While most companies do what they do in order to make money, nonprofit organizations and business, on the hand, work to distribute their earnings (as it cannot rightfully be called profit) to the people or causes it is dedicated to helping. The development of a business model is ironically necessary for the successful non-profit. Without the proper guidance and attention to detail, a non-profit is not long in the tooth.

Responding to the profit-driven model, the non-profit organization has gained considerable ground in the public consciousness. This too may be the result of a PR campaign, but the bottom line is people like it when their money is re-invested. Whether that re-investment is jobs, infrastructure, or more food, people want to know what they give goes a long way.

Typical non-profit organizations tend to fold rather quickly. Though profit is not essential to their business model, a lack of financing and proper allocation will doom any business. The lack of vision is not a lack of scope, but a lack of focus. The struggle of every non-profit organization, then, seems to be management.

The failure of a non-profit seldom has to do with the dedication or passion of its employees or its beneficiaries. The failure lies in a lack of foresight. It is well enough to begin a non-profit dedicated to feeding homeless people, but the question is: how? Like a for-profit business, a non-profit must develop and articulate its goals. There must be some kind of game plan.

Giving is the antithesis of profit. Consequently, giving is not something most businesses do. The model for businesses these days is profit and not much more than that. Though, indeed it seems that a good PR firm is about all a business will invest in. This kind of rampant greed — for lack of a better word — is detrimental to the quality of life people inherently seek out.

Though rarely discussed, nonprofit strategic planning is key with regards to not only remaining afloat, but prosperous. Nonprofit strategic planning requires marketing and management know-how.