What it means to be a non-profit is a question whose answer is ever-evolving. The definition has changed substantially over the last decade and will continue to change as demographic shifts, technological advances, and blurred sector lines shape the definition of a non-profit. Traditionally, non-profits were organizations that were seeking to create some kind of social impact, and did not involve government or business. However, for-profit corporations are now seeking positive outcomes for the communities they serve and creating stronger missions, so the lines between non-profit and for-profit are becoming harder to distinguish. With the advent of B corporations, experimentation with new organizational forms, and the difficult distinction between non-profits and for-profits, accountability has become more important.

As non-profits evolve, it is likely more will be exempt from federal corporate income tax but responsible for paying state and local property taxes as part of their private, for-profit arm. Tax-exempt status will be challenged more frequently, and non-profits will need to ensure even more that they are fulfilling their mission and prove to be beneficial to society.