Earning an online graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from UNH is an excellent way to position yourself for career advancement. Nonprofit leaders at all levels can benefit from continuing their education.
Credit Hours: 12 | Program Length: Finish in 6 months or sooner | Tuition Cost
What is Nonprofit Leadership?
The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership is designed for nonprofit leaders and managers and those seeking to transition to nonprofit to earn a credential related to their work. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the skills and knowledge needed to solve problems and to specialize in an area of interest in nonprofit program development, grant writing, or volunteer recruitment and retention.
Why Study Nonprofit Leadership At UNH College of Professional Studies?
The nonprofit sector represents the third largest workforce in the U.S., in 2022, the nonprofit sector contributed an estimated $1.5 trillion to the US economy. Nonprofit organizations provide a crucial component of workforce and professionals in the field are engaged in a broad spectrum of mission-driven work which spans education, social services, arts and culture, environmental protection, and many more. The need for strong managers and leaders in this vital sector is essential.
Nonprofit leaders at all levels can benefit from continuing their education and pursuing a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership is an excellent way to position yourself for career advancement. In our program, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the sector and how to solve the complex problems that nonprofit leaders are faced with in their work. You’ll also have the opportunity to specialize in a specific area that aligns with your interests and career goals including, grant writing, program evaluation, or volunteer recruitment and retention.
Potential Careers
- Non-profit Worker
- First Responder
- Child Care
- State Employees
- University/College Employees
Manage and Lead Nonprofit Organizations
Options to Specialize in a Specific Area:
- Grant Writing
- Program Evaluation
- Volunteer Recruitment and Retention
Course Highlights
This 12-credit graduate certificate features a wide variety of electives that allow you to focus your learning on topics that are relevant to your career plans.
- Cultivating Your Leadership Capabilities (3 credits)
- Leading and Governing Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
- Ethical Decision-Making (3 credits)
- Volunteer Leadership (3 credits)
- Grant Writing (3 credits)
- Fundraising and Resource Development (3 credits)
Why UNH CPS?
Our 12-credit graduate certificate will give you a better understanding of the special role that nonprofits play in society and the rules that apply to them. Available 100% online, you’ll learn from well-respected faculty with rich nonprofit experience, such as starting a new nonprofit, serving a nonprofit board, developing and evaluating programs, and securing competitive grants. Our program is designed to help you enhance your capacity to serve as a successful leader in today’s environment and qualify for highly competitive nonprofit positions.
- Available fully online with select blended, hybrid courses, and in some cases, intensive courses.
- Affordable tuition.
- Faculty who are subject matter experts that share their real-world expertise to help you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
- Awards graduate credits that may be applied to a full Master of Science degree.
- Career counseling is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
- Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE)
- Completion of our free, online application for admission
- Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended
Those wishing to continue their education may apply their 12-credit Graduate Certificate toward our 30-credit Leadership master’s degree. Ask your advisor about application requirements.
Curriculum & Requirements
The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership is designed for nonprofit leaders and managers and those seeking to transition to nonprofit to earn a credential related to their work. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the skills and knowledge needed to solve problems and to specialize in an area of interest in nonprofit program development, grant writing, or volunteer recruitment and retention.
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Develop as successful professionals for highly competitive positions in nonprofit organizations;
- Assess and enrich their capacity to function as a leader in today’s business environment;
- Demonstrate an understanding of nonprofit organizations, their structure, their legal and social responsibilities.
Certificate Requirements
Graduate credit is only granted for courses completed with a grade of B- or higher
Minimum GPA Requirement: 3.0
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Nonprofit Leadership-Graduate Certificate | ||
| LD 820 | Cultivating Your Leadership Capabilities | 3 |
| LD 827 | Leading and Governing Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| LD 821 | Ethical Decision-Making | 3 |
| Complete three credits from the following: | 3 | |
APST 805 | Grant Writing | |
LD 806 | Fundraising and Resource Development | |
LD 825 | Volunteer Leadership | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Please review the Accelerated Masters qualifications, requirements, and academic policy.
This program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with the following undergraduate program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business Management: Nonprofit Management (B.S.) | ||
| Approved Courses | ||
| APST 805 | Grant Writing | 3 |
| LD 827 | Leading and Governing Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
Deadlines
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: Term 1 - September 1; Term 2 - November 1
- Spring: Term 3 - February 1; Term 4 - April 1
- Summer: Term 5 - June 1
- Special: N/A
Application Fee: Application fee waived for CPS Online applicants.
Campus: Online
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Certificate: Yes (for more details see the accelerated certificate (masters) information page)
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Resume
A current resume is required with your submitted application.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
- Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
- Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.
International Applicants
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.