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Nonprofit Management Certificate Online Graduate Program

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Register By: April 15 Classes Start: April 17

Boost Your Nonprofit Leadership Skills

  • $627 per credit for 18 credits
  • Complete in less than 1 year
  • Start your path toward an advanced career in nonprofit leadership
  • Upskill for the job you want
  • Initiate and implement strategic planning
  • Lead people and organizations through change

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership Program Overview

In the United States alone, there are 1.3 million charitable nonprofit organizations.1 And each of these groups relies on the help and the goodness of others to forward their mission.

With Southern New Hampshire University's online Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations Graduate Certificate, you position yourself to manage a diverse range of nonprofit organizations. Through your coursework, you'll learn how to lead organizational change, initiate and implement strategic planning, develop financial support and create effective marketing strategies.

Learn how to:

  • Improve performance and efficiency through management and decision-making
  • Employ leadership practices
  • Lead organizational change
  • Use strategic planning to fulfilling an organization's mission
  • Identify and develop sources of financial support
  • Develop and modify budgets that reflect changing economic conditions
  • Apply appropriate marketing practices for nonprofit organizations

Should you want to continue your leadership education, SNHU offers a master's in organizational leadership online that shares some of the same courses as our nonprofit management certificate.

Career Outlook

Consider how nonprofits have touched your life. Were you a scout as a child? Have you brought your kids to the zoo? Did you ever run a race or walk in an event in support of a cause?

So when you really think about it, nonprofits have had a tremendous impact on our lives. And oftentimes, people are drawn to those types of transformational organizations and careers.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that management occupations are in demand. Through 2031, the BLS projects 8% growth – faster than the average for all occupations.2

In addition, fundraising/public relations managers should also see more open roles, with 8% growth projected through 2031.2

And when you get down to even more numbers, in the U.S. alone we have1:

  • 12.3 million nonprofit employees – more than 10% of the private workforce
  • 64 million nonprofit board members and volunteers
  • And tens of millions of donors who offer support

That's a lot of people to work with.

Because there are so many types of nonprofits, you should be able to find an area you're passionate about. In data released in 2018, the National Council of Nonprofits shared numbers of registered charitable nonprofits; the top 5 subsectors1 include:

  • Human services: 353,909
  • Religion-related, spiritual development: 298,227
  • Education (excluding higher education): 184,114
  • Arts, culture, humanities: 119,763
  • Public/societal benefit and community improvement: 94,794

Adding up all the registered organizations, the National Council of Nonprofits shows more than 1.2 million charitable nonprofits and over 125,000 private foundations.1

Some of the best places to create change are right in your own community. In fact, a whopping 88% of nonprofits are small – with budgets of less than $500,000.1 This opportunity allows you to see the effects of your work firsthand.

Wherever you are based, or wherever you want to go, you're sure to find a nonprofit in need of the guidance you can learn from a nonprofit management certificate.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Nonprofit Leadership Certificate

Courses & Curriculum

In the graduate nonprofit leadership certificate online program, you'll explore marketing, leadership and organizational concepts and strategies for nonprofit organizations.

Our Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations Graduate Certificate is 18 credits – or only 6 classes. That means it's possible to complete this program in less than a year and make change happen sooner.

You'll take 2 courses focused on marketing, with one of them specializing in strategies and practices designed just for the development of not-for-profits.

Your other 4 courses can help you build your leadership skills.

  • Human Behavior in Organizations: Get your team motivated to do the work that keeps your organization and your mission moving forward.
  • Leading Change: Study the processes that effect change, and analyze organizations that have effectively instituted change.
  • Leading/Managing Not-for-Profit Orgs: Learn the nuances of planning and budgeting when it comes to nonprofits.
  • Organizational Leadership: Dive into traditional and contemporary leadership theories, and take on the role of embodying the vision and transformational change.

You'll learn from instructors who have years of experience in leadership and with nonprofit organizations. Many adjuncts are currently serving in these positions, which gives you the opportunity to know what's happening at nonprofits right now.

Your nonprofit leadership certificate may also pair well – and, in some cases, even overlap – with one of SNHU's master's programs, should you choose to take your education even further.

Tuition & Fees

At SNHU, we’re committed to making education more accessible, by making it more affordable.

Beyond low tuition rates, we help our students save through transfer credits, credit for prior learning, grants and scholarships, tuition assistance and more. U.S. service members, both full and part time, as well as the spouses of those on active duty are also eligible for a 25% tuition discount.

This certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid. Students seeking alternatives to federal financial aid can explore tuition assistance, grants and scholarships, as well as private loans. To learn more about private loans, visit our Funding Your Education with Student Loans page.

Online Graduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 15 credits 
Degree/Certificates $1,881 $627 $9,405 
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)*
$1,410 $470 $7,050 

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
 *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs:
No Application Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

This certificate is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on College Navigator.

ACBSP logo

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