Ok, now I get it. You’re looking for a Wikipedia style news site driven by donations.
But no, non profits can absolutely do ads. The only requirements for a non profit is that they have a cause and don’t have share holders who get a profit. They can still have sketchy business practices if they want.
I don’t get your comment in relation of the listed news websites.
Some of them is non-profit and it’s working well for them.
Do non profit websites not have ads or subscriptions? How do they pay employees?
Donations and grants?
Ok, now I get it. You’re looking for a Wikipedia style news site driven by donations.
But no, non profits can absolutely do ads. The only requirements for a non profit is that they have a cause and don’t have share holders who get a profit. They can still have sketchy business practices if they want.