Online Nonprofit Leadership and Management Graduate Certificate
Get program details
To learn more about this program, fill out the form below and check your email for information on next steps.
Nonprofit management certificate online
The graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management is run by the ASU School of Community Resources and Development by its highly ranked Nonprofit Leadership and Management program. It is a post-baccalaureate certificate that provides students with an understanding of the role of the nonprofit sector and the skills required for effective leadership and management of nonprofit organizations. Foundational courses provide a solid grounding in the history and philosophy of the sector, and other courses integrate theory, research and practice to develop critical leaders and managers.
This program is available to students who are pursuing their graduate degree in a chosen field of study and who have expressed interest in pursuing careers in the nonprofit sector. In addition, this program is well suited for working professionals with an undergraduate degree who wish to strengthen their skills and advance in their careers with a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.
ASU Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions:
- Research is the forefront of all academic activities with 20 research centers for advancing research and discovery around challenges that affect us globally.
- #1 university in the U.S. for innovation.
- Named a prestigious global university.
- Nationally ranked graduate programs.
Featured Courses
NLM 510 The Nonprofit Sector
- This course provides students with fundamentals in nonprofit management and the historical and philosophical foundations of the nonprofit sector in American society. Students identify and study issues and trends related to governance and delivery systems of the nonprofit sector.
NLM 520 Financial and Resource Management
- This course reviews fiscal-management accounting procedures, looks at financial tools used by nonprofit managers and provides a basic framework for evaluating the financial performance of a nonprofit organization and practices.
NLM 540 Strategic Human Resources Management:
- This course addresses the challenges of managing paid staff and human resources in nonprofit organizations. Students will gain an understanding of human resource theories and tools to determine roles, evaluate responsibilities and lead staff toward optimal performance. It will improve supervisory, management and leadership skills. (Either used as a Core Class or Elective Class)
NLM 545 Volunteer Resource Management
- This course explores issues relevant to volunteer management. Allows students to learn about maximizing resources in the effective management of volunteers, while carrying out the mission of organizations and ensuring volunteers have good experiences with community organizations. (Either used as a Core Class or Elective Class)
Students also complete 6 credits of related elective coursework from a selection of graduate level NLM courses (see below).
NLM 515 Nonprofit Organizational Behavior and Management
- This course covers organizational behavior theories and effective management practices for nonprofits. You will focus on designing systems and developing habits to optimize the performance of individual employees and teams in the context of the organization's goals, culture and capacity.
NLM 525 Fundraising and Resource Development
- This course examines fundraising and resource development in philanthropy from the perspective of the nonprofit practitioner. You will also examine issues confronting nonprofit organizations related to fundraising and philanthropic purposes in society. This course will increase your knowledge and understanding of charitable giving and fundraising--who gives to what, why and how to raise funds for a cause. A wide range of fundraising methods and tools are examined with a focus on critical thinking, reflection on practice, collaboration, discussion and writing.
NLM 530 Program Evaluation & Information Management
- This course provides the tools to design and conduct practical program evaluation research in today's nonprofit organizations. You will develop skills in several areas, including evaluation, needs assessment, information and data collection, data management and analysis, computer applications, and report writing. Students will select an individualized project and design a program evaluation specific to their organization.
NLM 550 Philanthropy
- This course examines the role of philanthropy in contemporary American society from perspectives of the nonprofit practitioner, the philanthropist and the general public. It also examines issues confronting nonprofit organizations related to fundraising and philanthropic purposes in society.
NLM 560 Leadership & Ethics
- This course examines leadership and ethical questions encountered by managers and leaders in nonprofit organizations.
NLM 562 Social Entrepreneurship
- This course introduces social entrepreneurship, including how ideas are formulated, constructed and implemented. It also covers experiential learning in developing a social enterprise plan.
NLM 565 Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
- This course provides practical and experiential instruction in identifying grantmakers, writing proposals, developing budgets and evaluating grant proposals for the nonprofit sector. Students develop proposals based on the identified needs of their partner nonprofit organization.
NLM 570 International Non-Governmental Organizations
- This is a small course emphasizing discussion, presentations by students and written research papers. This course is designed to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of INGOs and the distinctions between them and their domestic counterparts.
NLM 572 Community & Social Innovations
- This course examines what makes a healthy community and investigates innovative and creative communities around the world.
NLM 605 Nonprofits, Law and Society
- This graduate seminar is designed to enhance the legal sensibilities of nonprofit leaders and engaged stakeholders.
NLM 610 Executive Leadership and Governance
- This course examines the multiplicity of roles for executives and the board of directors in providing strategic leadership for nonprofits.
Faculty
Recent Faculty Highlights Include:
- Nonprofit Times “Power and Influence Top 50” Leader
- Editor of Nonprofit Management and Leadership
Related Careers
Careers in nonprofit management
Requirements
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Curriculum vitae or resume.
- Statement of educational and career goals.
- Three reference letters.
- Proof of English proficiency.
Additional Application Information
Applicants should have some management/leadership experience in the nonprofit sector.
An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency. International applicants are also required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores and a financial guarantee statement.
The statement of educational and career goals should be written in sufficient detail to indicate compatibility with the educational objectives and capabilities of the school.
Reference letters should be from a combination of academic and professional references. References from friends and family members are not accepted.
Students currently pursuing the nonprofit leadership and management certificate who are interested in applying for the master's program must apply to the degree program before the completion of nine credit hours in their certificate program.
Get program details
To learn more about this program, fill out the form below and check your email for information on next steps.
