A not-for-profit making organization is a type of organization whose main goal is to serve a certain cause or community, rather than to make a profit for its owners or shareholders. Members of this type of organization:
- Do not earn dividends on their contributions, as the organization does not aim to make a profit.
- Do not receive surplus at the end of the year, as any surplus is usually reinvested in the organization's mission.
- May not be paid interest on their contributions, as the focus is on serving the cause, not generating profits.
- May share profits according to their contributions, but this is not the primary goal of the organization and profits are not distributed as personal gain.