NTEE Code Search: How to Find and Understand Nonprofit Classifications
NTEE codes classify nonprofits by mission and programs, making it easier to search, compare, and evaluate organizations across causes and geographies.
Nonprofit Research
How to Do an NTEE Code Search
You can search for an NTEE code using a nonprofit’s name or Employer Identification Number (EIN). The Giving Compass NTEE Code Finder makes it quick and easy to find the NTEE code for more than 1.9 million nonprofits.
Giving Compass NTEE Code Finder
What Is an NTEE Code?
Just as the Dewey Decimal system helps library goers find a book or the Periodic Table helps chemists identify properties of elements, the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system gives donors, funders, and researchers a shared language for understanding the nonprofit sector.
An NTEE code is a classification system used to categorize tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in the United States. Originally developed in the 1980s by the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), part of the Urban Institute, the system has been used by the IRS since the mid-1990s to classify every organization recognized as tax-exempt under I.R.C. § 501(a).
When a nonprofit receives its tax-exempt status, an IRS specialist assigns the organization an NTEE code as part of the case-closing process.
Ready for more than just basic classifications?
Search By Intent, Not Codes
Finding the right nonprofit shouldn’t require knowing the magic words. That’s the point of natural language search in Giving Compass. You don’t need to know the right keywords. Just describe what you’re looking for to:
- Understand the geographic coverage of nonprofits with a particular NTEE category
- Find small nonprofits focused on a specific issue
- See what a set of nonprofits say they accomplished in their impact reports
Get started by searching a specific issue area.
How to Find and Understand a Nonprofit’s NTEE Code
There are 645 NTEE code categories. Every code is three to four characters, and each character signals a different level of classification:
- First character (a letter): Defines the broad category. For example, “L” applies to all organizations in the Housing & Shelter category.
- Second and third characters (numbers): Define the general type of organization within that category. For example, “L40” applies to Low Cost, Temporary Housing.
- Fourth character (if present): Signals a specific subcategory for greater precision.
To look up a complete list of NTEE codes, visit the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search or simply search Giving Compass, where each nonprofit’s profile includes its NTEE code.
When to Use NTEE Codes and Why
NTEE codes are a practical tool for a range of people across the philanthropic ecosystem:
- Grant Cycle Review: Foundations and grantmakers use NTEE codes to review applicants or pre-screen candidates and identify organizations that align with their funding priorities.
- Compliance Monitoring: The IRS and other governing bodies use NTEE codes to track nonprofit activities and ensure tax compliance.
- Nonprofit Discovery: Individual donors, philanthropic advisors, and academic researchers use NTEE code searches to find organizations aligned with specific causes, client interests, or research parameters.
- Landscape Analysis: Nonprofits can use NTEE lookups to identify peers, understand the competitive landscape, benchmark performance, analyze trends, and find potential collaborators.
What NTEE Codes Miss
NTEE codes are a useful starting point, but they have real limitations.
In recent years, organizations, including the Urban Institute and Candid, have identified gaps in the system and developed their own updated taxonomies. Common critiques include outdated or misassigned codes, rigid classifications that don’t reflect the complexity of today’s nonprofit sector, and insufficient differentiation between some categories.
There’s also a structural mismatch with how people actually search today. As natural language search has advanced, people increasingly look for nonprofits the way they speak, using phrases, questions, and context rather than categorical codes. Natural language search can surface richer, more relevant results than NTEE codes alone.
Common Questions About NTEE Codes
Can a nonprofit have more than one NTEE code?
The IRS assigns one NTEE code per nonprofit. However, a nonprofit’s mission can span multiple categories, so NTEE codes should not be the only factor in assessing whether an organization meets funding or research criteria.
Who assigns NTEE codes?
The Internal Revenue Service assigns an NTEE code during the application process for tax-exempt status.
Can NTEE codes change?
Yes. The Urban Institute estimates that 25% of nonprofits have incomplete or inaccurate NTEE codes. An organization can request a reclassification by submitting a letter to the IRS.
Are there other classification systems for nonprofits?
Yes. Updated alternatives include the Urban Institute’s NTEE Version 2 (NTEEV2) and Candid’s Philanthropic Classification System (PCS), both of which offer more current and nuanced taxonomies for nonprofit classification.