nonprofit

nonprofit — noun

1. A nonprofit is an organization that exists to support a cause or provide service

1.nounB1
Definition

A nonprofit is an organization that exists to support a cause or provide services for the public, rather than to make money for the people who run it.

Example

Talia works for a nonprofit that helps families find affordable housing.

nonprofit + that-clause for describing purpose

The local nonprofit received a large donation from the community last year.

Common collocations
  • run a nonprofit
  • start a nonprofit
  • work for a nonprofit
  • donate to a nonprofit
  • local nonprofit
  • nonprofit organization
Synonyms
  • charity

    narrower — specifically refers to organizations that help people in need, such as food banks or homeless shelters

  • foundation

    narrower — usually refers to nonprofits with a large fund or endowment that they distribute for specific causes

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

nonprofit + verb (takes singular or plural verb)

Common Mistakes

A nonprofit cannot make money at all.
A nonprofit can earn money, but it must use the money for its mission instead of paying it to owners.
Nonprofits are allowed to earn income; the key is that earnings support the mission, not owners.
She works for a nonprofit company that sells shoes.
She works for a nonprofit that sells shoes to fund job training programs.
A nonprofit can sell things, but only if the income supports its charitable purpose.

nonprofit — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Nonprofit is the most common term in American English, covering any organization whose earnings support a mission instead of owners. Not-for-profit is preferred in British English and emphasizes that profits cannot be distributed to members. Charitable is narrower—it refers specifically to organizations that help people in need, such as food banks or shelters. NGO (nongovernmental organization) is used for groups that operate internationally or in development work, independent of government control. For example, a local soup kitchen is a nonprofit or charitable organization, while an international health organization like Doctors Without Borders is an NGO.

nonprofit ↗not-for-profitcharitable ↗NGO

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • run a nonprofit
  • start a nonprofit
  • work for a nonprofit
  • donate to a nonprofit

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Nonprofit is a compound word formed in English from the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') and 'profit.' 'Non-' comes from Latin 'non' (not), and 'profit' traces back through French to Latin 'profectus' (progress, advance). The word became common in the mid-20th century as a legal and tax category for organizations that do not distribute earnings to owners.