[BanTheBastards]

> They are registered as a 501(c)(3) which is what people commonly call a public charity.

Why do they do that? Seems ridiculous on the face of it. Nothing about 501(c)(3) entails providing any sort of good or service to society at large. In fact, the very same thing prevents them from competing with for-profit entities at providing any good or service to society at large. The only reason they exist at all is that for-profit companies are terrible at feeding, housing, and protecting their own labor force.

[duskwuff]

> Nothing about 501(c)(3) entails providing any sort of good or service to society at large.

Sure it does:

https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organiz...

[dragonwriter]

> Nothing about 501(c)(3) entails providing any sort of good or service to society at large.

While one might disagree that the particular subcategories into which a 501c3 must fit into one of do, in fact, provide a good or service to society at large, that's the rationale for 501c3 and its categories. Its true that "charity" or "charitable organization" (and "charitable purpose"), the common terms (used even by the IRS) is pedantically incomplete, since the actual purpose part of the requirement in the statute is "organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals", but, yeah, it does require something which policymakers have judged to be a good or service that benefits society at large.