Nonprofit Degrees

In charity there is no excess.
–Sir Francis Bacon

What is Nonprofit Management?

First, it is important to know what a “nonprofit” organization is. Nonprofits are a subset of private industry. Though nonprofit organizations generage revenue through donations and grants, the revenue is not distributed to owners or employees as in a for-profit business. According to the IRS, nonprofit, or, “tax exempt,” organizations include: religious, charitable, educational, scientific, literary in purpose, or those that work to prevent the cruelty to children or animals. Obviously this list encompasses many aspects of life. Organizations that fall into these categories include hospitals, churches, schools, and social welfare (ie disaster relief, civil rights, community development, arts, environment) organizations. The role of Nonprofit Organizations is to provide services that can replace or supplement those provided by the government; Private funds given for public good. Your job as a Nonprofit Manager is to guide the mission and goals set by the organization you are working for.

Why is it important to have a degree in Nonprofit Management?

You may be asking what the benefits are to having a degree in Nonprofit Management, or having a degree at all! There are many reasons to earn a college degree. Greater earning potential is probably at the top of the list.

On August 5 2011, Brian Burnsed of USNews released a report confirming the long held notion that higher education means higher earnings.

According to the article detailing “How Higher Education Affects Lifetime Salary,” workers who have earned a bachelor’s degree, no matter the field, earn a great deal more than their counterparts with some college ($1.55 million in lifetime earnings) or a high school diploma ($1.30 million lifetime). That means that simply earning a four-year degree is often integral to financial success later in life. Employers value the commitment made in order to earn the degree as well as the skills attained in the process.

“The payoff from getting a college degree is huge and is actually increasing,” says Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation, a nonprofit focused on boosting America’s number of college graduates. “For people wondering [if] a college degree [is] worth it: Not only is it worth it, but the premium is growing.”

In 1995, Seton Hall University set out to examine nonprofit management programs. As of 2009, there were 292 colleges and universities offering courses in nonprofit management with 168 of these programs offering a graduate degree in nonprofit management. Of course, with the increase in both popularity and acceptance of online courses and online degrees, students can be anywhere in the world to study what they are interested in.

Employers want their candidates to have a degree – it shows that you are able to commit and complete goals you set. Your degree will provide you with skills such as better communication and will teach you how to network. Colleges and Universities are responding to the demand for degrees in Nonprofit Management; now is the time to take advantage of this growing field.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

In 2007, there were more than 1.64 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. employing 8.7 workers – that is 5.9% of all workers.
In the last ten years, the nonprofit sector has expanded in terms of both organizations and paid employees.
Health professionals, educators, administrative support workers, and service occupations account for the majority of paid workers in the nonprofit sector.
Because non-profit organizations do not benefit from paying lower wages in the same way that for-profit businesses do, some nonprofits actually pay higher wages and seek out higher quality workers.
In 2007, the average hourly earnings of a full-time nonprofit employee was $21.68 – more than $1 more than private industry workers ($20.46).
Human resources managers earn significantly more. In 2007, the average hourly wage for HR managers at nonprofits ($40.35) was almost $12 more than their state government counterpart ($28.65).
While other business specialties also have higher earning potential in the nonprofit sector, all have the added bonus of personal satisfaction for helping make a difference.

Nonprofit Management Degrees

Associate & Bachelor’s Degrees in Nonprofit Management

But what if you would earn your degree, thereby making yourself more desirable and competitive, and also enjoy what you do, do something you are good at, and can make a difference in that field? Welcome to nonprofit management!

At the undergraduate level, you will want to consider a combination degree, such as a business degree with related coursework in the nonprofit sector you wish to work in. For example, a business management major with a minor in nutrition could help you secure a job in at a public health organization. An engineering degree with courses in nonprofit management would give you a big advantage at any foundation. Adding a minor or certificate to your resume will help you stand out from the pack, and don’t forget that online courses are gaining in popularity – so broaden your search when finding the university that fits your needs, it could be a click away.

American Humanics Certificate

Before committing to a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management, consider earning a certificate in American Humanics. The only certificate recognized by the nonprofit sector, you can complete it while working on your bachelor’s degree. There are approximately 50 colleges and universities that offer this preferred national certification in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. For example, at Arizona State University you can work towards the certificate while studying for a B.S. in Nonprofit Leadership & Management; or in conjunction with the Nonprofit Administration Minor; or in conjunction with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) Nonprofit Administration concentration; or in conjunction with any undergraduate major.

Master’s & PhD’s in Nonprofit Management

As in any other field, as the appreciation grows for quality management in nonprofit agencies, so too does the demand for a higher level of education.

Luckily, universities are ready to meet this demand and are offering comprehensive degrees in the art of Nonprofit Management.

This is your opportunity to take experiences you have gained in the real world, or continue with a passion ignited during your undergrad years and earn your Master’s degree (and even your PhD) in Nonprofit Management. Biomedical students will earn a Master’s in Nonprofit Management in order to work in the nonprofit medical field. Combining a childhood development bachelor degree and teaching experience with a Master’s in Nonprofit Management to create an after school program for at risk children would be a great way to combine your own education with a passion for providing education to all children. Really, the combinations of experience that you can bring to the field of nonprofit management are both infinite and unique.

Nonprofit Management Career Options

Nonprofit management very much like traditional business management. Finance, administration, and human resource duties are all a part of the organization. However, there are two major differences:

there are fewer people doing these tasks. In fact, as the head manager, you may be doing all of them!
instead of profit sharing and big bonuses, success is measured by the amount by which your cause has been furthered.

The main challenge for nonprofit managers is finding creative ways to: generate operating finances; attract high-caliber professionals and volunteers without the lure of big paychecks; and evaluating success and areas for improvement.

References

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