You can be a non-profit and not a 501c3. A 501c3 is an exempt purposes non-profit, specifically "charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testi

You can be a non-profit and not a 501c3. A 501c3 is an exempt purposes non-profit, specifically "charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals."