Introduction to Nonprofit Management

Develop the skills and strategies you need to become an integral part of the non-profit sector as you learn from a veteran of the field. This course will show you everything you need to know to transform good intentions into a professional plan of action.

6 Weeks / 24 Course Hrs

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Learning method

Self-Guided

$185

No instructor. Study on your own schedule

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Instructor-Moderated

$170

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Starting April 16 | May 14

Details + Objectives

Course code: inm

Develop the skills and strategies you need to become an integral part of one of America's fastest growing service sectors! In this course, a twelve-year veteran in the nonprofit management field will show you how to transform your good intentions into a professional plan of action. You'll understand the unique characteristics of nonprofit organizations while mastering the core knowledge necessary to become an effective leader in the nonprofit arena.

In this course, you will learn skills and develop strategies that will take your organization to new heights of prosperity and productivity. You'll gain a full understanding the role of the executive director and the board of directors, special event and meeting management, public relation strategies, and how to find a position in this fascinating and rewarding field of work.

What you will learn

Learn the fundamentals and common challenges of nonprofit leadership
Gain a full understanding of the role of the executive director and the board of directors in a nonprofit organization
Discover the grand picture of the nonprofit workforce and get a clear picture of what nonprofits are like on the inside
Learn how to plan and execute a special event that will boost your agency's income and community awareness

How you will benefit

Learn skills and develop strategies that will take any nonprofit organization to new heights of prosperity and productivity
Develop the skills and strategies you need to become an integral part of one of America's fastest growing service sectors
Gain confidence in your ability to land work at a nonprofit organization and get closer to achieving your personal career goals

How the course is taught

Instructor-Moderated or Self-Guided online course
6 Weeks or 3 Months access
24 course hours

Outline

In this lesson, you'll learn some basic nonprofit terminology and the purpose of a nonprofit organization. You'll understand what the product of a nonprofit is, how it differs from a for-profit business, and its economic impact on the community where it resides. You will learn why the bottom line of a nonprofit is judged differently from a for-profit business, and what this means to you as a nonprofit manager.

In this lesson, you'll learn why it's just not enough to have an idea for change and a knack for gathering supporters. This lesson will show you how to ensure your organization's success through careful planning. You'll learn how your mission statement guides your nonprofit, what a strategic plan is, and why every nonprofit needs one.

This lesson will give you a clear idea of what life is like inside a nonprofit. When you finish with this lesson, you'll feel like you've been to an open house … and found out which room is yours! You'll also learn who governs and manages the nonprofit. You'll view a turf chart, which will help you understand the entire leadership issue in a clean, concise format.

This lesson paints a grand picture of the nonprofit workforce. You'll learn what the executive director does and why this position is key to the overall wellbeing of a successful nonprofit. You'll learn why the executive director (ED) makes such high demands on the staff, and why the standards for quality performance are an integral part of the workplace.

This lesson is a fascinating study about group dynamics and the role that the board of directors plays in nonprofit governance. They are the few chosen from the many who take on the principal responsibility for fulfillment of the organization's mission and the legal accountability for its operations. Governing boards are receiving more attention than ever before, so this chapter is as timely as it is informative.

Volunteers are often referred to as the heart of a nonprofit, with committees being the backbone—one supports the other. Whatever you want to call the relationship, the fact is that a nonprofit needs both groups working in harmony to be successful. In this lesson, you'll learn how to attract and retain volunteers. You'll understand the real purpose of committees and how to make each one worth its weight in gold.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to improve your meeting management skills. You'll learn about when a meeting is necessary, how to decide what type of meeting your organization needs, and how to figure out how much it actually costs to hold a meeting. This chapter is a real eye-opener that will help you put meeting planning into the right perspective.

This lesson will help you understand why delivering relevant benefits and services can enhance your organization's reputation by meeting or exceeding members' expectations. A strong membership program results in delighted, satisfied members, and it boosts your image as a successful manager.

In this lesson, you'll learn why financial management is one of the most important practices in nonprofit management. You'll understand how the budget empowers you to protect your membership, and how it actually serves as the ultimate referee in times of financial conflict.

In this lesson, you'll explore the world of special event management. The escalation of appeals for money is leading to donor fatigue. Loyal donors are saying "enough already!" and potential donors are now examining organizations carefully to see which ones are willing to earn their support. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to plan and execute a special event that will boost your agency's income and community awareness. You'll make your mark from the beginning and be an invaluable resource for any nonprofit you choose to work with.

Every nonprofit needs to enhance its image, increase member participation, energize supporters and publicize its fundraisers through a carefully orchestrated public relations (PR) program. In this lesson, you'll look at the public relations tools and techniques that nonprofit professionals use to successfully get the word out about their organization.

In this last lesson, you'll get into the nitty-gritty of searching for just the right nonprofit job for you. You'll learn some of the best ways to find a job in the nonprofit sector, including some tips on how to write an effective resume. You'll also learn how to prepare a personal case statement, and why the 20-second rule can make the difference between landing an interview or having your resume land in the trash bin.

Instructors & Support

Janet Levine

Janet Levine has been involved with grant writing and fund raising since 1988. Prior to starting her consulting company in 2007, she was the Vice President for University Advancement at a public, urban university. Levine has been a fundraiser and administrator at a number of colleges, universities and other non-profit organizations. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University and a B.A. from Hofstra University.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 8 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

FAQ

Instructor-Moderated: A new session of each course begins each month. Please refer to the session start dates for scheduling.

Self-Guided: Your course begins immediately after you enroll.

Instructor-Moderated: Once a course session starts, two lessons will be released each week for the 6 week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends. You will interact with the instructor through the online discussion area. There are no live sessions or online meetings with the instructor.

Self-Guided: You have 3 months of access to the course. After enrolling, you can learn and complete the course at your own pace, within the allotted access period. You will have the opportunity to interact with other students in the online discussion area.

Instructor-Moderated: The interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes two weeks after each lesson is released, so you're encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release. However, you will have access to all lessons from the time they are released until the course ends.

Self-Guided: There is no time limit to complete each lesson, other than completing all lessons within the allotted access period. Discussion areas for each lesson are open for the entire duration of the course.

Instructor-Moderated: Students enrolled in a six-week online class benefit from a one-time, 10-day extension for each course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.

Self-Guided: Because this course is self-guided, no extensions will be granted after the start of your enrollment.

Reviews

Thank you for the class and for sharing your expertise with us. The variety of topics was great, and you presented them in a lively way. I will feel better equipped to find a history job, knowing that nonprofit issues are such a vital component. I'll also be more motivated to get involved in volunteering, from looking at some of the wonderful supplemental resources you provided. Thank you again!

I have learned so much from this class and I am truly grateful that I was able to take this course! As a person whom is just starting a job in the non-profit sector, I paid close attention the Lesson's on budgeting and finance. I do not have a degree in finance but this class taught me that I needed to at least know the basics to run a non-profit. This class showed me how to structure a non-profit and break down the roles and duties of an Executive Director. I highly recommend this course to anyone is looking to learn about Nonprofit management.

I loved this class!! I feel that exceeded my expectations. I think the format is perfect, with the frame homework and web references. The instructor, Linda Kissam, is very knowledgeable on the subject. She goes into detail but at the same time stays focused on the important highlights of every subject. I believe I still have a lot to absorb from all the material in this class, and I look forward to taking another class with her on the nonprofit sector.

This was my first class with ed2go and I found that the class and the instructor were exactly what I needed and better than expected. I highly recommend this course!

This course was exactly the type of course I was looking for. Thank you for offering it.

This course is going to be very beneficial to me on my job. The information provided in the supplementary material will be a good future reference also. Thank you!

Thank you for offering this course. It fulfilled my desire to learn more about the executive director position as well as valuable information about nonprofits. I look forward to taking other courses related to nonprofits.

Great course! Very good learning tools and supplemental materials. The teacher was great. She was very helpful and knowledgable.

I have been doing the same thing for years and after a few layoffs and restructures in media, I decided I was ready to do something more fulfilling and this is step one. I have worked with nonprofits from a media standpoint for several years, but on the other side of the desk. Now I hope to jump to the other side and work at a nonprofit. I hope that this will get me there and open some new doors. The first class really enlightened me and I can't wait to take the next one!