Nonprofit organization are allowed, in fact encouraged by most funders, to create revenue through mission-related earned income. The nonprofits that most people think of as earning revenue are hospitals, universities and performing arts organizations. But all nonprofits can create earned income in this way.

Less common, but growing rapidly, are nonprofits that earn income by using their skills and assets to serve new clients or offer products/services that current clients are willing to pay for.

There are also a wide range of hybrid organizations that strive to deliver blended value returns (financial, social, and environmental)