How do you make money as the owner of a nonprofit?
Daniel Santos
Updated on December 30, 2025
Non-Profit Income Nonprofits generate income from a number of sources. Fundraising is the most common method of obtaining operating capital. This includes grant writing, sponsorship and revenue generation.
Are nonprofit owners rich?
They often earn even more. Surprisingly, executives at the head of leading nonprofit foundations earn as much as $1 million to $4 million a year, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy. These compensation packages often include salary, bonuses, health insurance and other benefits.
What does a CEO of a non-profit make?
How much does a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Non-Profit Organization make in the United States? The average Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Non-Profit Organization salary in the United States is $173,942 as of June 28, 2021, but the salary range typically falls between $131,430 and $224,115.
What is a reasonable salary for a nonprofit?
Non Profit Organizations Salary in California
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $83,072 | $6,922 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,596 | $4,383 |
| Average | $51,413 | $4,284 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,341 | $3,195 |
How do nonprofits pay their staff?
Incentive-based pay: Incentives, such as bonuses and commissions, are common in the for-profit world, especially for executives. However, the IRS much prefers fixed wages or salaries for nonprofit employees. Matching salary to the fluctuations of money coming into the nonprofit would not meet any of these criteria.
Can you run a nonprofit from home?
Many people dream of starting a nonprofit organization to serve their goals, and this is completely possible to do from your own home. These organizations serve the community through education, direct service or charity, and in return do not have to pay many of the taxes that for profit businesses pay.
Does nonprofit mean free?
Being a nonprofit doesn’t mean you can’t ever charge money for goods and services. Nonprofits need to get comfortable charging fees, however, because not only is doing so perfectly legal, but such fees can be an important source of additional revenue, allowing for growth and ultimately serving the mission.
