Non-profit Distinction
Whereas for-profit corporations
exist to earn and distribute taxable business earnings to
shareholders, the nonprofit corporation exists solely to provide
programs and services that are of public benefit. Often these
programs and services are not otherwise provided by local,
state, or federal entities. While they are able to earn a
profit, more accurately called a surplus, such earnings must be
retained by the organization for its future provision of
programs and services. Earnings may not benefit individuals or
stake-holders. Nonprofit organizations may put substantial funds
into hiring leadership and management personnel. In the past
many nonprofits considered this to be unreasonably businesslike
and money-focused, but since the late 1980s there has been a
growing consensus that nonprofits can achieve their missions
more effectively by using some of the same methods developed in
for-profit enterprises. These include effective internal
management, ensuring accountability for results, and monitoring
the performance of different divisions or projects in order to
make the best use of their funds and people. Those require
management and that, in turn, begins with the organization's
mission.
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