MBA in Nonprofit Management
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An MBA in nonprofit management prepares students for leading nonprofit organizations’ unique challenges and opportunities. Nonprofit organizations must manage finances, staff, marketing, and strategy.
The core MBA curriculum applies well, but adding a concentration in nonprofit management brings in a service-minded approach that considers the sector’s nuanced differences.
Those aspiring to lead in the nonprofit sector can also look to related graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs both in nonprofit management and in public administration. With flexible options that allow for fully online learning, it’s never been easier to gain the skills and experience needed to take on leadership roles in the nonprofit world.
To get a detailed look at the coursework, accreditation, and tuition rates for MBA in nonprofit management programs, read on.
Featured MBA in Nonprofit Management Programs
The online MBA in nonprofit management from Calvin University is taught by a faculty of experts with real-world experience in leading nonprofit organizations. Students will learn how to design, lead, and sustain nonprofit organizations with sustainability in mind, building skills in finance, fundraising, and professional collaboration.
Courses in the nonprofit management concentration include: nonprofit boards and community leadership; nonprofit financial management; and designing an effective nonprofit organization. Faculty The program consists of 36 credits.
| Location: Grand Rapids, MI |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $660 per credit |
| Program Length: 12 to 24 months |
Lindenwood University offers an online MBA with an emphasis in nonprofit management. Students will gain exposure to the philanthropic sector and learn the management, strategic planning, and fundraising skills needed for leading a nonprofit organization.
In addition to the MBA core curriculum, students will take the following specialization courses: fundraising and revenue generation; human resource management for nonprofit organizations; volunteer management; nonprofit governance and law; and strategic planning and performance measurement for nonprofit management. The program consists of 33 credits.
| Location: Saint Charles, MO |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $585 per credit |
| Program Length: 15 to 36 months |
SUNY Empire State College offers an online MBA in business management with a specialized concentration in nonprofit management. The core curriculum will foster students’ skills in strategic thinking, communication, cross-cultural competence, and ethical decision-making.
Concentration-specific courses include: strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations; strategic marketing for nonprofit organizations; leadership in public and nonprofit organizations; and managerial economics. The program consists of 36 credits.
| Location: Saratoga Springs, NY |
| Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $750 per credit |
| Program Length: 20 months (full-time); 27 months (part-time) |
The online MBA in nonprofit leadership and management at Liberty University combines a rigorous core MBA curriculum with a specialized focus in nonprofit organizations. Featured courses include: workforce planning and employment; grant acquisition and management; nonprofit management; and strategic communication campaigns for the digital age.
This is a flexible program that allows up to half of the total credits to be transferred, and students can tailor the overall curriculum to meet their specific needs. The program consists of 45 credits.
| Location: Lynchburg, VA |
| Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $565 per credit (full-time); $615 per credit (part-time) |
| Program Length: 24 months |
The online MBA with a concentration in nonprofit leadership at Bushnell University provides a Christian context that champions wisdom, faith, and service. Core courses in the concentration include: volunteer leadership; legal and ethical issues for nonprofit organizations; and marketing strategy. Students may also choose from a list of the following electives: great leaders; leadership and mission fulfillment; operations and service management; and human resources management. The program consists of 36 credits
| Location: Eugene, OR |
| Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $725 per credit |
| Program Length: 12 to 24 months |
The online MBA in nonprofit management and public administration at Concordia University Wisconsin combines a robust business administration education with a specialized focus on the unique attributes of leading nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
In addition to the core curriculum, students will select four courses from the following list: publicity and public relations; nonprofit fundraising and grant writing; fraud management; sustainability and social entrepreneurship; new venture formation and business development; and public personnel administration. The program consists of 36 credits.
| Location: Mequon, WI |
| Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $799 per credit |
| Program Length: 24 months |
Related Programs
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online MBA in public administration that prioritizes hands-on learning. Each student is assigned an academic advisor and given access to resources such as tutoring services, library offerings, technical support, and career coaching. Specialization-specific courses include: strategic management in public service; intergovernmental relations; and either foundations of public administration or foundations of public policy. The program consists of 30 credits.
| Location: Manchester, NH |
| Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $627 per credit |
| Program Length: 12 to 24 months |
The online master of nonprofit leadership & management (MNLM) program at Arizona State University teaches students how to effect positive change in communities worldwide. Courses include: the nonprofit sector; program evaluation and information management; volunteer resources management; theory and practice of philanthropy; and fundraising and resource development.
US News & World Report has ranked ASU’s MNLM program as one of the five best in the nation. Ideal applicants will have three years of nonprofit work experience and leadership aspirations. The program consists of 33 credits.
| Location: Phoenix, AZ |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $676 per credit |
| Program Length: 12 to 24 months |
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online bachelor of science in business administration program that can be customized with a concentration in nonprofit management.
The core curriculum covers management strategies, team collaboration, ethical business practices, global business contexts, data-driven strategies, and audience communication tactics. The nonprofit concentration includes courses in human resource management, the social environment of business, and organizational behavior. The program consists of 120 credits.
| Location: Manchester, NH |
| Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $320 per credit |
| Program Length: 48 months |
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an online graduate certificate in nonprofit management that focuses on the knowledge and skills nonprofit employers are looking for. As part of Saint Mary’s Accelerators series, the program can be taken as a standalone, with no prior nonprofit experience or education; the credits can also be used to apply towards a master’s degree.
The curriculum includes four courses: strategic nonprofit management; community engagement and partnerships; nonprofit fund development and financial management; and nonprofit human resource management. The program consists of 12 credits.
| Location: Minneapolis, MN |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Format: Online |
| Tuition: $700 per credit |
| Program Length: 2 semesters |
Admissions Requirements for MBA in Nonprofit Management Programs
Admissions requirements for MBA in nonprofit management programs will vary from school to school. However, many schools require some combination of the following:
- A competitive GPA (3.0 or greater) from an accredited undergraduate program
- GMAT and/or GRE scores, which may be waived under certain conditions
- Completion of certain prerequisite courses
- Letters of recommendation
- A personal statement
- Work experience in the nonprofit sector
Professors to Know from MBA in Nonprofit Management Programs
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Robert F. Ashcraft, PhD Arizona State University
Dr. Robert F. Ashcraft is the executive director of the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation at Arizona State University (ASU), and the Saguaro Professor of Civic Enterprise in ASU's School of Community Resources and Development (SCRD). His research interests have resulted in numerous publications on nonprofit and social entrepreneurship education models, collaboration strategies, and volunteer management.
Dr. Ashcraft teaches nonprofit management and philanthropy courses, along with the capstone course for students in ASU’s graduate degree program. -
Mark Hobson, PhD Southern New Hampshire University
Dr. Mark Hobson is the senior associate dean of business at Southern New Hampshire University, where he previously served as adjunct faculty and then lead faculty. Before coming to Southern New Hampshire University, Dr. Hobson was the director of administration for the Manchester New Hampshire School District and the human resources director for the City of Manchester. He has more than 35 years of combined experience in business and education.
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Leonard Van Duren, PhD Calvin University
Dr. Leonard Van Duren is professor and MBA program director at Calvin University. He received his PhD in finance from Purdue University, and his MSc in social policy from the University of London.
While his background is largely in corporate finance, Dr. Van Duren has recently published two papers developing a Christian theology of finance. He has prior teaching experience at the University of Utah and the University of Cambridge, England, and has also taught at universities in China for two summers.
