In the United States, qualified nonprofits are eligible to receive significant discounts in postage from the USPS for certain types of mailing. Postalytics has created a process for these nonprofits to configure their USPS Nonprofit Mailing Permits within their accounts and with our print partners. After the permits are reviewed and configured, nonprofits can access per piece pricing that reflects the lower USPS postage costs.
What are the Nonprofit Eligibility Requirements?
According to the USPS, there are 10 types of organizations that may be approved to access USPS Nonprofit Marketing Mail pricing. This page describes the USPS policy in greater detail: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Who-is-Eligible-to-Use-Nonprofit-Mail
If your organization qualifies to send direct mail at USPS Nonprofit prices, you’ll need to apply for and receive authorization by the USPS (not the IRS) before you can configure your information in your Postalytics account.
The following link provides more information on how to apply (if you haven’t already): https://faq.usps.com/s/article/How-do-I-apply-to-Use-Nonprofit-USPS-Marketing-Mail
Here’s the actual form “Application to Mail at Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail Prices” that you can fill out and bring to your local post office to kick off the process.
In addition to USPS Nonprofit Authorization, you'll need to have your USPS Permit Imprint Number. This number is obtained by submitting form ps3615, "Mailing Permit Application and Customer Profile" to your local Business Mail Entry Unit or Post Office, and paying the associated fees.
The following link guides you through this process: https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=PermitApplication
Within Postalytics there are limitations on how and when you can use Nonprofit postage:
- Your Postalytics plan must be Pro, Agency or higher (Free and Marketer plans are not eligible)
- Smart Send campaigns of 250 or more pieces are eligible (no Triggered Drip campaigns)
Set Up Your Nonprofit Permit in Postalytics
In the next section, we'll walk you through completing the Postalytics Mailing Application and Agreement, which includes:
- Providing information found within your permits.
- Agreement to the specific Postalytics Nonprofit mailing terms and conditions.
This internal approval process will take a few days for us and our print partners to confirm and configure the permit information so that the appropriate nonprofit indicia will be applied to your mailers.
Completing the Application and Agreement
Access the Postage Mailing Application and Agreement by clicking on "Postage Permit" within the dropdown menu under your Username.
General Information
Enter the contact information that we’ll use to keep you updated on the progress in getting your permit information configured.
Next, choose “United States” in the Permit Country drop down and then “Nonprofit” in the Permit Type drop down.
Once "Nonprofit" Permit Type is selected, the remaining sections of the application will populate.
Permit Information
Complete the Name, Company, Address, Registration ID, Permit Imprint Number, and Nonprioft Authorization Number. It is very important that the information entered exactly matches what is shown within the permits. If something as simple as the organization name or address is incorrect, we won’t be able to approve the permit internally and/or process the mail properly, delaying your mailing.
Deduct Postage from Permit Account?
The next question pertains to how your Nonprofit postage is paid.
You have a choice to either have Postalytics pay the postage on behalf of you, or pay the postage using a “self funded” postage account, maintained by you. Here's the breakdown of each choice:
No, pay postage
- The postage will be paid by Postalytics, and postage will be bundled into a single, per piece charge.
Yes, Deduct Postage From Permit Account
- Requires a current, self funded postage account.
- Only choose this selection if you have and will maintain enough of a balance in the USPS postage account to cover all Postalytics mailings.
- Postage is paid through the self funded postage account, and Postalytics will only charge you for the difference between the Nonprofit per piece fee for your mailing less the Nonprofit postage fee.
Business Reply Mail Envelopes
You have the option to use Customized Business Reply Mail Envelopes when mailing a letter format. If you'd like to use this option, click "Yes" in the dropdown menu and see our help article, "Business Reply Mail Envelopes (BRE)", for the additional steps and permit information needed.
For the purposes of this help article, "No" has been selected.
Finally, you’ll need to agree to the “Postage Mailing Agreement”, which outlines your responsibilities to use the Nonprofit postage according to the rules the USPS has set up that govern Nonprofit postage usage.
There are two places that require an agreement.
1) On the righthand side of the form, with a checkbox and initials:
2) Below "Use Business Reply Mail Envelopes", by selecting "Yes" from the dropdown menu.
Once both required agreements are complete, select “Apply” at the bottom of the page.
Permit Application Approval and Next Steps
The application will be in “Pending” status for a couple of days while Postalytics and our print partners:
- Confirm the information that was provided in the application with the USPS.
- Distribute your nonprofit indicia throughout our systems.
You’ll see the banner “Your application is under review.” on your Postalytics Home Dashboard as well as on this Postage Permit page.
Start Sending Mail Using Nonprofit Postage Rates
You can now use the Direct Mail Credits tool to purchase credits with Nonprofit pricing and create Smart Send Campaigns with lists of at least 250 valid contacts. Mail sent with your Nonprofit postage permit will have the specific indicia generated by your application.