Non-Profit Organization in a For-Profit Business?

We are a small publication for Pharmacy Buyers.  We've recently been in discussion to form a professional organization for Pharmacy Buyers.

Is it possible to create a non-profit professsional organization within the for-profit publication?

I'm guessing that you would have to create a separate entity.

Could still be run by the same people. Might even be a wholly owned subsidiary.

Time to talk to a tax pro.

Why not run the publication as a nonprofit?

I once was involved in a nonprofit education service --the primary reason for being nonprofit was as a nonprofit we got super low mailing rates--for over 15 million pieces of mail--if the economic truth be told........