WHY STUDY SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY NONPROFITS?
Though they are both an integral and sizable part of the economy, nonprofits rarely are mentioned on the Nightly Business Report or in the business section of the local newspaper. There may be an occasional mention in the local news if a large grant is awarded or a high-profile funding goal is achieved but, as a rule, nonprofits operate under the business reporters’ radar. As this report will show, even though there are no shares to be bought and sold and no earnings reports for shareholders, nonprofits are in fact serious business. When judged on the basis of employees or size of their budget, nonprofits mirror their for-profit counterparts. They range in size from one person operating on a shoestring to huge organizations with budgets to match. Where they differ is in the ways in which operating funds are raised and surplus funds are distributed after operating expenses are covered, the tax treatment accorded them in exchange for the limits on how residual earnings may be disbursed,
