What was the need to be a 501 c 3?
Could the groups associate and function without being a 501 c 3?
Just wondering why, is all.
Because a 501(c)3 is tax exempt. Without it, every bake sale or fish fry your organization holds is taxable.
Being “501(c)(3)” means that a particular nonprofit organization has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, charitable organization. “Charitable” is broadly defined as being established for purposes that are religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering of national or international amateur sports, or prevention of cruelty to animals and children