This article is just for informational purposes. They can make money in various other ways, however, including receiving compensation from the nonprofit. Despite federal laws prohibiting nonprofit organizations from paying excessive salaries to executives, weak enforcement of regulations governing compensation paid to chief executive officers has generated closer attention from the IRS. Share It. Although public officials are beginning to enforce the laws that do exist regulating salaries paid to nonprofit CEOs, most of the state and federal agencies responsible for monitoring nonprofit charities are understaffed. You might be surprised to learn you can, in fact, earn decent money by starting and running a nonprofit, all while making a contribution and having a positive impact in the world.