We saw this comment today on one of our posts. It is a rare comment, as most people understand why a nonprofit can charge a fee. This person does not, so maybe others don't either. It was odd that there was no reply button on the comment. Does anyone know why? 

Here are a few crucial reasons why we and countless other nonprofits charge fees, a necessary step in our operations that we hope you understand and support. 

Offsetting operating expenses

Nonprofits rely on money to carry out their mission; fees can help cover the organization's costs. The cost of a report includes but is not limited to, a webpage for the victim with pictures and incident descriptions that are indexed by search engines (unlike many social media info), a flyer made by our organization with a link for the public to download a pre-formatted PDF document, and also a service that Stolen Horse International pays for third-party service. The webpage includes a way to share it on multiple social media platforms, NetPosse Alerts to thousands, just for starters. We think this is valuable for any victim who is serious about finding their animals. 

Program service revenue

Charging for services directly related to a nonprofit's mission is a standard income-generation method. For example, an animal shelter might charge an adoption fee, or a private school might charge tuition, all in service of our shared mission. Our fees support our victim's services, which are microscopic by comparison with the program's actual cost. 

Multiple revenue streams

Nonprofits need multiple revenue streams to achieve their goals, and charging for services and goods can help supplement donor donations. 

Myth: Nonprofits can't earn a profit

Reality: The term "nonprofit" is sometimes used incorrectly. Nonprofits can make a profit (and should try to have some level of positive revenue to build a reserve fund to ensure sustainability). This is a key difference between nonprofits and for-profits, and we hope this information has enlightened you about our organization and fees.

Resources are in the comments below this article.