Advance Your Skills: Nonprofit Management

The next session starts in September 2023.

The Nonprofit Management Pathway in Alverno College’s Advance Your Skills Pathways Program offers a highly relevant and flexible learning track to equip professionals with the skills needed to be effective contributors and leaders in nonprofit organizations.

How it works

• The program is fully online, and is designed to be completed in six months.
• Each unit is 4 weeks. There are 6 total units per pathway.
• Professionals may enroll in the entire pathway or individual units, based on career interest.
• Classes meet once a week for 2 hours live on Zoom.
• There is asynchronous work (reading, videos, and projects).
• Those who successfully complete the pathway will earn a professional certificate.

Developed and taught by Alverno faculty and industry professionals, the Nonprofit Management Pathway blends synchronous and asynchronous learning and fits into your busy schedule. Professionals will benefit from Alverno’s well-regarded model of experiential learning and highly sought interpersonal skills, developing knowledge and abilities that are immediately applicable to the workplace.

Register here. Registration deadline: September 19, 2023. To learn more, or to discuss how our program can serve your organization, please contact us.

LEARNING CONTENT

Unit I: The Business of Nonprofits (September 26-October 17, 2023)

In this unit, you will learn what it means to be a nonprofit, how nonprofits differ from businesses, why they exist and the many community needs they serve. You will understand what nonprofits focus on and how they remain viable and stable. You will learn who leads and operates nonprofits by exploring the nonprofit structure and its governance. Finally, you will learn and apply the current resources and tools available to assist nonprofits in the external assessment process, including meeting government requirements.

Unit II: Delivering on Mission Through Strategy (October 24-November 14, 2023)

In this unit, you will understand how strategy helps lead organizational mission, vision and values. You will analyze the different types of nonprofits and use strategic planning tools to help develop strategy that is aligned with mission. You will understand the importance of leadership in cultivating a strong culture of communication and collaboration in order to achieve alignment of strategy across the organization. Finally, you will learn how effective governance can successfully advance strategy.

Unit III: Financial Resources and Management (November 28-December 19, 2023)

In this unit, you will understand how to successfully manage and measure financial performance in nonprofit organizations. You will understand the concept of a break-even budget as well as how organizations adjust for changes in income and expenses. You will learn about different sources of income to obtain diversified funding as well as how to manage expenses to align with income projections. Finally, you will learn how to analyze nonprofit financial statements and ratios, and understand basic accounting for internal and external reporting necessary to achieve operational efficiency and financial accountability.

Unit IV: Development – Building Brand and Relationships (January 2-23, 2024)

In this unit, you will learn how to build a reputable brand that fosters strong community relationships. You will understand various fundraising techniques and learn about the different kinds of donors. You will understand the purpose, benefits and challenges of different outreach methods, such as special events, campaigns and fundraising programs. Finally, you will learn the critical integration of communication and marketing strategy with brand messaging for nonprofits to successfully tell their story and increase their impact.

Unit V: Programs, Operations and Project Management (January 30-February 20, 2024)

In this unit, you will understand the operations of a nonprofit. You will explore the important role of human resources in developing an organizational culture of engagement. You will learn the role of technology necessary for functional efficiency and strategic growth. You will explore the different types of nonprofit programs and services, how to develop and perform program evaluations and how to define meaningful measures of performance. Finally, you will learn key project management principles necessary for effective program implementation.

Unit VI: Growing Partnerships with Lasting Impact (February 27-March 19, 2024)

In this unit, you will learn how a nonprofit measures success for meaningful impact. With change constantly occurring, you will learn and apply change management methods to understand and manage change effectively for continued success. You will explore how to cultivate community partnerships and learn how to engage all stakeholders within a collaborative framework. Finally, you will explore your professional role in a nonprofit and how to effectively balance the investment of your time and commitment with your personal well-being to achieve continual growth.

PRICING

The Advance Your Skills Pathways Program costs $3,000 for the entire pathway, while individual learning units cost $500 each.

For more information or to ask about a group rate, please contact adultlearning@alverno.edu.

Cancellation policy: A 50% refund will be issued upon withdrawal during the first unit. A 25% refund will be issued upon withdrawal during the second unit. There is no refund issued upon withdrawal during the third or later units.

The Annual Crime and Fire Safety Report for Alverno College, which includes crime statistics and annual fire safety statistics, can be found online. A hard copy of the report is available upon request. Please send your request to Jason Pilarski, director of Campus Safety.