# nonprofit

/nɑnˈpɹɑfət/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nonprofit
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. an organization

noun · CEFR B2

a group or company that uses its money to help people or support a cause instead of making a profit for owners.

For teachers: an organization established for purposes other than generating profit, typically focused on charitable, educational, or social services.

- She left her corporate job to work for a local nonprofit that helps homeless families.
- The nonprofit relies heavily on private donations and government grants to sustain its community outreach programmes throughout the fiscal year.

Usage: Often used as a countable noun in American English; British English speakers frequently prefer 'charity'.

### 2. not for profit

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a group or activity that is not intended to make a financial gain.

For teachers: not established or maintained for the purpose of making a profit.

- The hospital is a nonprofit institution that serves everyone in the city.
- The university operates as a nonprofit entity, reinvesting all tuition revenue into research facilities and student scholarships.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

## Examples

- She works for a nonprofit that protects local forests.
- After leaving the corporate world, he started a nonprofit to provide free coding classes to underprivileged teenagers.
- The nonprofit relies heavily on private donations and government grants to maintain its outreach programs, as it lacks the commercial revenue streams of its for-profit competitors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.