Social Entrepreneur blog for the world changers
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ARNOVA Conference 2011 – Teaching Section Workshop
Nov 20th
I am finally getting around to publishing my blog posts from the ARNOVA conference. I got a taste of being a working mom. My husband and I drove to Toronto for the ARNOVA conference from Grand Rapids. We took our one month old daughter with us and she did great! I attended every other conference session (I normally attend everything 
. I couldn’t have attended the conference without the support of my wonderful husband who is a really hands on dad. I am so happy that I attended the conference — the sessions I attended were awesome! The only issue I had with the conference was the poor internet connection at the hotel. I couldn’t access the internet in most of the rooms and the internet was free for 1 hour increments in the hotel lobby. I wish that hotels would make the internet free. My phone didn’t work in Canada either.
The first session I attended was the Teaching pre-conference workshop. The workshop was coordinated by Mary Ann Feldheim. Mary brought together representatives from nonprofit academic organizations including:
- Dr. K. Tom Liou from the American Society for Pubic Administration (ASPA). The mission of ASPA is to advance the art, science, teaching, and practice of public and non-profit administration. Liou – ARNOVA Presentation
- Roseanne Mirabella, President of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) & Will Brown, create of NERF – Nonprofit Education Resource and Forum Website –to share resources and syllabi. Will is part of the ARNOVA educational committee that created a teaching resource website. Nonprofit faculty members submit syllabi, cases and other teaching resources.Mirabella and Brown ARNOVA Presentation
- Katherine Campbell, Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. CCVA advances the profession and practice of volunteer resource management. CCVA Resources – ARNOVA pane. CCVA Slides – ARNOVA panel
- Laural McFarlend, members of National Association of School of Public Affairs Education (NASPAA). The mission of NASPAA is to ensure excellence in training for public service and to promote the ideal of public service. NASPAA also serves as the accreditor tor for public service degree programs.NASPAA Presentation on Nonprofit Standards
- J. Patrick Murphy and Sean Shacklett, the Nonprofit Academic centers Council (NACC). NACC is a membership association comprised of academic centers or programs at accredited colleges and universities that focus on the study of nonprofit organizations, voluntarism and/or philanthropy. Established in 1991, NACC is the first group entirely dedicated to the promotion and networking of centers that provide research and education in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
- Marcia Cross, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. The mission of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations dedicated to educating, preparing and certifying professionals to strengthen and lead nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit Leadership Alliance – ARNOVA Presentation 2011
These organizations have many nonprofit management education resources available to faculty, students, practitioners and funders.
The panel discussion mostly focused on the pros and cons of standardizing nonprofit curriculum. Some were in support of standardization and others had hesitations. Several panelists and participants emphasized the importance of sharing learning outcomes and rubrics.
There was agreement that there are silos in nonprofit management education and work needs to be done to identify the common threads and skills that help people cope with the realities of nonprofit management.
Research on the Nonprofit Workforce: Here’s a Brief Overview
Nov 7th
In 2006, American Humanics compiled a comprehensive bibliography about the nonprofit workforce titled, Workforce Issues in the Nonprofit Sector: Generational Leadership Change and Diversity.
Since this bibliography was released, nonprofit organizations have continued to struggle to understand and appreciate human resource management and succession planning practices. Organizations like, Commongood Careers and Nonprofit HR Solutions are now providing human resource and talent management support to many nonprofits across the United States. In addition, new studies have been published about the nonprofit workforce. Here's a brief overview of these studies:
Books about the Nonprofit Workforce and Nonprofit Careers
Since this bibliography was released, nonprofit organizations have continued to struggle to understand and appreciate human resource management and succession planning practices. Organizations like, Commongood Careers and Nonprofit HR Solutions are now providing human resource and talent management support to many nonprofits across the United States. In addition, new studies have been published about the nonprofit workforce. Here's a brief overview of these studies:
Books about the Nonprofit Workforce and Nonprofit Careers
- The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to land a job that makes a difference
- Idealist’s Guide to Nonprofit Careers: For First-time Job Seekers
- How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar
- Change Your Career: Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector
- Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Wages in the Nonprofit Sector, Management & Professional, Healthcare and Social Services, Education.
- Nonprofit Almanac, 2008
- Employment in America's Charities - A Profile, 2006
- Work in the Nonprofit Sector, The Nonprofit Sector Research Handbook, 2006.
- Adapting Leading Talent Management Practices to the Nonprofit Sector, Accenture, 2010
- Opportunity Knocks Retention and Vacancy Report, 2008, 2009, 2010
- The nonprofit leadership deficit: A case for more optimism, 2009
- The voice of nonprofit talent: improving recruitment and retention by responding to the needs of nonprofit employees and jobseekers, Commongood Careers, 2008
- Staying Late: Comparing Work Hours in Public and Nonprofit Sectors, 2008
- The nonprofit workforce crisis: Real or imagined? Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies, 2007
- Building leaderful organizations: succession planning for nonprofits, Annie Casey Foundation, 2008
- Next Shift: Beyond the Leadership Crisis, Building Movement Project, 2007
- What works: Developing Successful Multigenerational Leadership, Building Movement Project, 2010
- Working Across the Divide: Job Involvement in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors, 2009
- Ready to lead? Next generation leaders speak out, CompassPoint, 2008
- NP2020: Issues and answers from the next generation, Johnson Center at Grand Valley University, 2008
- Promotions and Incentives in Nonprofit and For-Profit Organizations, 2007
- Worker Motivations, Job Satisfaction, and Loyalty in Public and Nonprofit Social Services, 2006
- A Comparison of the Values and Commitment of Private Sector, Public Sector and Parapublic Sector Employees, 2006
- AFP Compensation and Benefits Study, 2010
- Guidestar Compensation Study, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Opportunity Knocks Wage and Benefits Report, 2010
- CEO Compensation Study, Charity Navigator, 2010
- There are also regional compensation studies (e.g., Northern California, Arizona).
Research on the Nonprofit Workforce: Here’s a Brief Overview
Nov 7th
In 2006, American Humanics compiled a comprehensive bibliography about the nonprofit workforce titled, Workforce Issues in the Nonprofit Sector: Generational Leadership Change and Diversity.
Since this bibliography was released, nonprofit organizations have continued to struggle to understand and appreciate human resource management and succession planning practices. Organizations like, Commongood Careers and Nonprofit HR Solutions are now providing human resource and talent management support to many nonprofits across the United States. In addition, new studies have been published about the nonprofit workforce. Here’s a brief overview of these studies:
Books about the Nonprofit Workforce and Nonprofit Careers
- The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to land a job that makes a difference
- Idealist’s Guide to Nonprofit Careers: For First-time Job Seekers
- How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar
- Change Your Career: Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector
General statistics about the nonprofit workforce:
- Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Wages in the Nonprofit Sector, Management & Professional, Healthcare and Social Services, Education.
- Nonprofit Almanac, 2008
- Employment in America’s Charities – A Profile, 2006
- Work in the Nonprofit Sector, The Nonprofit Sector Research Handbook, 2006.
Retention, Turnover, and Vacancy
- Adapting Leading Talent Management Practices to the Nonprofit Sector, Accenture, 2010
- Opportunity Knocks Retention and Vacancy Report, 2008, 2009, 2010
- The nonprofit leadership deficit: A case for more optimism, 2009
- The voice of nonprofit talent: improving recruitment and retention by responding to the needs of nonprofit employees and jobseekers, Commongood Careers, 2008
- Staying Late: Comparing Work Hours in Public and Nonprofit Sectors, 2008
- The nonprofit workforce crisis: Real or imagined? Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies, 2007
- Building leaderful organizations: succession planning for nonprofits, Annie Casey Foundation, 2008
- Next Shift: Beyond the Leadership Crisis, Building Movement Project, 2007
Job Motivation in the Nonprofit Sector
- What works: Developing Successful Multigenerational Leadership, Building Movement Project, 2010
- Working Across the Divide: Job Involvement in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors, 2009
- Ready to lead? Next generation leaders speak out, CompassPoint, 2008
- NP2020: Issues and answers from the next generation, Johnson Center at Grand Valley University, 2008
- Promotions and Incentives in Nonprofit and For-Profit Organizations, 2007
- Worker Motivations, Job Satisfaction, and Loyalty in Public and Nonprofit Social Services, 2006
- A Comparison of the Values and Commitment of Private Sector, Public Sector and Parapublic Sector Employees, 2006
Compensation
- AFP Compensation and Benefits Study, 2010
- Guidestar Compensation Study, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Opportunity Knocks Wage and Benefits Report, 2010
- CEO Compensation Study, Charity Navigator, 2010
- There are also regional compensation studies (e.g., Northern California, Arizona).
Choosing a Nonprofit Career
My Nonprofit Reading List
Sep 30th
I am reading A LOT for my dissertation.
I also enjoying reading about all sorts of nonprofit topics online and off. In fact, I frequently get overwhelmed because I want to read it all -- literally. A few months ago (right around the time I defended my dissertation proposal) I came to the realization that I cannot read all the e-newsletters that come into my inbox, and I certainly can't read all the fabulous new nonprofit blogs that are popping up on the web. I scaled down on the number of eNewsletters I subscribe to and the number of blogs that I read to the list below.
I subscribe to:
I add blogs to my google reader on a regular basis.
I find out about new blog posts and new nonprofit bloggers through twitter.
Now with regards to books.
My bookshelf is overflowing with nonprofit books and I don't have time to list them all here. I will provide several of the books that I use in the classes and seminars that I teach:
I often get frustrated that I have to go to nonprofit publishing websites like Jossey-Bass and Sage to learn about the new books that are coming out. My wish is for two things.
Happy Reading!
I also enjoying reading about all sorts of nonprofit topics online and off. In fact, I frequently get overwhelmed because I want to read it all -- literally. A few months ago (right around the time I defended my dissertation proposal) I came to the realization that I cannot read all the e-newsletters that come into my inbox, and I certainly can't read all the fabulous new nonprofit blogs that are popping up on the web. I scaled down on the number of eNewsletters I subscribe to and the number of blogs that I read to the list below.
I subscribe to:
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy - Philanthropy Today
- The Independent Sector's Daily Media Digest (available to members)
- The Independent Sector's Daily Policy Digest (available to members)
- Philanthropy News Digest
- Nonprofit Quarterly - Nonprofit Newswire
- Philanthropy Journal
- Stanford Social Innovation Review
- Blue Avocado
- Idealware
- Nonprofit Risk Management eNews
I add blogs to my google reader on a regular basis.
I find out about new blog posts and new nonprofit bloggers through twitter.
Now with regards to books.
My bookshelf is overflowing with nonprofit books and I don't have time to list them all here. I will provide several of the books that I use in the classes and seminars that I teach:
- Nonprofit Management, Principles and Practice - Michael J. Worth
- The Nonprofit Sector: A Research Handbook - Walter Powell and Richard Steinberg (Eds.)
- Principles of Fundraising Theory and Practice - Wesley Lindahl
- Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Executives - Jeanne Bell and Elizabeth Schaffer
- Streetsmart Financial Basics for Nonprofit Managers - Thomas A. McLaughlin
- Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations – John Zietlow, Jo Ann Hankin, Alan G. Seidner
- Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders -- Holly Ross, Katrin Verclas, and Alison Levine
- Leading New Technology Innovation in Your Nonprofit Organization -- Heather Carpenter, in K. Angard. Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations.
- The Networked Nonprofit: Connecting with Social Media to Drive Change Beth Kanter and Allison Fine
I often get frustrated that I have to go to nonprofit publishing websites like Jossey-Bass and Sage to learn about the new books that are coming out. My wish is for two things.
- There would be a wiki that lists ALL nonprofit and philanthropic books/ ratings/subject areas
- Faculty members would be open to sharing (with the general public) what nonprofit textbooks that they use in their classes.
Happy Reading!
My Nonprofit Reading List
Sep 30th
I am reading A LOT for my dissertation.
I also enjoying reading about all sorts of nonprofit topics online and off. In fact, I frequently get overwhelmed because I want to read it all — literally. A few months ago (right around the time I defended my dissertation proposal) I came to the realization that I cannot read all the e-newsletters that come into my inbox, and I certainly can’t read all the fabulous new nonprofit blogs that are popping up on the web. I scaled down on the number of eNewsletters I subscribe to and the number of blogs that I read to the list below.
I subscribe to:
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy – Philanthropy Today
- The Independent Sector’s Daily Media Digest (available to members)
- The Independent Sector’s Daily Policy Digest (available to members)
- Philanthropy News Digest
- Nonprofit Quarterly – Nonprofit Newswire
- Philanthropy Journal
- Stanford Social Innovation Review
- Blue Avocado
- Idealware
- Nonprofit Risk Management eNews
I add blogs to my google reader on a regular basis.
I find out about new blog posts and new nonprofit bloggers through twitter.
Now with regards to books.
My bookshelf is overflowing with nonprofit books and I don’t have time to list them all here. I will provide several of the books that I use in the classes and seminars that I teach:
- Nonprofit Management, Principles and Practice- Michael J. Worth
- The Nonprofit Sector: A Research Handbook – Walter Powell and Richard Steinberg (Eds.)
- Principles of Fundraising Theory and Practice – Wesley Lindahl
- Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Executives – Jeanne Bell and Elizabeth Schaffer
- Streetsmart Financial Basics for Nonprofit Managers – Thomas A. McLaughlin
- Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations– John Zietlow, Jo Ann Hankin, Alan G. Seidner
- Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders – Holly Ross, Katrin Verclas, and Alison Levine
- Leading New Technology Innovation in Your Nonprofit Organization — Heather Carpenter, in K. Angard. Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations.
- The Networked Nonprofit: Connecting with Social Media to Drive Change Beth Kanter and Allison Fine
I often get frustrated that I have to go to nonprofit publishing websites like Jossey-Bass and Sage to learn about the new books that are coming out. My wish is for two things.
- There would be a wiki that lists ALL nonprofit and philanthropic books/ ratings/subject areas
- Faculty members would be open to sharing (with the general public) what nonprofit textbooks that they use in their classes.
Happy Reading!
Setting the Record Straight about Nonprofit-Focused Graduate Degrees
Aug 18th
I believe there is a lot of confusion about nonprofit-focused master's degree programs and I hope that this blog post will set the record straight. There are many different types of master's degree programs that can be considered "nonprofit-focused" or "nonprofit education". These types include:
If you are interested in studying the intersection between government and nonprofits, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Public Administration (a.k.a MPSA, MPIA) with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in managing a governmental organization and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization. Also some of these programs focus on NGO's (international nonprofit organizations).
If you are interested in becoming a nonprofit board member (or nonprofit manager) and studying earned revenue within nonprofits, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Business Administration with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in managing a business and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in directly working with clients and constituents on a daily basis and managing the programmatic side a nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Social Work with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in social welfare and social change and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in changing social policy related to nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Public Policy (a.k.a. MA in PP, MPPA) with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in creating and changing public policy and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in directly running human service organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Science in Human Services. These master's degree program offer core and elective courses in managing human and social services organizations.
Finally, if you are interested in studying philanthropic giving within nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Masters of Arts in Philanthropic Studies. This master's degree program offers core and elective courses in philanthropic giving within nonprofit organizations and the sector.
Please note, these descriptions above are generalizations. You should ALWAYS visit a master's degree program website to see the specific courses offered within the program.
If you want to attend the BEST nonprofit-focused master's degree in the country you may not find it listed on the U.S. News and World Report website. They rank graduate schools -- not master's degree programs. They do rank top public affairs schools with nonprofit specializations and top business schools with nonprofit specializations but these rankings completely ignore stand-alone nonprofit master's degree programs or the other types of master's degrees I listed above.
Additionally, there are some nonprofit-focused master's degree programs that span 2-3 three different colleges/schools within a university.
Since I am studying master's degree programs associated with the Nonprofit Academic Center's Council (NACC) for my dissertation, I created a table of these 50+ master's degree programs.
Please note, this list is just a sample of the 160+ nonprofit-focused master's degree programs offered across the US and the world. For a complete listing, please visit Roseanne Mirabella's website.
- Master's of Nonprofit Administration
- Master's of Public Administration
- Master's of Social Work
- Master’s of Business Administration
- Master's of Public Policy
- Master’s of Human Services
- Master's of Arts in Philanthropic Studies
If you are interested in studying the intersection between government and nonprofits, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Public Administration (a.k.a MPSA, MPIA) with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in managing a governmental organization and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization. Also some of these programs focus on NGO's (international nonprofit organizations).
If you are interested in becoming a nonprofit board member (or nonprofit manager) and studying earned revenue within nonprofits, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Business Administration with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in managing a business and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in directly working with clients and constituents on a daily basis and managing the programmatic side a nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Social Work with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in social welfare and social change and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in changing social policy related to nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Public Policy (a.k.a. MA in PP, MPPA) with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master's degree programs offer core courses in creating and changing public policy and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in directly running human service organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master's of Science in Human Services. These master's degree program offer core and elective courses in managing human and social services organizations.
Finally, if you are interested in studying philanthropic giving within nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Masters of Arts in Philanthropic Studies. This master's degree program offers core and elective courses in philanthropic giving within nonprofit organizations and the sector.
Please note, these descriptions above are generalizations. You should ALWAYS visit a master's degree program website to see the specific courses offered within the program.
If you want to attend the BEST nonprofit-focused master's degree in the country you may not find it listed on the U.S. News and World Report website. They rank graduate schools -- not master's degree programs. They do rank top public affairs schools with nonprofit specializations and top business schools with nonprofit specializations but these rankings completely ignore stand-alone nonprofit master's degree programs or the other types of master's degrees I listed above.
Additionally, there are some nonprofit-focused master's degree programs that span 2-3 three different colleges/schools within a university.
Since I am studying master's degree programs associated with the Nonprofit Academic Center's Council (NACC) for my dissertation, I created a table of these 50+ master's degree programs.
| University | Location | NACC Member Center | Master’s degree associated with NACC Center |
| Arizona State University | Phoenix, AZ | ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation | Masters of Nonprofit Studies |
| Baruch College, City University of New York | New York, NY | Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management | Masters Public Administration (MPA) Specialization in Nonprofit Administration |
| Bay Path College | Longmeadow, MA | The Graduate School and Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy Program | MS in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy |
| Boston College | Boston, MA | Center on Wealth and Philanthropy | Masters of Social Work |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations | Masters of Nonprofit Organizations & Executive Option |
| City University London | London, UK | Centre for Charity Effectiveness - Cass School of Business | PgDip/MSc in Voluntary Sector Management (post graduate diploma) |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH | Center for Nonprofit Policy & Practice | Master of Nonprofit Administration and Leadership |
| DePaul University | Chicago, IL | School of Public Service | Master of Nonprofit Management |
| George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | Nonprofit Management Studies | Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Concentration in Nonprofit Management |
| Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. | Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership - Georgetown Public Policy Institute | Masters in Public Policy/Policy Management (Nonprofit Policy and Leadership Track) |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | Nonprofit Studies Program - Andrew Young School of Public Policy Studies | Masters of Public Administration (MPA)-Nonprofit Administration/MPP-Nonprofit Policy |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI | Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership | Masters of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Leadership |
| Harvard University | Boston, MA | Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations | |
| Indiana University | Indianapolis, IN & Bloomington, IN | The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University | MA in Philanthropic Studies/MPA Nonprofit Management |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore. MD | Center for Civil Society Studies | Masters of Arts in Public Policy |
| Louisiana State University – Shreveport | Shreveport, LA | Institute for Human Services and Public Policy - College of Liberal Arts | Masters of Science in Human Services Administration |
| Mount Royal College | Calgary, AB Canada | Institute for Nonprofit Studies | No Masters Degree- Bachelors in Applied Nonprofit Studies |
| North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC | Masters of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management | |
| New York University | New York, NY | Public and Nonprofit Management & Policy Program - Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service | Masters in Public Administration (MPA) in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy |
| New York University School of Law | New York, NY | National Center on Philanthropy and the Law | Three different nonprofit law related courses - does not offer Masters Degree |
| North Park University | Chicago, IL | Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management | Master of Nonprofit Administration |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | Center for Nonprofit Management - Kellogg School of Management | MBA |
| Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | Master of Nonprofit Administration Program - Mendoza College of Business | Master of Nonprofit Administration |
| Portland State University | Portland, OR | Institute for Nonprofit Management, Mark O. Hatfield School of Government | Master of Public Administration Specialization in Nonprofit Management |
| Queensland University of Technology | Brisbane, AU | Master of Business (Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies) | |
| Regis University | Denver, Co | Global Nonprofit Leadership Development | Master of Nonprofit Management |
| Seattle University | Seattle, WA | Center for Nonprofit and Social Enterprise Management | Executive Master of Nonprofit Leadership |
| Seton Hall University | New Orange, NJ | Center for Public Service | Masters in Public Administration Concentration in Nonprofit Organization Management |
| Texas A&M University | College Station, TX | Program in Nonprofit Management - Bush School of Government and Public Service | Master of Public Service and Administration with Elective Concentration in Nonprofit Management |
| The New School | New York, NY | Graduate Management Programs - Nonprofit Management Program | Master of Science Degree in Nonprofit Management |
| The University of New South Wales | Sydney, AU | Centre for Social Impact | Graduate Certificate in Social Impact (No master’s degree) |
| University at Albany-SUNY | Albany, NY | Center for Women in Government & Civil Society - Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy | Master of Public Administration Concentration in Nonprofit Management |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership | MBA (Nonprofit Specialty) |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Center for Civil Society | Masters in Public Policy |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | Center for Community Research & Service | M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy concentration in Community Development and Nonprofit Leadership |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | Nonprofit and Public Management Center, School of Social Work | MPP with focus in Public and Nonprofit Management, MPA (same as MPP but accelerated program), MSW with practice method in management of human service organizations, MBA with electives in social enterprise |
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs | Master of Public Policy (MPP) with a concentration in public nonprofit leadership and management. Masters of Public Affairs with nonprofit courses |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership - Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration | Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree with a concentration in nonprofit management |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis | St. Louis, MO | Nonprofit Management and Leadership Program | The Master of Public Policy Administration (MPPA) |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | Center for Community Partnerships - Penn Program for Public Service | Leadership for Social Change Masters Program |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research | MA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Nonprofit Management Program | Master of Nonprofit Administration |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy | Master of Public Administration/Master of Public Policy Specialization in Philanthropy and Nonprofits |
| University of St. Thomas | Minneapolis, MN | Center for Nonprofit Management | MBA with Elective Track (Specialization) in Nonprofit |
| University of Technology- Sydney | Sydney, AU | Centre for Australian Community Organisations and Management - School of Management | Master of Business |
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service | Master of Public Affairs Specialization in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies |
| University of Washington | Seattle, WA | Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy | Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management | Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Leadership |
| Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA | Institute for Policy and Governance | Master's of Public and International Affairs (MPIA) with a public and nonprofit management concentration (govt. and capacity building)/Masters of Public Administration (MPA)/Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) |
| York University | Toronto, ON | Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program - Schulich School of Business | MBA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership |
Please note, this list is just a sample of the 160+ nonprofit-focused master's degree programs offered across the US and the world. For a complete listing, please visit Roseanne Mirabella's website.
Setting the Record Straight about Nonprofit-Focused Graduate Degrees
Aug 18th
I believe there is a lot of confusion about nonprofit-focused master’s degree programs and I hope that this blog post will set the record straight. There are many different types of master’s degree programs that can be considered “nonprofit-focused” or “nonprofit education”. These types include:
- Master’s of Nonprofit Administration
- Master’s of Public Administration
- Master’s of Social Work
- Master’s of Business Administration
- Master’s of Public Policy
- Master’s of Human Services
- Master’s of Arts in Philanthropic Studies
If you are interested in becoming an Executive Director of a nonprofit, then you should consider pursuing a stand-alone Master’s of Nonprofit Administration (aka MNO/MNS/MNM/MS in NP). These master’s degree programs offer core and elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization. These courses include: Nonprofit Management, Board Governance, Fundraising, Nonprofit Finance and Accounting, Capital Campaign and Development, Strategic Planning, Human Resources, etc.
If you are interested in studying the intersection between government and nonprofits, then you should consider pursuing a Master’s of Public Administration (a.k.a MPSA, MPIA) with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master’s degree programs offer core courses in managing a governmental organization and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization. Also some of these programs focus on NGO’s (international nonprofit organizations).
If you are interested in becoming a nonprofit board member (or nonprofit manager) and studying earned revenue within nonprofits, then you should consider pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master’s degree programs offer core courses in managing a business and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in directly working with clients and constituents on a daily basis and managing the programmatic side a nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master’s of Social Work with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master’s degree programs offer core courses in social welfare and social change and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in changing social policy related to nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master’s of Public Policy (a.k.a. MA in PP, MPPA) with a Specialization in Nonprofit Management. These master’s degree programs offer core courses in creating and changing public policy and offer elective courses in managing a nonprofit organization.
If you are interested in directly running human service organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Master’s of Science in Human Services. These master’s degree program offer core and elective courses in managing human and social services organizations.
Finally, if you are interested in studying philanthropic giving within nonprofit organizations, then you should consider pursuing a Masters of Arts in Philanthropic Studies.This master’s degree program offers core and elective courses in philanthropic giving within nonprofit organizations and the sector.
Please note, these descriptions above are generalizations. You should ALWAYS visit a master’s degree program website to see the specific courses offered within the program.
If you want to attend the BEST nonprofit-focused master’s degree in the country you may not find it listed on the U.S. News and World Report website. They rank graduate schools — not master’s degree programs. They do rank top public affairs schools with nonprofit specializations and top business schools with nonprofit specializations but these rankings completely ignore stand-alone nonprofit master’s degree programs or the other types of master’s degrees I listed above.
Additionally, there are some nonprofit-focused master’s degree programs that span 2-3 three different colleges/schools within a university.
Since I am studying master’s degree programs associated with the Nonprofit Academic Center’s Council (NACC) for my dissertation, I created a table of these 50+ master’s degree programs.
|
University |
Location |
NACC Member Center |
Master’s degree associated with NACC Center |
|
Arizona State University |
Phoenix, AZ |
ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation |
Masters of Nonprofit Studies |
|
Baruch College, City University of New York |
New York, NY |
Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management |
Masters Public Administration (MPA) Specialization in Nonprofit Administration |
|
Bay Path College |
Longmeadow, MA |
The Graduate School and Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy Program |
MS in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy |
|
Boston College |
Boston, MA |
Center on Wealth and Philanthropy |
Masters of Social Work |
|
Case Western Reserve University |
Cleveland, OH |
Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations |
Masters of Nonprofit Organizations & Executive Option |
|
City University London |
London, UK |
Centre for Charity Effectiveness – Cass School of Business |
PgDip/MSc in Voluntary Sector Management (post graduate diploma) |
|
Cleveland State University |
Cleveland, OH |
Center for Nonprofit Policy & Practice |
Master of Nonprofit Administration and Leadership |
|
DePaul University |
Chicago, IL |
School of Public Service |
Master of Nonprofit Management |
|
George Mason University |
Fairfax, VA |
Nonprofit Management Studies |
Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Concentration in Nonprofit Management |
|
Georgetown University |
Washington, D.C. |
Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership – Georgetown Public Policy Institute |
Masters in Public Policy/Policy Management (Nonprofit Policy and Leadership Track) |
|
Georgia State University |
Atlanta, GA |
Nonprofit Studies Program – Andrew Young School of Public Policy Studies |
Masters of Public Administration (MPA)-Nonprofit Administration/MPP-Nonprofit Policy |
|
Grand Valley State University |
Allendale, MI |
Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership |
Masters of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Leadership |
|
Harvard University |
Boston, MA |
Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations |
|
|
Indiana University |
Indianapolis, IN & Bloomington, IN |
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University |
MA in Philanthropic Studies/MPA Nonprofit Management |
|
Johns Hopkins University |
Baltimore. MD |
Center for Civil Society Studies |
Masters of Arts in Public Policy |
|
Louisiana State University – Shreveport |
Shreveport, LA |
Institute for Human Services and Public Policy – College of Liberal Arts |
Masters of Science in Human Services Administration |
|
Mount Royal College |
Calgary, AB Canada |
Institute for Nonprofit Studies |
No Masters Degree- Bachelors in Applied Nonprofit Studies |
|
North Carolina State University |
Raleigh, NC |
Masters of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management |
|
|
New York University |
New York, NY |
Public and Nonprofit Management & Policy Program – Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service |
Masters in Public Administration (MPA) in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy |
|
New York University School of Law |
New York, NY |
National Center on Philanthropy and the Law |
Three different nonprofit law related courses – does not offer Masters Degree |
|
North Park University |
Chicago, IL |
Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management |
Master of Nonprofit Administration |
|
Northwestern University |
Evanston, IL |
Center for Nonprofit Management – Kellogg School of Management |
MBA |
|
Notre Dame |
Notre Dame, IN |
Master of Nonprofit Administration Program – Mendoza College of Business |
Master of Nonprofit Administration |
|
Portland State University |
Portland, OR |
Institute for Nonprofit Management, Mark O. Hatfield School of Government |
Master of Public Administration Specialization in Nonprofit Management |
|
Queensland University of Technology |
Brisbane, AU |
Master of Business (Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies) |
|
|
Regis University |
Denver, Co |
Global Nonprofit Leadership Development |
Master of Nonprofit Management |
|
Seattle University |
Seattle, WA |
Center for Nonprofit and Social Enterprise Management |
Executive Master of Nonprofit Leadership |
|
Seton Hall University |
New Orange, NJ |
Center for Public Service |
Masters in Public Administration Concentration in Nonprofit Organization Management |
|
Texas A&M University |
College Station, TX |
Program in Nonprofit Management – Bush School of Government and Public Service |
Master of Public Service and Administration with Elective Concentration in Nonprofit Management |
|
The New School |
New York, NY |
Graduate Management Programs – Nonprofit Management Program |
Master of Science Degree in Nonprofit Management |
|
The University of New South Wales |
Sydney, AU |
Centre for Social Impact |
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact (No master’s degree) |
|
University at Albany-SUNY |
Albany, NY |
Center for Women in Government & Civil Society – Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy |
Master of Public Administration Concentration in Nonprofit Management |
|
University of California-Berkeley |
Berkeley, CA |
Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership |
MBA (Nonprofit Specialty) |
|
University of California-Los Angeles |
Los Angeles, CA |
Center for Civil Society |
Masters in Public Policy |
|
University of Delaware |
Newark, DE |
Center for Community Research & Service |
M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy concentration in Community Development and Nonprofit Leadership |
|
University of Michigan |
Ann Arbor, MI |
Nonprofit and Public Management Center, School of Social Work |
MPP with focus in Public and Nonprofit Management, MPA (same as MPP but accelerated program), MSW with practice method in management of human service organizations, MBA with electives in social enterprise |
|
University of Minnesota |
Minneapolis, MN |
The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs |
Master of Public Policy (MPP) with a concentration in public nonprofit leadership and management. Masters of Public Affairs with nonprofit courses |
|
University of Missouri-Kansas City |
Kansas City, MO |
Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership – Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration |
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree with a concentration in nonprofit management |
|
University of Missouri-St. Louis |
St. Louis, MO |
Nonprofit Management and Leadership Program |
The Master of Public Policy Administration (MPPA) |
|
University of Pennsylvania |
Philadelphia, PA |
Center for Community Partnerships – Penn Program for Public Service |
Leadership for Social Change Masters Program |
|
University of San Diego |
San Diego, CA |
Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research |
MA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management |
|
University of San Francisco |
San Francisco, CA |
Nonprofit Management Program |
Master of Nonprofit Administration |
|
University of Southern California |
Los Angeles, CA |
Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy |
Master of Public Administration/Master of Public Policy Specialization in Philanthropy and Nonprofits |
|
University of St. Thomas |
Minneapolis, MN |
Center for Nonprofit Management |
MBA with Elective Track (Specialization) in Nonprofit |
|
University of Technology- Sydney |
Sydney, AU |
Centre for Australian Community Organisations and Management – School of Management |
Master of Business |
|
University of Texas at Austin |
Austin, TX |
RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service |
Master of Public Affairs Specialization in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies |
|
University of Washington |
Seattle, WA |
Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy |
Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy |
|
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
Milwaukee, WI |
Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management |
Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Leadership |
|
Virginia Tech |
Blacksburg, VA |
Institute for Policy and Governance |
Master’s of Public and International Affairs (MPIA) with a public and nonprofit management concentration (govt. and capacity building)/Masters of Public Administration (MPA)/Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) |
|
York University |
Toronto, ON |
Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program – Schulich School of Business |
MBA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership |
Please note, this list is just a sample of the 160+ nonprofit-focused master’s degree programs offered across the US and the world. For a complete listing, please visit Roseanne Mirabella’s website.
Take 10 Minutes a Day for Nonprofit Operations – technology inventory
Jul 12th
It is important that nonprofits keep an inventory of technology products and a log of
what goes wrong with each product as well as what is done to fix the problem. This inventory is helpful for the technology consultants or volunteers who come in a fix your computers and this inventory is important for insurance purposes if your equipment was ever stolen or lost in fire, flood or other disaster.
The technology inventory should include: Vendor/manufacture name, Model Name, Type of Operating system, Processor, RAM, Hard disk, Monitor, Network type, User Name, Date of purchase, and Item function. Tech Atlas provides a free technology inventory worksheet.
This and other helpful tips available in my Free Toolkit — Setting up a Nonprofit Office
New to Volunteer Management: Here’s a Brief Overview
Jun 7th
Did you know that the majority of nonprofits do not have a volunteer manager, yet most use volunteers on a daily basis?
In my previous jobs I learned the hard way how to create volunteer applications, volunteer screening procedures, and volunteer management best practices; but this shouldn't have been the case. There is an abundance of volunteer management resources available on the web, many which are free. Here's a brief overview of these resources:
Awesome volunteer management websites
In my previous jobs I learned the hard way how to create volunteer applications, volunteer screening procedures, and volunteer management best practices; but this shouldn't have been the case. There is an abundance of volunteer management resources available on the web, many which are free. Here's a brief overview of these resources:
Awesome volunteer management websites
- Idealist.org's Volunteer Management Resource Center
- Service Leader.org -- Specialized resources for Volunteers, Leaders and Managers of Volunteers, and Instructors and Thought Leaders
- National Service Resource Center -- Tools and Training for Volunteer and Service Programs
- Volunteer Match -- Find your next volunteer, or search for a volunteer opportunity
- Volunteer Today.com -- Pertinent information on recruiting and engaging volunteers; and promoting professional development opportunities for those who work to engage volunteers
- Points of Light Ideas and Insights -- Research, analysis, tools and training to support the creation and management of volunteer programs.
- Energizeinc.com -- Volunteer Management Resources for Directors of Volunteers in a Volunteerism World.
- National Youth Leadership Council -- Resources on service-learning
- Servenet (Youth Service America) -- Volunteering Opportunities
- Innovations in Civic Participation -- Works with individuals, organizations, and groups around the globe to support the development of innovative approaches to national youth service and service-learning.
- National Commission on Service Learning -- A national initiative to engage more young people in service to others as part of their academic studies.
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Starting and Maintaining a Quality Internship Program -- by Michael True
- 12 Key Actions of Volunteer Program Champions -- by Betty Stallings
- 55 Minute Volunteer Management Training Series -- by Betty Stallings
- Strategic Volunteer Engagement: A Guide for Nonprofit and Public Sector Leaders -- by Sarah J. Rehnborg.
- From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Involvement by Susan Ellis
- Journal of Volunteer Administration
- Center for Information and Resource on Civic Learning and Engagement -- A nonpartisan research center studying youth participation and civic engagement
- The Unpaid Intern, Legal or Not, New York Times 4/2/10
- Volunteer Management Capacity in America's Charities/Congregations -- by Mark Hager
New to Volunteer Management: Here’s a Brief Overview
Jun 7th
Did you know that the majority of nonprofits do not have a volunteer manager, yet most use volunteers on a daily basis?
In my previous jobs I learned the hard way how to create volunteer applications, volunteer screening procedures, and volunteer management best practices; but this shouldn’t have been the case. There is an abundance of volunteer management resources available on the web, many which are free. Here’s a brief overview of these resources:
Awesome volunteer management websites
- Idealist.org’s Volunteer Management Resource Center
- Service Leader.org — Specialized resources for Volunteers, Leaders and Managers of Volunteers, and Instructors and Thought Leaders
- National Service Resource Center — Tools and Training for Volunteer and Service Programs
- Volunteer Match — Find your next volunteer, or search for a volunteer opportunity
- Volunteer Today.com — Pertinent information on recruiting and engaging volunteers; and promoting professional development opportunities for those who work to engage volunteers
- Points of Light Ideas and Insights — Research, analysis, tools and training to support the creation and management of volunteer programs.
- Energizeinc.com — Volunteer Management Resources for Directors of Volunteers in a Volunteerism World.
- National Youth Leadership Council — Resources on service-learning
- Servenet (Youth Service America) – Volunteering Opportunities
- Innovations in Civic Participation — Works with individuals, organizations, and groups around the globe to support the development of innovative approaches to national youth service and service-learning.
- National Commission on Service Learning – A national initiative to engage more young people in service to others as part of their academic studies.
- Corporation for National and Community Service
Selected Volunteerism Books and Research
- Starting and Maintaining a Quality Internship Program — by Michael True
- 12 Key Actions of Volunteer Program Champions — by Betty Stallings
- 55 Minute Volunteer Management Training Series — by Betty Stallings
- Strategic Volunteer Engagement: A Guide for Nonprofit and Public Sector Leaders — by Sarah J. Rehnborg.
- From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Involvement by Susan Ellis
- Journal of Volunteer Administration
- Center for Information and Resource on Civic Learning and Engagement – A nonpartisan research center studying youth participation and civic engagement
- The Unpaid Intern, Legal or Not, New York Times 4/2/10
- Volunteer Management Capacity in America’s Charities/Congregations — by Mark Hager
This was compiled by the wonderful and talented Wanda Bailey. She is the former ED of Volunteer San Diego and she provided me this list of when we met to discuss my dissertation which deals with episodic volunteering. Thanks Wanda!!
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