Many types of organizations fall under the broad umbrella of nonprofits. However, keep in mind that some types of organizations may fall under the category of either nonprofit or for-profit/business, depending on how they operate. For example, Princeton University is a nonprofit organization, as are many colleges and universities. But there are also for-profit colleges and universities. Hospitals are an example of an entity that may be nonprofit, for-profit, or government-run. Businesses may have units that focus on social impact or corporate social responsibility.

Foundations are one type of organization that can be broadly classified as nonprofits. But even here, one can draw distinctions between private foundations and public charities. In general, foundation work involves all aspects of making grants to charitable organizations.

Non-governmental organizations (NGO) are another type of nonprofit. NGOs are citizen-based groups that function independently of government and typically operate on a large scale to support national and international projects for causes such as disaster relief and human rights. 

You can do additional research on this field in the Firsthand Guide to Nonprofit Jobs. 

To learn more about Princeton resources for specific types of career paths that are typically thought of as falling into the category of nonprofit work, see the following pages: 

• Advocacy and Activism
• Social Work and Counseling
• Education
• Government and Public Service
• Law
• Public Policy and Think Tanks
• Social Impact
• Sustainability