Nonprofit Management
The online Nonprofit Management Certificate at Kent State University provides foundational skills for individuals seeking to enhance their expertise in public service leadership. This program covers essential topics like public policy, budgeting, and organizational management, equipping graduates to contribute effectively to government and nonprofit organizations. Ideal for those looking to strengthen their knowledge of public administration, this certificate prepares students for impactful roles in public and civic institutions.
I’m a working mom with 18+ years in my career. I needed something that was accredited and rigorous, but also flexible enough to allow me to work, parent and go to school. Kent State fit that description.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate competence in management skills related to the nonprofit sector, which may include nonprofit law, leadership skills, advocacy and grant writing.
Time for a Quick Career Upgrade?
Transform your career with as little as one year of part-time courses. We can help you affordably gain the skills you need to lead your nonprofit to success and make a real difference with your service.
Learn Principles That Apply to Any Nonprofit
No matter the field or the size of the organization, nonprofit organizations must operate according to the law and specific financial and advocacy practices. Successful nonprofit leaders also keep up with best practices in governance, program management and leadership. The Kent State online graduate certificate in nonprofit management offers you expert-led courses on these key topics.
Is This Program Right For You?
If you are already working in the nonprofit sector, this online program will help you develop your expertise and increase your influence. Our graduate certificate in nonprofit management is also a quick, affordable introduction to the field if you are just starting your career or pivoting from work in another sector. Our Admissions Outreach Advisors are happy to provide more information.
Talk With an Admissions Outreach Advisor
Skills You Will Develop
Your coursework for the nonprofit management graduate certificate can help you develop these key leadership skills:
- Recruiting, selecting, leading and managing people in public organizations
- Developing and managing budgets for nonprofit and public organizations
- Fundraising and resource development for nonprofit organizations
- Implementing effective nonprofit governance
The condensed seven-week courses taken one at a time, instead of two simultaneous semester-long courses, makes it easier to immerse yourself in that one topic and focus on it exclusively, which I feel enhances the learning experience.
Nonprofit Industry Career Options
With the expertise you gain in our nonprofit management program, you could start a nonprofit, operate a small, local organization or pursue a satisfying career in a variety of settings. The nonprofit industry encompasses organizations including:
- Schools, foundations and churches
- Social and business engagement associations
- Human services providers
- Arts, cultural and humanities groups
- Advocacy, rights and policy organizations1
Nonprofit Numbers
The nonprofit industry is one of the largest sectors in the country, and key roles within it are projected to have much faster than average job growth through 2030.2, 3
- There are more than 1.8 million nonprofits in the United States1
- U.S. nonprofit revenues are $2.48 trillion4
- 12.3 million people draw paychecks from U.S. nonprofit organizations5
Because the industry is so large and diverse, many job roles are available for experts in nonprofit management, ranging from advocacy director to major gifts officer and CEO. Here are some representative nonprofit titles and average national salaries.
Program Overview
The Nonprofit Management graduate certificate prepares graduates to work in the management and administrative positions in nonprofit organizations across a range of industries. Students acquire basic management skills, as well as applied skills specific to the nonprofit sector, which may include fundraising, executive board relations, policy advocacy and nonprofit law.
See the Course List
Earning your graduate certificate in nonprofit management could be just the beginning of your professional education. You can transfer 12 credits from Kent State’s nonprofit management graduate certificate to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree when you decide to continue.
Complete your graduate certificate in nonprofit management for less than $7,000, even though our Public Administration program is one of a select few online programs accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
We’re proud to be recognized with the Military Friendly® gold designation, for the level of service we offer members of the extended military community and all our students. Our rankings reflect our commitment to helping you achieve your dreams.
Well-Rounded, Expert Faculty
Professors for the online graduate certificate in public management are connected, engaged practitioners and researchers with expertise in diverse areas.
Faculty interests and experience include policymaking and policy implementation, political systems and public management, city planning, professional ethics, nonprofit governance and advocacy, quantitative research methods, international business, and public sector IT management.
With their varied interests, experiences and connections, our faculty can help you chart your course to a successful nonprofit management career.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Goal statement
- Writing sample
- Three letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
- Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 DET score
1International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.
Program Courses
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Requirements | ||
| Certificate Electives, choose from the following: | 9 | |
| PADM 60200 | NONPROFIT ADVOCACY | |
| PADM 60310 | LEADERSHIP IN THE NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTOR | |
| PADM 60471 | NONPROFIT LAW | |
| PADM 60472 | NONPROFIT BOARD EXEC RELATIONS | |
| PADM 60477 | NONPROFIT FINANCIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT | |
| Public Management Concept and Skill Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| PADM 60371 | GRADUATE INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | |
| PADM 60375 | PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION | |
| PADM 60377 | PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT | |
| PADM 60379 | PROGRAM EVALUATION I | |
| PADM 60470 | PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE | |
| PADM 60574 | STRATEGIC PLANNING | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 12 | |
The online MPA program application process is simple and we’re here to guide you through it.
Our Admissions Outreach Advisors are available to answer your questions regarding admissions requirements for the program. If you have questions, please email us at online@kent.edu or call us at 330-672-8671.
Application FAQs
I am a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required application materials should be sent to the Division of Graduate Studies at gradapps@kent.edu or by mail to:
Division of Graduate Studies
Kent State University
Cartwright Hall
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242
Please be sure to include your full name and Kent State ID (9-digit number starting with 8) on all submitted documents. For questions, contact Graduate Admissions at +1 330-672-2661 or gradapps@kent.edu.
I am not a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required documents should be submitted to the Office of Global Education at intladm@kent.edu or by mail to:
Office of Global Education
Kent State University
106 Van Campen Hall
625 Loop Rd.
Kent, OH 44242
USA
For questions, contact International Admissions at +1 330-672-7970 or intladm@kent.edu.
The online Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management consists of 12 credits.
| Ohio Residents | Out of State | |
| Per Credit Hour | $612.62 | $622.62 |
| Approximate Program Cost | $7,300 | $7,400 |
An additional distance learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.
We recognize that pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment. Your Admissions Outreach Advisor can answer your questions on program costs, discuss how a Kent State degree compares to others and connect you with financial aid representatives when you are ready to discuss your financial options.
Please contact an Admissions Outreach Advisor for more information on tuition and fees by email at online@kent.edu.
Courses are delivered through Canvas, our course management system. Course content consists of text, narrated PowerPoint presentations, video and audio, live chats, discussion groups, and other learning enhancements. To participate in this online program, you will need a computer and broadband internet connection. Your program may have further requirements that include the ability to record video and audio. If you have questions regarding technology requirements for the program, please contact your Admissions Outreach Advisor at online@kent.edu or call us at 330-672-8671.
Careers
- -10.0% decline
- 287,900 number of jobs
- $185,950 potential earnings
- 8.1% much faster than the average
- 52,100 number of jobs
- $87,580 potential earnings
- 5.8% faster than the average
- 2,486,400 number of jobs
- $103,650 potential earnings
- 31.5% much faster than the average
- 422,300 number of jobs
- $104,280 potential earnings
- 9.2% much faster than the average
- 88,000 number of jobs
- $118,430 potential earnings
- 17.0% much faster than the average
- 175,500 number of jobs
- $69,600 potential earnings
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Related Reading from the Kent State Online Blog
Sources
1. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from causeiq.com/insights/how-many-nonprofits-in-the-us/
2. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from bls.gov/ooh/management/public-relations-managers.htm
3. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm
4. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from statista.com/topics/1390/nonprofit-organizations-in-the-us/#dossierKeyfigures
5. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from nonprofitimpactmatters.org/?utm_source=web&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=reports-page
6. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from glassdoor.com/Salaries/nonprofit-program-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm
7. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from glassdoor.com/Salaries/nonprofit-executive-director-salary-SRCH_KO0,28.htm