Nonprofit Management
Nonprofit management focuses on leading organizations that aim to address social, cultural, or community needs without the intent of making a profit. This field combines principles of public administration, leadership, and business strategy to develop solutions for community challenges. Graduates in nonprofit management often work in diverse areas such as policy advocacy, fundraising, program development, and organizational leadership, helping to create impactful change.
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In today’s complex and evolving landscape, public service professionals are needed more than ever to address societal challenges, shape policies, and lead organizations that serve communities effectively. Whether your passion lies in government, nonprofit management, or the private sector with a focus on public service, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) can be your key to unlocking a wide range of leadership opportunities.
Public service is a broad field that encompasses both government agencies and nonprofit organizations, each playing a crucial role in addressing societal needs and improving communities. Although both sectors aim to serve the public good, they operate under distinct models that shape their impact and leadership challenges.
Kent State University’s Online Master’s in Public Administration has moved up in the U.S. News rankings! The program is currently ranked 135 (out of 270) in the U.S. News 2024 Best Public Affairs Programs. The program is also tied for 4th place in Ohio and second place in Northeast Ohio.
Watch Dr. Daniel Hawes speak to Sage Publications about a paper he presented at the American Political Science Association conference in Montreal 2022. The paper also won the Herbert Kaufman Best Paper award from the Public Administration Section in 2023.
Author: Katherine Jurak, Kent State University
A Master of Public Administration career, and others in the nonprofit sector, present incredible opportunities to identify specific needs in a community and find ways to solve them.
There are many reasons to choose to pursue a career in the public sector rather than in the business world. Often, people are drawn to public or nonprofit careers because doing so gives them an opportunity to do good and enact change for the better.
When you think of nonprofits, what organizations first come to mind? You might initially think of Doctors Without Borders, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Red Cross or UNICEF. According to the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS), nonprofit organizations include any organization that is not organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and does not promise any net holdings to the benefit of any private shareholders or individuals.1
As with jobs in all industries, jobs in the public sector have certain advantages and disadvantages. While each person might have their own opinion of what constitutes a positive or negative aspect of any career, read on for our take on the pros and cons of working in the public sector.
According to The Balance Small Business, a website providing guidance on entrepreneurship and management, economies of countries including the United States are divided between public and private sectors (or sections), for the purpose of considering economic activity and the contribution of each sector to the gross domestic product. The basic distinction between the two sectors? “Businesses that make a profit commonly represent the private sector, while government agencies tend to represent the public sector.”