Key takeaways
- Nonprofit organizations are a popular and commonly found type of organization that cater to social needs of various kinds.
- Nonprofit organizations are essential parts of society, serving social, cultural, environmental, and health-related functions.
- Managing a nonprofit organization is not the same as typical or for-profit ones.
- The specialized nature of the nonprofit industry requires specific skills and knowledge to be managed effectively.
- To become a nonprofit manager, you will require a bachelor’s degree that can provide you with essential skills and knowledge.
- An important part of any nonprofit management program is its coursework, so make sure you look for programs that have an extensive list of topics covered.
- The list of best colleges with nonprofit management programs include the University of Minnesota, Indiana University, and George Mason University.
- Specializations within the nonprofit management degree include global nonprofit management, diversity and inclusion, disaster management, and financial management.
- Most commonly available entry and mid-level jobs for nonprofit management include Program Coordinator, Volunteer Manager, and Outreach Assistant.
- The Healthcare industry has the highest number of employment for nonprofit professionals. Washington D.C has the highest employment rate for nonprofit professionals.
Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in serving a social, cultural, educational, or charitable purpose rather than generating profit. These organizations are driven by purpose and mission-focused operations that need to be managed and streamlined by experts and skilled leaders.
Moreover, nonprofit organizations tend to have extremely specialized interests and purposes. As a result, it’s important that the management does not derail from the focus, and has the skills necessary to keep the organization on track. Nonprofits are not like conventional or for-profit companies, therefore their management and leadership techniques must be different.
As a result of this stark difference, nonprofit management is a specialized field that requires a certain level of qualifications. So, nonprofit organizations in healthcare insurance, charity, or any other industry are always in need of qualified individuals that can manage the organization and its people.
In this article, we explore the in-depth details of what is nonprofit management, what is a nonprofit management degree, list of best colleges, and career prospects with this specific degree. So, without further ado, let’s delve into the details.
What is nonprofit management?
A critical part of your college planning is understanding and evaluating what every college major is going to lead you to. So, if you are considering taking up nonprofit management degree, you must look into the industry, what your responsibilities will be, what may be expected of you, and so on. So, here is an overview of what nonprofit management is.
Firstly, nonprofit management is a profession that finds work opportunities in precisely nonprofit entities that are purpose-driven. These organizations are playing a social function, serving the society or the community one way or the other.
Secondly,every nonprofit entity is focused on one or more issues in the context of society, culture, environment, education, or health. So, this profession is relevant across numerous industries, requiring you to remain flexible and adaptive to changing organizational needs.
Another aspect of nonprofit management is that this profession includes a lot of interactions with people and human capital of different sorts. Firstly, you will be constantly interacting with nonprofit partners like donors and partnered organizations. Secondly, you will have to manage volunteers and paid employees within the organization. Therefore, a lot of people-skill and human interactions are part of the deal.
How to become a nonprofit manager with a college degree?
A college degree is the ideal gateway to becoming a successful nonprofit manager. Particularly, college degrees focus on developing core skills that are applicable in real life. Additionally, college programs are lead and taught by highly qualified teachers and faculty members, allowing you to access industry insights and grasp crucial concepts. Furthermore, colleges also provide access to important academic and professional resources that can help you prepare for your career in nonprofit management.
So, if you are wondering whether this college major suits you, here is everything you need to know about it:
Coursework in a nonprofit management degree
Firstly, do not forget to check out the coursework of any college program you are hoping to pursue. It is vital that you look into the coursework so that you know what to expect from the program. Moreover, understanding the academic outline helps you prepare and evaluate for the next 4 years to come. In addition to this, having an understanding of what you will learn will allow you to also map out your career path.
Additionally, keep in mind that the coursework can vary significantly from one college to another. However, the most commonly offered courses may include the following:
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Admission and graduation criteria
Second, it is crucial that you are fully prepared for college applications. You can explore the expert advice from All Bachelor Degrees, and check out the AI-powered essay and application solutions that can make college applications less overwhelming.
To get you started, here is a list of admission and graduation criteria that you should not miss out:
- Highschool diploma or equivalent
- Standardized test scores
- English proficiency test scores for international students
- Application form and fees
- Personal essays and statements
- Recommendation letters
- Work experience if relevant
For graduation, you may be required to fulfill the following:
- Clearance of all pending financial dues
- Maintenance of minimum required CGPA
- Completion of foundational and elective courses
- Completion of capstone project or thesis
Specializations in a nonprofit management degree
Since we have already discussed the coursework in nonprofit management degrees, we can talk about the specializations.
In some colleges, specializations are also referred to areas of concentration, areas of focus, or emphasis areas. Regardless, these specializations provide a simple function – narrowing down your focus to one specific field of study for enhanced career prospects.
Specializations play a crucial role in preparing you for your specific areas of interest. All fields have certain specialized areas within, and so does a nonprofit management degree. Before we look at the areas of specialization, here is a list of benefits of choosing the right specialization:
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So, here is an overview of the most commonly offered specializations within nonprofit management programs:
Volunteer and Community Engagement
For most nonprofit organizations, volunteers are lifeblood. They provide core functions and play important roles within nonprofits. Therefore, there is an extensive need for non-profit volunteer management to ensure not only proper functionality but also guarantee motivation and inspiration in the volunteers.
Leadership and governance
If you are seeking to develop a broad range of leadership and managerial skills and apply them to nonprofits, then this specialization is for you. This specialization is thoroughly focused on creating and managing strategies and ensuring organizational success. You can also explore alternative degrees related to this field, such as organizational leadership.
Nonprofit Financial Management
The biggest source of finances in nonprofit organizations is through donations. So, nonprofits have a huge responsibility to manage these finances and ensure effective consumption. Alongside, they must maintain data and records as well. Therefore, a specialization in nonprofit financial management is going to teach you the core skills and knowledge needed in managing the financial structure of a nonprofit.
International and Global Nonprofit Management
Due to increasing globalization, there is no doubt that global nonprofits are increasing by the day. More and more cross-cultural nonprofits and social development organizations are coming into the scene. Therefore, it is vital that there are experts in the industry who know how to manage global nonprofit organizations. This specialization may cover a variety of topics including financial management, strategic management, change management, and so on.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Nonprofits
Speaking of globalization, diversity, and inclusion is also a huge point of interest today is different types of organizations. Since most of the nonprofit organizations are focused on social issues, DEI is a huge concern in nonprofit organizations. Therefore, a specialization in this field students essentially learn to address and advance social justice, equity, and inclusivity within nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. This specialization focuses on developing the skills and understanding necessary to create equitable systems, foster inclusive cultures, and champion diversity in all organizational activities.
Crisis and Disaster Management in Nonprofits
Numerous nonprofit organizations work extensively in the disaster relief industry, creating a vast need for experts that can deal with managing the related operations and functions. Within this specialization, you will learn important skills and knowledge needed for emergency response, and ensuring effective relief strategies.
List of colleges with nonprofit management programs
If you are leaning towards pursuing a college degree in nonprofit management programs, you must not shy away from doing a load of research on a list of colleges. Make sure you consider important factors that we have listed later in the article. Comparing and researching the colleges will allow you to make an informed decision, as a college degree is a 4-year long commitment.
So, here is a list of colleges with nonprofit management degrees:
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University, Bloomington, offers a major in nonprofit management and leadership. This program is ideally suited for those interested in finding leadership roles and responsibilities. With this degree, you will develop many people-management skills that may also be transferable to other fields, such as human resources jobs.
University of Minnesota
You can explore the Public & Nonprofit Management majors at the University of Minnesota through its Carlson School and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Firstly, the undergrad majors offer an extensive list of courses and program coursework that ensures practical skills and knowledge base. Moreover, you will study courses such as economics and marketing strategies to enjoy a well-rounded variety of skills.
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon offers a nonprofit management minor through its School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management. This program is excellent for students to learn practical skills from qualified individuals. The college has an acceptance rate of over 70%.
George Mason University
At George Mason University, you can opt for the bachelor of science in nonprofit management and public administration. The best part about this degree is that you can pursue a higher degree, such as a master’s, to further specialize in the field and find higher-paying jobs. Moreover, the college has an over 87% acceptance rate.
University of North Texas
For a wholesome degree that makes you eligible for a variety of nonprofit management jobs, you should opt for the bachelor of arts in Nonprofit Leadership Studies from the University of North Texas. Moreover, this is a 4-year degree requiring 120 credit hours, offering common areas of concentration such as animal protection, environment and sustainability, and public health. Lastly, the college has an acceptance rate of over 75%.
How to choose the best colleges with nonprofit management degrees?
Moving on, here we discuss the most important factors that can help you choose the ideal college for getting a nonprofit management degree.
Accreditations
Reputation and rankings are very important for assessing how good a college is. Accreditations from official agencies allow students to see what qualities and benefits do the colleges offer.
Program coursework
As we discussed earlier as well, program coursework can help you plan your academic journey as well as beyond. So, make sure that the college you choose has the most comprehensive coursework and aligns with your career goals.
Alumni profiles
Make sure to check what college and program alumni are doing. This can help you see what are the possible career outcomes and nonprofit management degree jobs you may be able to find after graduating.
Financial aspects
College degrees last for 4 years minimum, and sometimes more. Therefore, it is a long-term financial commitment that you must fulfill in order to finally graduate and set your foot in the professional world. So, ensure that you have the cost breakdown, and have evaluated the available financial aid options.
Faculty quality
Lastly, do not forget to see who will be teaching or mentoring you. Under the best mentors and educators, you will be able to get the best learning outcomes and meet your objectives accordingly.
What can you do with a degree in nonprofit management?
Now, before we reach the end of this discussion, it is vital that we leave no stone unturned. Therefore, one of the most commonly asked questions from prospective students about nonprofit management degrees is about the career outlook.
Firstly, keep in mind that every college degree should offer rewarding and prestigious job opportunities that have room for growth. Secondly, all college degrees do not guarantee the same career outlook. Therefore, it is crucial that you make an informed choice that can potentially shape up your career prospects.
So, here is a list of common jobs you may be eligible for. These jobs are entry to mid-level.
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How much do nonprofit managers make?
Typically, many people believe that the wage rate or pay scale in the nonprofit industry is not as great. However, contrary to popular belief, many amazing nonprofit managerial roles offer not only a good pay but also numerous perks and benefits.
In the end, the payscale depends on some crucial factors. For example, the college you graduate from, your additional qualifications, experience, and even the location of the job can ifneliucne the wage rate.
There are numerous reports and surveys that tell us about the wage rates and pay trends in the nonprofit industry. However, the most credible and extensive data comes from BLS. so, here is what the insights have to say:
- nonprofit jobs accounted for 9.9% of the private sector jobs
- 2 out of 3 nonprofit organizations are from the healthcare industry
- Washington D.C has the highest rate of nonprofit employment
- Reports show that nonprofit managers make 1% more than the national average
- The salary range for various jobs in the industry can range between $41,000 and $130,000
Enroll in the ideal nonprofit management colleges for a bright future
In conclusion, choosing a college major is not an easy decision. Ti truly requires a lot of research and consideration and must be given enough time. As a young or adult student, you will have to consider numerous factors, such as financial aspects and the career prospects. However, the nonprofit management degree is a very specialized field and offers fulfilling career prospects.
Furthermore, there are many great things about a nonprofit management degree. For example, a typical coursework covers many crucial subjects like economics and strategic management. Additionally, there are highly reputable colleges that offer this degree, and that too with excellent acceptance rates.
Therefore, pursuing this degree sounds like an amazing option for most of the students who want to find work as leaders and managers.