Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership
I bring real-world nonprofit organizational management to the table and provide my students with a learning opportunity that’s beyond textbooks.
Overview
The online Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management & Leadership is offered by UGA’s Institute for Nonprofit Organizations in the School of Social Work. The program is designed to instruct nonprofit leaders to support and influence the direction of an organization that may be engaged in a wide range of fields, such as human services, visual and performing arts, youth sports, environmental conservation, and many other areas with which nonprofit organizations are engaged.
The nonprofit sector in the United States is enormous. According to the National Council on Nonprofits, it comprises approximately six percent of the U.S. GDP, with nearly 1.5 million registered nonprofit organizations that attract a quarter of the adult population as volunteers. As the sector continues to grow, managers with diverse experiences and skills are increasingly in demand.
The course credits earned in this certificate program can be counted toward the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. A separate application to the MA is required.
Nonprofits exist to achieve goals other than making a profit—most exist to make a difference. Whether your passion lies in animal welfare, human rights, or environmental protection, a career in nonprofit management allows you to make a living while striving to make a substantive change in the world. As a nonprofit manager, you might find yourself in roles such as:
- Executive Director
- Program Director
- Social Services Manager
- Fundraising Manager
- Volunteer Coordinator
Other online programs you may find interesting: Master of Social Work, Graduate Certificate in Gerontology, and Master of Public Health.
Accreditations
The University of Georgia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The University of Georgia also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of the University of Georgia may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the sole accrediting body of schools of social work in the United States.
Admissions
Credit and Transfer
Total Hours Required to Earn Certificate: 12 (credit hours)
Maximum Hours Transferable into Program: N/A
Admission Requirements
Students who are not currently enrolled at UGA should apply to the graduate school for the Graduate Certificate program in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and are not required to take entrance exams.
Application Checklist
- Application – submit online to the Graduate School Admissions. Application fee: $75 Domestic & International
- Select Campus – Online
- Select Intended Program – CERG, Nonprofit Management and Leadership (School of Social Work) [CERT_2NML_ON]
- Statement of Purpose – 1 to 2 pages – What are your career interests in the nonprofit sector and how will the certificate contribute to achieving your professional goals? Submit to the Graduate School online in your application.
- Transcripts – Submit unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended as part of the online application. Send official transcripts after you are offered admission.
- Resume or CV – Submit a resume or CV with your application.
- Letter of recommendation – Submit online to the Graduate School a letter of recommendation from an individual who can evaluate your scholarly ability and potential for success in a graduate program.
International Applicants – must also submit TOEFL or IELTS
Application Deadlines
Domestic Applicants
- Summer: Priority Deadline: March 15* – Deadline May 1
- Fall: Priority Deadline: June 15* – Deadline July 1
*applications received by the priority deadline will receive priority consideration
International Applicants
- Summer: February 15
- Fall: April 15
Cost
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates and student fees may change each year.
Based on the 2024-25 credit-hour cost, a person who had completed this program at the recommended pace would have paid $7,848 in tuition. Reference this sheet to identify the current credit hour rate for your program of interest.
Please use the Estimated Cost Calculator on the Bursar’s Office website to calculate one academic (Fall/Spring) year’s tuition.
This program is an E-Rate program, so choose “yes” for the E-Rate line item within the calculator.
Fees for those students enrolled in exclusively online programs are $411 per semester.
Potential additional costs include:
- Textbooks
- Exam proctoring fees
- Technology upgrades
The complete cost of attendance can be found at https://osfa.uga.edu/costs/.
Financial Aid
Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid for information about financial assistance.
Corporate Assistance
Consult your employer about the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.
Military Assistance
Active-duty military, veterans, and military families should visit Veterans Educational Benefits to take full advantage of available financial assistance and educational benefits.
University System of Georgia Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The purpose of TAP is to foster the professional growth and development of eligible employees. For more information, see Tuition Assistance (refer to the Distance Learning section).
Technology Requirements
- Computer with current operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux). Additional peripherals such as webcam, headphones, and microphone are required.
- High-speed internet access.
Curriculum
The Nonprofit Management & Leadership curriculum covers basic theory and management of nonprofit organizations, grant proposal writing, fundraising, program design and evaluation, and volunteer management. The program is supported by a multidisciplinary faculty of scholars and professionals from the nonprofit sector.
The curriculum allows for application of skills to the student’s particular substantive areas of interest. That is, the skills learned in the course are applicable to a nonprofit leader working in a small nonprofit serving homeless families as well as a larger organization carrying out research for environmental advocacy.
Completion of the certificate requires 12 semester hours (4 courses) of eligible graduate-level courses.
Required Courses
| Course | Title |
| MNML 7237E | Theory and Management of Nonprofit Organizations [3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7226E | Evaluation of Professional Practice [3 credit hours] |
Elective Courses
| Course | Title |
| MNML 7010E | Topics in the Nonprofit Sector [1 – 3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7060E | Fundraising and Development for Nonprofit Organizations [3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7320E | Managing Volunteers [3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7330E | Managing Innovations in Organizations [3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7947 E | Social Entrepreneurship [3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7957E | Grant Proposal Writing for Nonprofit Organizations [3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7967E | Professional Writing for Nonprofit Leaders [3 credit hours] |
| MNML 7977E | Nonprofit Leadership [3 credit hours] |
Faculty
News & Events
Tony Mallon inspires tomorrow’s nonprofit leaders
October 16, 2024Tony Mallon is a testament to the possibilities, and the need for, higher education in the nonprofit sector. Director of the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations (INPO) from the School of Social Work since 2014, which offers an online Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Tony has spent the last ten years expanding the institute's programs and offerings, which include financial management, fundraising, grant proposal writing, recruitment and management of volunteers and program evaluation.
Instructor Joan Prittie appointed to State Commission on Family Violence
September 20, 2024Congratulations to the School of Social Work's Joan Prittie, who was recently appointed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to the State Commission on Family Violence. Prittie is an instructor in the online Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership program.
Charitable Giving – Volunteering vs. Donating
December 16, 2021As the holidays approach and tax season looms, requests for assistance from charitable organizations are on the rise. Yet this year there may be something much more precious to give than your dollars – your time. Everyone’s holiday season looks a little different, and you may be wishing…
Testimonials
“The master’s program really helped me to narrow down what I wanted to pursue within the nonprofit sector. Because much of the coursework and projects emphasized improving local nonprofit strategies, I was able to get a feel for nonprofit management in the real world. In April 2018, just prior to graduating, I was named Student of the Year for the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Leadership program.”
Emily May, ’19
“I chose to go back to school at UGA to better equip myself to help my fellow veterans. I believe the Nonprofit Management and Leadership program is shaping me into the leader I need to be in order to see VeteransFirst365 come to life and last.”
Larry Howard, ’19
Contact Information
Contact us using the request for information form or call 706-418-2604.