Legal to Restrict membership?

A North Carolina nonprofit, which does not have exemption status, provides learning and travel opportunities for people 50 years of age and older. This nonprofit is affiliated with a local community college, which is eligible for state funding. At present, no proof of age is required to join the travel/learn organization. It was recently determined that a new member is younger than age 50. Is it legal for the nonprofit to deny membership?

[which does not have exemption status,]


Yes normally you can have age groups and it has been help legal.

If it is non-profit but not 501 c 3 exempt then what do you actually mean and how do you know.

The non-profit is definitely not a 501(c)3. I realize if it did have exempt status that it can be legal to restrict membership based on age.

However, because this non-profit does not have an exempt status, my understanding is that they can have guidelines for what age group they are targeting, but it may be considered discriminatory to restrict/deny membership based on someone's age. Is my understanding correct?