DEGREE OVERVIEW: NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT May 2009
Introduction | Why this degree? | What to expect | Who gets this degree and for what? | Admissions advice

Why a graduate degree in nonprofit management?

With a plethora of graduate disciplines available to you—business administration with a nonprofit management specialization, public administration/affairs, even international affairs if you want to work internationally—you may be wondering, why should I go for a specialized degree in nonprofit management?

When you enroll in a specialized degree in nonprofit management you gain the skills and knowledge specific to and necessary for leadership in this growing and dynamic sector. The sheer diversity of nonprofit organizations and the issues they work on means that nonprofits require leaders with a thorough understanding of the complex nonprofit landscape.

Furthermore, your classmates will be very likely to share your interest in and knowledge of nonprofits. Your studies will emphasize nonprofit concerns as a default (whereas most business administration programs emphasize for-profit business, and public administration programs emphasize government administration).

As Rebecca Zirm, Director of Recruitment for Case Western Reserve University's Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, shares, “Unlike an MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management, every course you take in our program deals with nonprofit theory and practice and all of the work that the students do, whether papers, projects, or the strategic plan that is developed in our year-long strategic planning course, involve nonprofit organizations.

“In addition, there are some very real differences between what someone needs to know as an [executive director or CEO] of a nonprofit organization and what someone heading up a for-profit entity needs to know. The tax laws being the most obvious, but also, fundraising, financial accounting and management, governance, human resources (staff and volunteers), etc. Understanding the culture of nonprofit work is also crucial and much easier to understand once you have been through a nonprofit management program. Lastly, the types of students you meet in the two programs would be very different. The bottom line is that if you know that you are a ‘nonprofit’ person, a nonprofit program is the best fit. If you aren’t sure, then an MBA with a concentration might be useful.”

If you work in a nonprofit organization during grad school, the specialized education you receive may be directly applicable to your day-to-day work. In contrast, another degree in a field such as public administration or business administration may provide a broader skill set that could be applied to the public or for-profit sectors. With breadth comes more flexibility in career options but perhaps not as much opportunity to dig into the depths of the nonprofit world. Having a nonprofit management graduate degree demonstrates a professional commitment and the training to become a leader in the field.

What’s in a name?

Whereas more established fields of study usually have standardized degree titles, e.g., Masters in Social Work, Masters of Fine Arts, there are several titles for degrees conferred in the nascent field of nonprofit management. Below is a sampling of titles conferred by a variety of graduate schools.

• Master of Science in Nonprofit Management (Spertus College and Milano The New School)
• Master of Nonprofit Organizations (Case Western Reserve University)
• Master of Nonprofit Leadership (Seattle University)
• Master of Nonprofit Administration (University of San Francisco)
• Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Leadership (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee)
• Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership and Management (University of San Diego)

Whatever the name of the degree, do your research into the program to determine if it is a good fit for your personal and professional goals and needs.

Skills I can gain

In addition to a strong foundation in the history and theory of nonprofit organizations, a nonprofit management program will provide you with tools to lead an organization. Some skills that are taught:

• Critical thinking and strategic planning about decisions and issues facing nonprofits
• Community needs assessment
• Project/program development, management, and evaluation
• Relationship and consensus building, engaging diverse stakeholders
• Grantwriting and fundraising
• Public speaking and presentation
• Statistics and data analysis
• Nonprofit governance including management of staff, volunteers, and board members
• Resource development
• Marketing
• Financial accounting and management

What about a certificate in nonprofit management?

A certificate in nonprofit management is one valuable alternative to a graduate degree depending on your goals and circumstances.

A certificate may be a fit for you if you are a mid-career nonprofit professional and:

• want to enhance your professional skill set and academic training
• have limited time and/or financial resources to commit to a degree program
• are interested in career advancement within the nonprofit sector
• want an introduction to or better understanding of the theory behind the practice of nonprofit management
• are interested in networking with other nonprofit professionals
• would like to test out coursework before committing to a degree program

Additionally, a certificate can help if you are not a nonprofit professional and:

• want to transition into the nonprofit sector without committing to a degree program
• already have an advanced degree and do not want to commit to another degree program
• want an introduction to and better understanding of the field as a volunteer, board member, community member, or current graduate student pursuing another degree with the option to specialize

• Learn more about the benefits of a certificate

You may also get a certificate in nonprofit management as part of another degree in a field such as public administration, business administration, or social work.

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