The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported July 24 that a study commissioned by Community Wealth Ventures -- a for-profit subsidiary of the nonprofit Share Our Strength -- also found that an additional 12 percent were profitable within three years, four percent said it took four years to make money, and 14 percent said it took five years.

For-profit ventures ran the gamut from small-budget (under $1 million annually) to more than $5 million in annual expenditures. Of the 72 nonprofits surveyed, 33 operated local businesses, 27 operated regionally, and 11 operated nationally.

For a free downloadable copy of the report, "Powering Social Change: Lessons on Community Wealth Generation for Nonprofit Sustainability," see the Community Wealth Ventures website.