Nonprofit Management Certificate Online Graduate Program

Flexible 

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7. You can also craft your educational pathway to fit your life and career. Some of our certificate programs, for example, can stack into an associate, bachelor’s or master’s program — helping you build the skills and credentials you need to succeed. 

Affordable 

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

You could also earn college credit for previous work experience or professional credentials — saving you time and money.

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities" 
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) 
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth 

Network 

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities. 

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

• Completed free application
• Undergraduate transcripts, which we can retrieve for you by submitting a transcript request form

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete free graduate application
• Submit undergraduate transcripts
• Walk through the application process with an admission counselor

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

A nonprofit management certificate is a credential that can help you develop specialized skills to successfully lead a charitable organization.

So why would you want to earn one of these certificates? Leading a nonprofit is rewarding, but may also present challenges for you to face.

Southern New Hampshire University offers a graduate nonprofit leadership certificate designed to help you better understand what can make an organization successful. When you're done the program, you can begin using those practices and strategies to help your nonprofit really take off.

Fundraising events and campaigns throughout the year can be crucial to a nonprofit forwarding its cause. That's why you'll take 2 marketing courses – to help you understand consumer needs, budgeting and promotions so you can create a foolproof marketing plan.

You'll also take courses on leadership so you can motivate your staff, your volunteers and your donors to follow your lead to effect change, inside and outside of your organization.

Two of these courses in your nonprofit management certificate program were even explicitly designed for work in nonprofits, giving you the potential to take your organization even further.

Basically, online leadership certificate programs like the one at SNHU give you a bonus toolkit to improve the status of your organization.

A variety of degrees could be used to work in nonprofit management. Business administration, finance, marketing, communications – many programs could lead you to a career here.

However, if you're specifically looking to learn about leadership within nonprofits, a Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations Graduate Certificate could be just what you're looking for.

At Southern New Hampshire University, we offer a 6-course graduate certificate. It could be a first step for someone who has an undergraduate degree to learn how to move upward, or it could be for a master's-degree holder who's looking to develop just the right skill set for the job.

SNHU's certificate program includes classes on both marketing and leadership – two crucial topics in the nonprofit sector. Two of the program's courses were designed just for the nonprofits, so you can learn about planning, budgets and strategies that are unique to this area of the workforce.

Keep your skills up to date when you earn a nonprofit leadership certificate.

Yes – and many people do! Nonprofits are similar to many other organizations, in that they need a variety of skill sets to keep everything moving.

The National Council of Nonprofits reports that millions in the U.S. alone work for nonprofits. With 12.3 million citizens earning a paycheck through their employer, that means more than 10% of the private workforce is employed by nonprofits.¹

Don't be fooled by the term "nonprofit." Employees are paid, and financial impacts are made on a variety of causes. The word typically refers to how the organization is classified for its tax code, as well as the conditions it needs to meet to remain in this category.

Top salaries and wages² can typically be found in subsectors like:

• Hospitals
• Healthcare and mental health (excluding hospitals)
• Human services
• Higher education
• Education (excluding higher education)

And in 2016, taxes from the fiscal year noted that over $826 billion was paid to nonprofit employees in wages and benefits.¹

That's great news if you're aiming to work at a nonprofit. So is the growth for leadership positions.

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

Working for a nonprofit has many benefits personally and professionally – and you won't have to worry about not making a living wage to do so.

Yes, you can earn your nonprofit management certificate online. A number of universities offer online certificates to help the workforce sharpen their skill sets.

Southern New Hampshire University is especially equipped to teach about the nonprofit sector – because we're also a nonprofit.

Plus, there are perks to earning your nonprofit leadership certificate online.

One is the convenience factor. When you earn your degree online, you aren't confined to someone else's schedule. You get to create your own. Because SNHU offers 24/7 access to your courses, you can do your assignments at a time that works for you – whether that's noon or midnight.

Another factor when you're looking at online leadership certificate programs is the cost. At SNHU, we're committed to keeping costs low. In fact, our online tuition rates are some of the lowest you'll find across the country.

You'll also have the chance to work with instructors who are currently in nonprofit and leadership roles. When you learn from someone working in the field, you're more prepared for today's workforce. And that can help further your organization's mission.

¹National Council of Nonprofits, on the internet, at:

• https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/what-is-a-nonprofit (viewed Aug. 12, 2020)
• https://www.nonprofitimpactmatters.org/site/assets/files/1/nonprofit-impact-matters-sept-2019-1.pdf (viewed Aug. 13, 2020)

²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm (viewed Nov. 2, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/public-relations-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 2, 2022)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.