Certificate in Nonprofit Management

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Created for professionals in nonprofit organizations, the graduate-level Certificate in Nonprofit Management offers specific knowledge and skills related to human resource development, organizational evaluation, finance, conflict resolution, and decision-making. The curriculum is designed for individuals who do not have formal training in the business aspects of managing a nonprofit organization.

What You Will Learn

The certificate can be designed to fit your needs through focus on one of the following areas of emphasis:

  • Leadership
  • Integrative leadership
  • Finance and fundraising
  • Changing organizational environment
  • Policy analysis
  • Arts management

Certificates Toward Degree Programs

Credits taken for the Nonprofit Management Certificate may be used to fulfill Humphrey School degree program requirements, contingent on approval from advisor(s) and subject to the Humphrey School's "Application of Graduate Credits to Degree Requirements" policy.

View Certificate in Nonprofit Management application requirements

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Curriculum

The Nonprofit Management Certificate requires 13 semester credits, including 4.5 credits in core courses, and a minimum of 8.5 credits in electives. At least 5.5 elective credits must come from the "PA" electives listed below. The remaining credits may be taken from this list or, with advisor approval, other graduate-level courses. (Updated for spring 2024)

Required core courses (4.5 credits)

  • PA 5003 – Introduction to Financial Analysis and Management (1.5 cr.)
  • PA 5101 – Management and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Note: All core courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Electives (Minimum of 8.5 credits)

You may select electives from the following list and your program plan must be approved by a faculty adviser. Other courses may be used if approved by your adviser.

  • PA 5108: Board and Leadership Development (1 cr.)
  • PA 5114: Budget Analysis in Public and Nonprofit Orgs (1.5 cr.)
  • PA 5116: Financing Public and Nonprofit Organizations (1.5 cr.)
  • PA 5145: Civic Participation in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • PA 5151: Organizational Perspectives on Global Dev & Humanitarian Assistance (3 cr.)
  • PA 5190: Topics in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management (various credits, with a changing list of special topics)
  • PA 5927: Effective Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations (1.5 cr.)
  • PA 5135 – Managing Conflict: Negotiation (3 cr.)
  • PA 5311 – Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
  • PA 5105 – Leading Across Sectors to Address Grand Challenges (3 cr.)
  • PA 5123 – Philanthropy in America: History, Practice, and Trends (3 cr.)
  • PA 5113 – State and Local Public Finance (3 cr.)
  • PA 5104 – Strategic Human Resource Management (3 cr.)
  • PA 5405 – Public Policy Implementation (3 cr.)
  • PA 5122 – Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • PA 5136 – Group Process Facilitation for Organizational and Public/Community Engagement (1 cr.)
  • PA 5251 – Strategic Planning and Management (3 cr.)
  • PA 5144: Social Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)

Cost

Information on certificate program costs can be found on the Tuition and Financial Aid page of our website.