Start a Career In Nonprofit Management

Nonprofits attract professionals motivated to a career focused on improving the lives of individuals, communities, and society. Few trades can prove as deeply rewarding and fulfilling as a leadership position in nonprofit management.

As with any worthwhile endeavor, success in this field depends on preparation. While a desire to help others brings people to nonprofit management, earning an online MBA with a concentration on nonprofit management allows them to master it. They graduate from the program ready to take on the profession’s challenges, including developing beneficial collaborations with local communities and leading successful fundraising efforts.

Launching a Nonprofit Management Career

Nonprofit management covers a wide range of career opportunities, allowing leaders to use their skills in the environment of their choice. Most nonprofit managers hold at least a bachelor’s degree, with some jobs now requiring a master’s degree.

Growth in the Nonprofit Industry

The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies reports that nonprofits rank as the third largest employer in the U.S. economy, behind only retail, restaurants, and hotels (the latter two are grouped into one category). The number of people employed by nonprofits passed the number of people in manufacturing in 2017. Overall, the nonprofit industry has grown 18.6 percent between 2007 and 2017.

The growth shows no sign of slowing. The number of nonprofit management jobs will increase 15 percent by 2030, according to forecasts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That growth will result in more than 26,000 new jobs in the field.

Salaries for Nonprofit Managers

As pointed out by Johns Hopkins, “Contrary to popular belief, nonprofit average weekly wages per employee are nearly equal to those paid by for-profits overall—and are much higher than for-profit wages in many of the key nonprofit fields.”

The latest salary numbers reflect that trend. The BLS reports that “social and community services managers” made an average salary of $76,790 in May 2021. States with the highest number of nonprofit manager jobs include California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Massachusetts.

Daily Job Duties for Nonprofit Managers

Wherever they work, nonprofit managers work to improve the lives of people living in underserved and underrepresented communities. They may focus on specific demographics within the population, such as senior citizens, children, or the homeless. Nonprofits may also concentrate on areas of need like providing food for children or creating programs to help those with substance abuse issues.

A typical day for a nonprofit manager includes a variety of duties:

  • Identifying the need for specific programs by collaborating with community members and other stakeholders.
  • Managing the administrative duties that come with running a large organization, including overseeing budgets and personnel
  • Determining program effectiveness through data analysis
  • Finding areas where improvements in services will make a significant, positive impact on the lives of individuals
  • Developing and overseeing outreach activities to increase a community’s awareness of available nonprofit programs
  • Creating successful fundraising and grant writing programs

Some of the most challenging tasks for nonprofit managers include fundraising, especially identifying donors who will continually support a nonprofit organization’s efforts. Building and nurturing solid relationships with local leaders is critical to ensure they make choices that best serve community needs.

Nonprofit managers also benefit by understanding how to leverage data analytics to improve performance. Many modern nonprofits use data to decide where to focus fundraising efforts. Data can also show where money spent has the most impact, allowing organizations to adjust spending to maximize their benefit to the community.

Touro University Worldwide’s MBA Nonprofit Management Program

Touro University Worldwide’s MBA with a concentration on nonprofit management allows graduate students to learn business concepts they can apply in various settings, including nonprofits.

The 100% online program provides professionals with the skills to solve nonprofit organizational challenges. It also gives them the flexibility to earn a graduate degree while working full-time. TUW offers six start dates throughout the year. Students can finish the program in one year.

Students in the program are eligible for the $3,600 Future Leaders Scholarship, one of many scholarships at TUW that makes tuition more affordable for working adults.

The TUW program is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The school is also approved for candidacy by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). No GMAT or GRE is required to enroll.

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