobbies against restrictions on gun rights through its Institute for Legislative Action. |
| NRDC | Natural Resources Defense Council | Environmental advocacy group that uses litigation, science and lobbying to protect air, water, wildlife and climate. |
| NRLC | National Right to Life Committee | Nationwide organization opposing abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide, which lobbies legislatures, supports candidates and coordinates affiliates in all 50 states. |
| NSPCC | National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children | UK children's charity that works to prevent child abuse, runs a helpline for adults worried about a child and operates Childline, the free counseling service for… |
| NWF | National Wildlife Federation | US conservation organization that works through state affiliates on wildlife habitat, public lands and climate, and publishes children's magazines such as Ranger Rick. |
| PETA | People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals | Animal rights organization that opposes the use of animals for food, clothing, entertainment and experimentation, known for provocative publicity campaigns. |
| PFLAG | PFLAG (formerly Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) | National organization of LGBTQ people, their parents, families and allies that offers peer support groups, education and advocacy through hundreds of local chapters. |
| PPFA | Planned Parenthood Federation of America | National federation of affiliates operating hundreds of health centers that provide contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, cancer… |
| PTA | Parent Teacher Association | Volunteer organization of parents, teachers and staff at a school that raises funds, runs events and advocates for students. |
| RAINN | Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network | Anti-sexual violence organization that operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline with local partner centers, provides online support and works on prevention and… |
| RAND | RAND Corporation | Nonprofit research organization, originally formed to do research for the US Air Force, that studies national security, health, education, energy and other policy… |
| RNLI | Royal National Lifeboat Institution | Charity that runs a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service around the coasts of the UK and Ireland, mostly crewed by volunteers, and provides lifeguards on many… |
| RSF | Reporters Without Borders | International press freedom organization, known in French as Reporters sans frontières, that defends journalists, documents attacks and imprisonment and publishes the… |
| RSPB | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds | UK conservation charity that protects birds and other wildlife, manages more than 200 nature reserves and campaigns on habitat and climate. |
| RSPCA | Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | Animal welfare charity in England and Wales that rescues and rehomes animals, runs animal hospitals and centers, and has inspectors who investigate cruelty and bring… |
| SCLC | Southern Christian Leadership Conference | Civil rights organization founded by Black ministers in 1957, with Martin Luther King Jr. as its first president, to coordinate nonviolent protests against segregation. |
| SNCC | Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee | Civil rights organization formed by college students in 1960 that organized sit-ins, joined the Freedom Rides and led voter registration drives such as the 1964… |
| SPCA | Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | Generic name used by many independent local and national animal welfare organizations around the world, which run shelters, investigate cruelty and promote adoption. |
| SPLC | Southern Poverty Law Center | Civil rights legal advocacy organization based in Montgomery, Alabama, known for lawsuits against white supremacist groups and for tracking hate and extremist groups in… |
| TNC | The Nature Conservancy | Global environmental nonprofit that protects land and water, often by buying or arranging conservation easements on ecologically important property, and works on… |
| UNCF | UNCF (formerly United Negro College Fund) | Organization that raises money for scholarships and for the operating support of member private historically Black colleges and universities. |
| USO | United Service Organizations | Nonprofit organization that supports US service members and their families with airport lounges, entertainment tours, care packages and programs at bases worldwide. |
| VFW | Veterans of Foreign Wars | Veterans organization founded in 1899 for US service members who served honorably in a foreign war, campaign or hostile area, known for local posts, advocacy and claims… |
| WWF | World Wide Fund for Nature | International conservation organization working on wildlife protection, habitats, climate and sustainable food and forestry in about 100 countries. |
| WWP | Wounded Warrior Project | Veterans' charity serving service members and veterans who were physically or mentally injured during or after military service since September 11, 2001, with mental… |
| YMCA | Young Men's Christian Association | Worldwide nonprofit, known in the United States as "the Y", that runs community centers with gyms, swimming pools, child care, camps and youth programs, open to people… |
| YWCA | Young Women's Christian Association | Women's organization, separate from the YMCA, that provides programs on racial justice, women's economic empowerment, domestic violence services, child care and housing. |