If you have a non-profit org. how is your salary determined -- you can't work for free???

I have so many questions about this , thank you for answering

You can work for free -- as a volunteer. Some nonprofits are all-volunteer run. But most do have at least some paid staff, because they need very highly qualified people to be able to work full-time. Funding at nonprofits comes from individual donations, grants from foundations and corporations, grants from the government, contracts with the government for services, and earned income (a theater, for instance, sells tickets to shows; a museum charges an entrance fee; GoodWill sells items from its thrift shop to fund much of its operations; etc.).

The other poster said, "I'm sure it's a more relaxed work environment than a for-profit firm (because they're probably not as concerned about churning out a profit and cutting costs)." NOT true. It is often very intense, much more than a for-profit. Their work can be highly stressful -- a corporation that has given a large grant every year can suddenly go bankrupt, or get a new President who cancels the annual giving, and as a result the nonprofit may have to cut an entire program; winter presents huge challenges for organizations working with the homeless, with clients literally freezing to death because the organization can't find enough emergency housing; people who don't understand how nonprofits work constantly complain that nonprofits pay too much in salaries or administrative costs -- never mind that staff at a nonprofit have all the same expenses as people working at for-profits (student loans, mortgage payments, food, gas, etc.) and administrative costs (copy machine, office equipment, rent, etc.) allow the nonprofit to actually serve people; etc. Staff members at nonprofits often have to do many different jobs, not just one - the marketing director may also be the IT support person; the office manager may also be the facilities manager; the development officer may also be the volunteer manager.

Non-profit just means that they do not operate for a profit. It depends on the organization, but generally they generate income through charitable contributions by donors or membership dues from members. There are also other ways they receives funds for operations. You can work at non-profit and get paid and I'm sure it's a more relaxed work environment than a for-profit firm (because they're probably not as concerned about churning out a profit and cutting costs).