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Not-for-profit corporations in Canada, like the one behind Tildes - No shareholders, no dividends; still permitted to make a profit
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- Title
- Are all not-for-profit corporations the same? - Corporations Canada
I think it's referred to as social enterprise and it's not necessarily a bad thing. Lots of non-profits like Salvation Army are already doing it when they sell donated clothing and/or furniture. Funders support it as well because it means that the non-profit organizations are a bit more self-sufficient as any profits the organizations make are supposed to go back into their programs.
I have mixed feelings about it myself since it means that people that are in need of items have less places they can go to for free goods. Plus, there's the issue that nicer pieces of furniture and clothing tend to cost more. It's not great for helping people in poverty maintain a sense of dignity.
I'm a fan because it means the owners/founders have no need to answer to third parties with conflicting interests. As far as social good, the not-for-profit structure is night-and-day compared to the massively debt fuelled VC funding game in tech, which always prioritizes growth, walled gardens, preying on users' weakness, bending over backwards to appease Big Money; to name a few.
Yes, I'm definitely all for it when it comes to organizations like Tildes where donations are completely voluntary and the level of service is the same regardless of whether or not you are spending money. I was more referring to charities.