View source for Nonprofit organization

{{Short description|Organization operated for a collective benefit}}
{{Distinguish|Non-governmental organization|Not-for-profit organization|Charitable organization}}
{{Redirect|Registered association|the legal status in Finland and Germany|Registered association (Finland)|and|Registered association (Germany)}}
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[[File:Flag of UNICEF.svg|thumb|306x306px|Flag of the [[UNICEF|United Nations Children's Fund]] (UNICEF), an organization of the [[United Nations]]]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}

A '''nonprofit organization''' ('''NPO'''), also known as a '''nonbusiness entity''',<ref name="ciconte">{{cite book|last1 = Ciconte|first1 = Barbara L.|last2 = Jacob|first2 = Jeanne|date = 2009|title = Fundraising Basics: A Complete Guide|location= Burlington, Massachusetts|publisher = Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn= 9780763746667}}</ref> '''nonprofit institution''',<ref>{{cite web|title=System of National Accounts |date=1993 |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/nationalaccount/docs/1993sna.pdf|publisher=United Nations Statistics Division|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017035311/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/nationalaccount/docs/1993sna.pdf|archive-date=17 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> or simply a '''nonprofit''',{{efn|As a [[nominalized adjective]].}} is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, as opposed to an entity that operates as a business aiming to generate a [[Profit (accounting)|profit]] for its owners. A nonprofit organization is subject to the non-distribution constraint: any revenues that exceed expenses must be committed to the organization's purpose, not taken by private parties. Depending on the local laws, [[charities]] are regularly organized as non-profits. A host of organizations may be nonprofit, including some political organizations, schools, hospitals, business associations, churches, foundations, social clubs, and consumer cooperatives. Nonprofit entities may seek approval from governments to be [[Tax exemption|tax-exempt]], and some may also qualify to receive [[tax-deductible]] contributions, but an entity may incorporate as a nonprofit entity without having tax-exempt status.

Key aspects of nonprofits are accountability, trustworthiness, honesty, and openness to every person who has invested time, money, and faith into the organization. Nonprofit organizations are accountable to the donors, founders, volunteers, program recipients, and the public community. Theoretically, for a nonprofit that seeks to finance its operations through donations, public confidence is a factor in the amount of money that a nonprofit organization is able to raise. Supposedly, the more a nonprofit focuses on their mission, the more public confidence they will gain. This will result in more money for the organization.<ref name="ciconte"/> The activities a nonprofit is partaking in can help build the public's confidence in nonprofits, as well as how ethical the standards and practices are.

There is an important distinction in the US<!--and possibly elsewhere, maybe with different words?--> between {{Em|non-profit}} and {{Em|[[not-for-profit organization]]s}} (NFPOs);  while an NFPO does not profit its owners, and money goes into running the organization, it is not required to operate for the public good. An example is a sports club, whose purpose is its members' enjoyment.<ref name=heaslip>{{cite web | last=Heaslip | first=Emily | title=Nonprofit, Not-for Profit & For-Profit Organizations Explained |publisher=US Chambers of Commerce| date=6 February 2023<!--from page source-->| url=https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/nonprofit-vs-not-for-profit-vs-for-profit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111074842/https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/nonprofit-vs-not-for-profit-vs-for-profit |archive-date= Jan 11, 2024 }}</ref> The names used and precise regulations vary from one [[jurisdiction]] to another.

== United States ==

According to the [[National Center for Charitable Statistics]] (NCCS), there are more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations registered in the [[United States]], including [[Charitable organization|public charities]], [[private foundation]]s, and other nonprofit organizations. Private charitable contributions increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2017 (since 2014), at an estimated $410.02 billion. Out of these contributions, religious organizations received 30.9%, education organizations received 14.3%, and human services organizations received 12.1%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nccs.urban.org/publication/nonprofit-sector-brief-2018#giving |title=The Nonprofit Sector in Brief 2018: Public Charities, Giving, and Volunteering |last=McKeever |first=Brice S. |date=November 2018 |access-date=24 April 2020 |publisher=Urban Institute National Center for Charitable Statistics |archive-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102707/https://nccs.urban.org/publication/nonprofit-sector-brief-2018#giving |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between September 2010 and September 2014, approximately 25.3% of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered for a nonprofit.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://nccs.urban.org/data-statistics/quick-facts-about-nonprofits|title = Quick Facts About Nonprofits|work = National Center for Charitable Statistics|publisher = Urban Institute|access-date = 12 December 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171218131455/http://nccs.urban.org/data-statistics/quick-facts-about-nonprofits|archive-date = 18 December 2017|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In the United States, both nonprofit organizations and {{Em|[[not-for-profit organization]]s}} are tax-exempt. There are various types of nonprofit exemptions, such as [[501(c)(3) organization]]s that are a religious, charitable, or educational-based organization that does not influence state and federal legislation, and [[501(c)(7)]] organizations that are for pleasure, recreation, or another nonprofit purpose.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Clubs {{!}} Internal Revenue Service |url=https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/social-clubs |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=www.irs.gov |language=en}}</ref>

There is an important distinction in the US<!--and possibly elsewhere, maybe with different words?--> between {{Em|non-profit}} and {{Em|[[not-for-profit organization]]s}} (NFPOs);  while an NFPO does not profit its owners, and money goes into running the organization, it is not required to operate for the public good. An example is a club, whose purpose is its members' enjoyment.<ref name=heaslip/> Other examples of NFPOs include: credit unions, sports clubs, and advocacy groups. Nonprofit organizations provide services to the community; for example aid and development programs, medical research, education, and health services. It is possible for a nonprofit to be both member-serving and community-serving.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

== Fundraising ==

Nonprofit organizations are not driven by generating profit, but they must bring in enough income to pursue their social goals. Nonprofits are able to raise money in different ways. This includes income from donations from individual donors or foundations; sponsorship from corporations; government funding; programs, services or merchandise sales, and investments.<ref>Sacristán López de los Mozos, I., Rodríguez Duarte, A., & Rodríguez Ruiz, Ó. (2016). Resource dependence in non-profit organizations: is it harder to fundraise if you diversify your revenue structure?. ''Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary & Nonprofit Organizations'', 27(6), 2641–2665.</ref> Each NPO is unique in which source of income works best for them. With an increase in NPOs since 2010, organizations have adopted competitive advantages to create revenue for themselves to remain financially stable. Donations from private individuals or organizations can change each year and government grants have diminished. With changes in funding from year to year, many nonprofit organizations have been moving toward increasing the diversity of their funding sources. For example, many nonprofits that have relied on government grants have started fundraising efforts to appeal to individual donors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Global Trends in Giving Report|url=https://www.funraise.org/giving-report |access-date=2022-04-25 |publisher=Funraise}}</ref>

== Management ==
Most nonprofits have staff that work for the company, possibly using volunteers to perform the nonprofit's services under the direction of the paid staff. Nonprofits must be careful to balance the salaries paid to staff against the money paid to provide services to the nonprofit's beneficiaries. Organizations whose salary expenses are too high relative to their program expenses may face regulatory scrutiny.<ref>Simkovich, D. (2017). How to Run a Non-Profit Organization. Retrieved from https://www.donateforcharity.com/nonprofit/a-nonprofit-you-pick-later/</ref>

A second misconception is that nonprofit organizations may not make a profit. Although the goal of nonprofits is not specifically to maximize profits, they still have to operate as a fiscally responsible business. They must manage their income (both grants and donations and income from services) and expenses so as to remain a fiscally viable entity. Nonprofits have the responsibility of focusing on being professional and financially responsible, replacing self-interest and [[profit motive]] with mission motive.<ref>Anheier, K. H. (2005). ''Nonprofit Organizations: An Introduction.'' New York, NY: Routledge.</ref>

Though nonprofits are managed differently from for-profit businesses, they have felt pressure to be more businesslike. To combat private and public business growth in the public service industry, nonprofits have modeled their business management and mission, shifting their reason of existing to establish sustainability and growth.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1177/0899764006295996| title=An Investigation of Innovation in Nonprofit Organizations: The Role of Organizational Mission| journal=Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly| volume=36| issue=2| pages=256–281| year=2007| last1=McDonald| first1=Robert E.| s2cid=144378017}}</ref>

Setting effective missions is a key for the successful management of nonprofit organizations.<ref name=":0" /> There are three important conditions for effective mission: opportunity, competence, and commitment.<ref name=":0" />

One way of managing the sustainability of nonprofit organizations is to establish strong relations with donor groups.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Managing the Non-profit Organization: Principles and Practices|last=Drucker|first=Peter|publisher=HarperBusiness|year=2006|isbn=978-0060851149|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/managingnonprofi0000druc}}</ref> This requires a donor marketing strategy, something many nonprofits lack.<ref name=":0" />

==Functions==
Nonprofit organizations provide public goods that are undersupplied by government.<ref>Weisbrod, Burton, 1977. The Voluntary Nonprofit Sector: An Economic Analysis, Lexington Books, New York.</ref> NPOs have a wide diversity of structures and purposes. For legal classification, there are, nevertheless, some elements of importance:
* Management provisions
* Accountability and auditing provisions
* Provisory for the amendment of the statutes or articles of incorporation
* Provisions for the dissolution of the entity
* Tax statuses of corporate and private donors
* Tax status of the founders

Some of the above must be (in most jurisdictions in the US at least) expressed in the organization's charter of establishment or constitution. Others may be provided by the supervising authority at each particular jurisdiction.

While affiliations will not affect a legal status, they may be taken into consideration by legal proceedings as an indication of purpose. Most countries have laws that regulate the establishment and management of NPOs and that require compliance with [[corporate governance]] regimes. Most larger organizations are required to publish their financial reports detailing their income and expenditure publicly.

In many aspects, they are similar to corporate [[business entity|business entities]] though there are often significant differences. Both not-for-profit{{Clarify|date=December 2023|reason="non-profit" and "not-for-profit" are different concepts (at least in the US)}} and [[for-profit]] corporate entities must have board members, steering-committee members, or trustees who owe the organization a [[fiduciary duty]] of loyalty and trust. A notable exception to this involves [[Church (building)|churches]], which are often not required to disclose finances to anyone, including church members.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ansberger|first=Paul|date=2008|title=A History of the Tax-Exempt Sector: An SOI Perspective|url=https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/tehistory.pdf|journal=Statistics of Income Bulletin|volume=Winter 2008|pages=105–135|via=IRS|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102703/https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/tehistory.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Formation and structure===
In the United States, nonprofit organizations are formed by filing bylaws, [[articles of incorporation]], or both in the state in which they expect to operate. The act of incorporation creates a legal entity enabling the organization to be treated as a distinct body (corporation) by law and to enter into business dealings, form contracts, and own property as individuals or for-profit corporations can.

Nonprofits can have members, but many do not. The nonprofit may also be a [[Trust law|trust]] or [[Voluntary association|association]] of members. The organization may be controlled by its members who elect the [[board of directors]], [[board of governors]] or board of [[trustee]]s. A nonprofit may have a delegate structure to allow for the representation of groups or corporations as members. Alternatively, it may be a non-membership organization and the board of directors may elect its own successors.

The two major types of nonprofit organization are membership and board-only. A membership organization elects the board and has regular meetings and the power to amend the bylaws. A board-only organization typically has a self-selected board and a membership whose powers are limited to those delegated to it by the board. A board-only organization's bylaws may even state that the organization does not have any membership, although the organization's literature may refer to its donors or service recipients as 'members'; examples of such organizations are [[FairVote]]<ref>[http://www.fairvote.org/?page=6 FairVote – Board of Directors<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030044259/http://fairvote.org/?page=6 |date=30 October 2008 }}.</ref><ref>[http://www.fairvote.org/?page=168 FairVote – FAQs<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023121012/http://www.fairvote.org/?page=168 |date=23 October 2008 }}.</ref> and the [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws]].<ref>[http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3416 NORML Board of Directors – NORML<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030033542/http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3416 |date=30 October 2008 }}.</ref> The [[Model Nonprofit Corporation Act]] imposes many complexities and requirements on membership decision-making.<ref>{{cite book|title=How to Convert Taxes into Profits: Professional Guide for Non Profit Organizations|publisher=International Business Publications|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I9zBptuV1-wC&q=The+Model+Nonprofit+Corporation+Act+imposes+many+complexities+and+requirements+on+membership+decision-making&pg=PA12|access-date=28 October 2014|isbn=9781438722160|date=20 March 2009}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Accordingly, many organizations, such as the [[Wikimedia Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws#ARTICLE_III_-_MEMBERSHIP |title=Bylaws |publisher=Wikimedia Foundation |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=31 July 2010 |archive-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123082936/http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws#ARTICLE_III_-_MEMBERSHIP |url-status=live }}</ref> have formed board-only structures. The [[National Association of Parliamentarians]] has generated concerns about the implications of this trend for the future of openness, accountability, and understanding of public concerns in nonprofit organizations. Specifically, they note that nonprofit organizations, unlike business corporations, are not subject to [[market discipline]] for products and shareholder discipline of their capital; therefore, without membership control of major decisions such as the election of the board, there are few inherent safeguards against abuse.<ref>{{Citation |title=ABA Code Revision Raises Concerns for Democracy and Parliamentary Law in Nonprofits|author1=Malamut, Michael E.  |author2=Blach, Thomas J.  |name-list-style=amp |publisher=National Parliamentarian, Volume 69, No. 1 |year=2008 }}</ref><ref>''Charity on Trial: What You Need to Know Before You Give'' / Doug White (2007) {{ISBN|1-56980-301-3}}.</ref> A rebuttal to this might be that as nonprofit organizations grow and seek larger donations, the degree of scrutiny increases, including expectations of audited financial statements.<ref>[https://ssrn.com/abstract=727363 SSRN-Voluntary Disclosure in Nonprofit Organizations: an Exploratory Study by Bruce Behn, Delwyn DeVries, Jing Lin<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102706/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=727363 |date=20 March 2021 }}.</ref> A further rebuttal might be that NPOs are constrained, by their choice of legal structure, from financial benefit as far as distribution of profit to members and directors is concerned.

===Tax exemption===
In many countries, nonprofits may apply for [[tax-exempt]] status, so that the organization itself may be exempt from income tax and other taxes. In the United States, to be exempt from federal income taxes, the organization must meet the requirements set forth in the [[Internal Revenue Code]] (IRC). Granting nonprofit status is done by the state, while granting tax-exempt designation (such as IRC [[501(c)]]) is granted by the federal government via the IRS. This means that not all nonprofits are eligible to be tax-exempt.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Applying-for-Tax-Exemption |title=Applying for Exemption – Difference Between Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Status |publisher=Internal Revenue Service |access-date=18 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016211718/http://www.irs.gov/Charities-%26-Non-Profits/Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Applying-for-Tax-Exemption |archive-date=16 October 2012 }}</ref> For example, employees of non-profit organizations pay taxes from their salaries, which they receive according to the laws of the country. NPOs use the model of a [[double bottom line]] in that furthering their cause is more important than making a profit, though both are needed to ensure the organization's sustainability.<ref>The Nonprofit Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run Your Nonprofit Organization (Paperback), Gary M. Grobman, White Hat Communications, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/not-for-profit?q=not-for-profit+|title=not-for-profit – definition of not-for-profit in English from the Oxford dictionary|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102702/https://languages.oup.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> An advantage of nonprofits registered in the UK is that they benefit from some reliefs and exemptions. Charities and nonprofits are exempt from Corporation Tax as well as the trustees being exempt from Income Tax.<ref>{{Cite web|last=UK|first=Government|date=12 October 2020|title=Charities and tax|url=https://www.gov.uk/charities-and-tax}}</ref> There may also be tax relief available for charitable giving, via Gift Aid, monetary donations, and legacies.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Plus|first=Accountants|date=4 July 2024|title=Charity Accountants|url=https://www.accountantsplus.net/charity-accountants/}}</ref>

== Problems ==

=== Founder's syndrome ===
{{Main|Founder's syndrome}}
Founder's syndrome is an issue organizations experience as they expand. Dynamic founders, who have a strong vision of how to operate the project, try to retain control of the organization, even as new employees or volunteers want to expand the project's scope or change policy.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Block|first1=Stephen R.|last2=Rosenberg|first2=Steven|title=Toward and Understanding of Founder's Syndrome|journal=Nonprofit Management & Leadership|date=Summer 2002|volume=12|issue=4|page=353|doi=10.1002/nml.12403}}</ref>

==== Resource mismanagement ====
Resource mismanagement is a particular problem with NPOs because the employees are not accountable to anyone who has a direct stake in the organization. For example, an employee may start a new program without disclosing its complete liabilities. The employee may be rewarded for improving the NPO's reputation, making other employees happy, and attracting new donors. Liabilities promised on the full faith and credit of the organization but not recorded anywhere constitute [[accounting fraud]]. But even indirect liabilities negatively affect the financial sustainability of the NPO, and the NPO will have financial problems unless strict controls are instated.<ref>{{cite book|title=Audit Guide for Small Nonprofit Organizations|url=http://www.vscpa.com/content/Visitors/Nonprofit_Resources/Audit_Guide.aspx|access-date=21 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104103321/http://www.vscpa.com/content/Visitors/Nonprofit_Resources/Audit_Guide.aspx|archive-date=4 January 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some commenters have argued that the receipt of significant funding from large for-profit corporations can ultimately alter the NPO's functions.<ref>{{cite news|editor1-first=M. |editor1-last=Edwards |editor2-first=D. |editor2-last=Hulme |date=2002|title= NGO Performance and Accountability: Introduction and Overview (Chapter 11)|work= The Earthscan Reader on NGO Management|location= UK|publisher= Earthscan Publications Ltd.}}</ref> A frequent measure of an NPO's efficiency is its [[Expense ratio#Nonprofit organizations|expense ratio]] (i.e. expenditures on things other than its programs, divided by its total expenditures).

=== Competition for talent ===
Competition for employees with the public and [[private sector]] is another problem that nonprofit organizations inevitably face, particularly for management positions. There are reports of major talent shortages in the nonprofit sector today regarding newly graduated workers,<ref>{{cite news|author=Chertavian, G.|title=Nonprofits Need to Compete for Top Talent|url=https://hbr.org/2013/03/nonprofits-need-to-compete-for|work=Harvard Business Review|date=March 2013|access-date=10 December 2014|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102715/https://hbr.org/2013/03/nonprofits-need-to-compete-for|url-status=live}}</ref> and to some, NPOs have for too long{{Opinion|date=November 2021}} relegated hiring to a secondary priority,<ref name="auto">{{cite web | last=Maw | first=Liz | title=Winning the Talent Game | url=https://ssir.org/articles/entry/winning_the_talent_game | date=9 July 2014 | work=Stanford Social Innovation Review | access-date=6 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807002149/https://ssir.org/articles/entry/winning_the_talent_game | archive-date=7 August 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref> which could be why they find themselves in the position many do. While many established NPOs are well-funded and comparative to their [[public sector]] competitors, many more are independent and must be creative with which incentives they use to attract and maintain vibrant personalities. The initial interest for many is the remuneration package, though many who have been questioned after leaving an NPO have reported that it was stressful work environments and implacable work that drove them away.<ref>{{cite journal|last1 = Becchetti|first1 = Leonardo|last2 = Castriota|first2 = Stefano|last3 = Depedri|first3 = Sara|title = Working in the for-profit versus not-for-profit sector: what difference does it make? An inquiry on preferences of voluntary and involuntary movers|url = https://academic.oup.com/icc/article/23/4/1087/819911|journal = Industrial and Corporate Change|volume = 23|issue = 4|date = 1 August 2014|pages = 1087–1120|doi = 10.1093/icc/dtt044|doi-access = free|access-date = 28 March 2018|archive-date = 20 March 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102733/https://academic.oup.com/icc/article/23/4/1087/819911|url-status = live}}</ref>

Public- and private-sector employment have, for the most part, been able to offer more to their employees than most nonprofit agencies throughout history. Either in the form of higher wages, more comprehensive benefit packages, or less tedious work, the public and private sectors have enjoyed an advantage over NPOs in attracting employees. Traditionally, the NPO has attracted mission-driven individuals who want to assist their chosen cause. Compounding the issue is that some NPOs do not operate in a manner similar to most businesses, or only seasonally. This leads many young and driven employees to forego NPOs in favor of more stable employment. Today, however, nonprofit organizations are adopting methods used by their competitors and finding new means to retain their employees and attract the best of the newly minted workforce.<ref>{{cite web|last = Cohen|first = R.|title = Nonprofit Salaries: Achieving Parity with the Private Sector|url = https://nonprofitquarterly.org/management/5506-nonprofit-salaries-achieving-parity-with-the-private-sector.html|date = 21 June 2010|work = Nonprofit Quarterly|access-date = 10 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141211005101/https://nonprofitquarterly.org/management/5506-nonprofit-salaries-achieving-parity-with-the-private-sector.html|archive-date = 11 December 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref>

It has been mentioned that most nonprofits will never be able to match the pay of the private sector<ref>{{cite web |last = Coffman |first = S. |title = Nonprofits Can Compete with Employee Benefits |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2002/12/23/focus4.html?page=all |date = 23 December 2002 |work = Columbus Business First |access-date = 10 December 2014 |archive-date = 20 March 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102708/https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2002/12/23/focus4.html?page=all |url-status = live }}</ref> and therefore should focus their attention on benefits packages, incentives and implementing pleasurable work environments. A good environment is ranked higher than salary and pressure of work.<ref name="auto" /> NPOs are encouraged to pay as much as they are able and offer a low-stress work environment that the employee can associate him or herself positively with. Other incentives that should be implemented are generous vacation allowances or flexible work hours.<ref>{{cite news|last = Fox|first = T.|title = How to Compete with the Private Sector for Young Workers|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2014/03/18/how-to-compete-with-the-private-sector-for-young-workers/|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = 18 March 2014|access-date = 6 September 2017|archive-date = 20 March 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210320102730/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2014/03/18/how-to-compete-with-the-private-sector-for-young-workers/|url-status = live}}</ref>

== Online presence ==
When selecting a [[domain name]], NPOs often use one of the following: [[.org]], the [[country code top-level domain]] of their respective country, or the [[.edu]] [[top-level domain]] (TLD), to differentiate themselves from more commercial entities, which typically use [[.com]].

In the traditional domain noted in {{IETF RFC|1591}}, .org is for "organizations that didn't fit anywhere else" in the naming system, which implies that it is the proper category for non-commercial organizations if they are not governmental, educational, or one of the other types with a specific TLD. It is not designated specifically for charitable organizations or any specific organizational or tax-law status, but encompasses anything that is not classifiable as another category. Currently, no restrictions are enforced on registration of .com or .org, so one can find organizations of all sorts in either of those domains, as well as other top-level domains including newer, more specific ones which may apply to particular sorts of organization including [[.museum]] for museums and [[.coop]] for [[cooperative]]s. Organizations might also register by the appropriate country code top-level domain for their country.

== Alternative names ==
Some organizations offer new, positive-sounding alternative terminology to describe the sector. The term ''civil society organization'' (CSO) has been used by a growing number of organizations, including the ''Center for the Study of Global Governance''.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Glasius|editor-first1=Marlies|editor-last2=Kaldor|editor-first2=Mary|editor-last3=Anheier|editor-first3=Helmut|url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/Depts/global/yearbook06-7.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070424172538/http://www.lse.ac.uk/Depts/global/yearbook06-7.htm|archive-date=24 April 2007|title=Global Civil Society 2006/7|publisher=Sage|year=2005}}</ref> The term ''citizen sector organization'' (CSO) has also been advocated to describe the sector&nbsp;– as one of citizens, for citizens&nbsp;– by organizations including [[Ashoka: Innovators for the Public]].<ref>Drayton, W: [http://www.alliancemagazine.org/opinion/words-matter/ "Words Matter"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010444/http://www.alliancemagazine.org/opinion/words-matter/ |date=7 November 2017 }}. Alliance Magazine, Vol. 12/No.2, June 2007.</ref> Advocates argue that these terms describe the sector in its own terms, without relying on terminology used for the government or business sectors. However, use of terminology by a nonprofit of self-descriptive language that is not legally compliant risks confusing the public about nonprofit abilities, capabilities, and limitations.<ref>Alvarado, Elliott I.: "Nonprofit or Not-for-profit – Which Are You?", page 6–7. Nonprofit World, Volume 18, Number 6, November/December 2000.</ref>

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[501(c) organization]]
* [[Community organization]]
* [[Fundraising]]
* [[Master of Nonprofit Organizations]]
* [[Mutual organization]]
* [[Non-commercial activity]]
* [[Non-governmental organization]]
* [[Nonprofit organization laws by jurisdiction]]
* [[Non-profit organizations and access to public information]]
* [[Non-profit technology]]
* [[Public-benefit nonprofit corporation]]
* [[Supporting organization (charity)]]
* [[United States non-profit laws]]
* [[Voluntary sector]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Snyder, Gary R., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5OFFNw0a1dkC ''Nonprofits: On the Brink : How Nonprofits have lost their way and some essentials to bring them back''], 2006.
* P. Hartigan, [https://archive.today/20130105123646/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118624146/abstract "It's about people, not profits"], ''Business Strategy Review'', Winter 2006
* Weisbrod, Burton, 1977. The Voluntary Nonprofit Sector: An Economic Analysis, Lexington Books, New York.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Non-profit organizations}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{curlie|Society/Organizations/Nonprofit_Resources/|Nonprofit Resources}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151107080628/http://www.issuelab.org/issues/profile/nonprofits_and_philanthropy Nonprofits & Philanthropy Research at IssueLab] (archived 7 November 2015)

{{Charity}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Non-Profit Organization}}
[[Category:Non-profit organizations|*]]
[[Category:Types of organization]]
[[Category:Trade unions]]
[[Category:Social economy]]