What defines a non-profit cemetery?

• A. It operates without the goal of profit.
• B. It is owned by a religious organization.
• C. It charges the highest possible fees.
• D. It requires mandatory cremation.

Answer: (A)

Non-profit status means the cemetery runs without the goal of making a profit for owners or shareholders; any surplus is reinvested to maintain grounds, improve services, or support community programs rather than distributed to individuals. That's the defining idea: earnings are used to further the mission, not to enrich private parties. Ownership can vary—it might be a religious organization, a charitable foundation, or a secular nonprofit—but the essential characteristic is how profits are treated, not who owns it.

The other points aren’t defining features. Ownership by a religious organization isn’t required—non-profit cemeteries can be secular as well. Charging the highest possible fees contradicts the nonprofit purpose, which emphasizes service, accessibility, and stewardship rather than maximizing profit. Requiring mandatory cremation is a policy choice that some cemeteries may adopt, but it has nothing to do with whether an organization is non-profit.