The Internal Revenue Service has released an online widget that charities, donors, and volunteers can place on their Web or social-networking sites “to help spread the word about the one-time filing relief for small organizations at risk of losing their tax-exempt status.”

The IRS announced in July that small groups in danger of losing their exemptions because they have failed to file required informational tax returns (called Forms 990-N or e-Postcards) can preserve their charitable status by filing returns by October 15, 2010.

The new widget directs charities to click on the IRS Web site to obtain key information.

“When local charities lose, everybody loses: Protect your favorite charity’s tax-exempt status,” the widget says in part. “Many do not know of this law, or that they are at risk.”

Instructions are provided on how to post the widgets. An example can be found below: