What does "non-profit" community mean?

Question

so does that mean they don't benefit from their business. so do the people who work in these communities really make any money?

Answer 1

Actually, no.

Non-profit means no one individual benefits from the donations given to or other means of generated by the non-profit.

So, to answer your question,  yes, if you work for a non profit you are paid, just generally not as well as in the "private" sector.

Answer 2

the money they make does not go into paying the people that work there.  The people are paid through organizations like United Way who get money from donations, governmet...

Answer 3

I've made a career working at nonprofit organizations. At most nonprofit organizations, the staff ARE paid. Nonprofit organizations need the best qualified people for the work they have to do, and that means paying staff. They need marketing people, accountants, lawyers, secretaries and people to manage volunteers, among various other positions.

A nonprofit organization is registered as such with the government. In the USA, a nonprofit organizations is a 501(c)(3) organization. A nonprofit organization is owned by a board of directors, which are a group of volunteers who are NOT paid by the organization; they are the owners of the organization. The head of the organization, often called the executive director, hires all other staff and volunteers, and reports to the board. The board can fire the executive director. The board usually gives a donation to get the organization started, and an annual donation to keep the organization going, as well as fundraising on behalf of the organization.

A nonprofit also has a mission statement, and everything they do must contribute to that stated mission. That's why nonprofits are sometimes called "mission-based" organizations. A nonprofit can even undertake commercial activities -- selling used clothes and other items (like GoodWill), for instance, to fund its primary programs.

See the Nonprofit FAQs for more information

http://www.nonprofits.org

Answer 4

they engage activities without any commercial or monetary purposes