When is Earned Income Right for a Nonprofit?

Earned income for nonprofits, or the sale of goods and services, is a somewhat misunderstood and unexplored financial opportunity. Yet there are countless examples of nonprofit organizations that sell goods or services to supplement their revenue. These include Goodwill, the Girl Scouts, museum gift shops, hospitals, charter schools, theaters and many more.
Unfortunately there are many fears in the nonprofit sector about earned income. Some of these include fear that earned income will: