Not-for-Profit Management Concentration Courses

The Not-for-Profit concentration includes courses on organizational management tools and theories as well as coursework tailored to specific challenges the nonprofit environment. Successful completion of the concentration requires 12 credit hours.

"The Not-for-Profit Concentration is a really distinctive offering in the world of organizational leadership and management degree programs. We designed the program in response to the specific needs of nonprofit organizations, which often differ from their for-profit counterparts."—Dr. Keith Lavine, Assistant Professor in the Organizational Leadership master's program at Lewis University

LL-558 Planning Strategically (3)

This course will review traditional management planning processes and then examine the planning process from a strategic perspective. Students will learn how to apply a variety of management tools and techniques for decision making and will develop strategic approaches to management decisions. This course is designed to encourage students to think strategically and operationally about organizations in an increasingly diverse management environment. Students develop a strategic plan in this course following the Bryson model.

^ top

LL-561 Organizational Cultures and Systems (3)

This course focuses on how to research and understand the elements contributing to an organization's unique culture, including basic philosophy, value system, communication patterns and styles, and social roles. Students will learn how to assess the development of organizational structures and behavior factors within organizations of different types and sizes.

^ top

LL-567 Working with the Community: Boards to Volunteers (3)

This course offers learners the opportunity to investigate the structure of effective for-profit and not-for-profit boards. Learners will draw on knowledge and experience to investigate the principles of board governance, the differences and similarities in the structures of for-profit and not-for-profit boards, the roles and responsibilities of board leaders and members, and the importance of diversity on boards. In addition, methodology for effective and productive board meetings, as well as strategies for establishing goals centered on organizational mission will be discovered. Learners will focus on the integral nature of effective collaboration. Strategies for effectively working with volunteers will also be explored.

^ top

LL-570 Stewardship and External Support (3)

This course examines the nature of fundraising and development strategies for not-for-profit organizations. Learners begin with reviewing organizational fundraising strategies and how such strategies align with organizational vision and strategic plan. Topics include strategies for annual appeals, events, websites and social media, grants, corporate support, proposal writing, major gifts, and planned gifts. Students learn to assess an organization's readiness for fundraising, as well as develop a competency for the skills required for success in fundraising and development.

^ top

Learn more about the Not-for-Profit Management concentration of the Master's in Organizational Leadership program: call us at 1.866.967.7046 or request more information.