Non-profit organisations are often classified separately from the public and private sectors, often in a group called the non-profit sector, the third sector or the voluntary sector, but the classification varies from organisation to organisation. Nonprofit organizations can sometimes be included in the public sector because they have public elements, such as including volunteers. However, the BLS counts them in the private sector for employment purposes.
NGOs (non-governmental organisations), a type of non-profit organisation, are voluntary groups or institutions with a social mission that are not affiliated with government. Nonprofit organizations include international groups such as the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, as well as organizations based in the United States such as churches.
Non-profit organizations can be public charities or private foundations. Public charities, such as United Way and Community Foundations, carry out charitable activities, while private foundations support public charities. Private foundations do not solicit funds from the public. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is an example of a private non-profit organization.