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Studies & Degrees in Nonprofit Leadership and Management

Nonprofit leadership and management is the study of how to run organisations that exist for a mission and not for profit: charities, foundations, NGOs, associations and social enterprises. These organisations need the same functions as a company, such as strategy, finance, marketing and people management, but they answer to a board and to donors, depend on grants, donations and volunteers, and measure success by social results.

The course descriptions of the University of Southern California (USC) show what is typically taught: the role of boards, strategic planning, marketing and fundraising, financial management, and volunteer and human resource management, together with the relation of nonprofit organisations to government and business and the role of philanthropy and social enterprise. Programme evaluation, grant writing and nonprofit law are common additions.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. Some universities offer a full undergraduate degree in the subject. One example is the Nonprofit Leadership and Management, BS at Arizona State University (ASU): 120 credit hours, offered in Downtown Phoenix and online, with courses such as Voluntary Action and Community Leadership and Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations. Students learn leadership, programme development, fundraising and financial management, and complete an internship.
  • Master's degrees. At postgraduate level the subject is taught as a dedicated master's degree or as a nonprofit track within a master's in public administration or business. The Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management (MNLM) at USC is a 40-unit programme, with 30 units of core courses, that students can complete in one to three years; it is aimed at mid-career professionals. When this page was checked in October 2026, USC stated that applications for the fall 2026 semester were on pause while it reviews the curriculum.
  • Professional credentials. The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance awards the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential, which it describes as the only nationally recognised credential in nonprofit management in the United States. Its professional track is a six-month cohort led by a facilitator, and ASU students can pursue the credential alongside their degree.
  • Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and official master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Universities also offer the Máster de Formación Permanente, a lifelong-learning qualification of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits that they must keep expressly apart from official degrees. A programme on managing NGOs and third-sector organisations may be of either kind, so ask the school what recognition its qualification has.

In the United States, the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC), established in 1991, is an international membership association of university centres and programmes that study nonprofit and nongovernmental organisations, voluntary action and philanthropy. ASU states that its degree is accredited by the NACC.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for nonprofit leadership and management: seven in the United States and three in Spain. The US schools include the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Arizona State University, Florida Atlantic University, the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the University of Colorado at Denver, the University of Minnesota and Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. In Spain the list includes Cerem - Escuela Internacional de Negocios in Madrid, the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca and UIBS / Barcelona Business School.

Programmes in the United States are taught in English. Much of the content, such as tax rules for donations, charity law and public funding, is specific to one country, so choose a programme in the country or region where you expect to work, and check whether it can be followed part time or online if you are already employed.

Careers

Graduates work as programme managers, fundraisers, development directors, volunteer coordinators, grant managers and executive directors in charities, foundations, NGOs, cultural organisations and public agencies. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics gives these figures for the United States:

  • Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programmes and organisations that support public well-being, and work for nonprofit organisations, for-profit social service companies and government agencies. They typically need at least a bachelor's degree and work experience. Employment is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035.
  • Fundraisers organise activities to raise money and other donations and typically need a bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.
  • Public relations and fundraising managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree, and some positions may require a master's degree. Employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a nonprofit degree to work for an NGO or charity?

No. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, fundraisers typically need a bachelor's degree and social and community service managers a bachelor's degree and work experience; neither has to be in this subject. A specialised degree adds knowledge of governance, fundraising and nonprofit finance.

How long does a master's in nonprofit management take?

The MNLM at USC has 40 units and can be completed in one to three years. In Spain, official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Can the subject be studied online?

Yes, in some cases. ASU offers its bachelor's degree in Downtown Phoenix and online.

What is the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential?

It is a credential in nonprofit management awarded by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in the United States. Its professional track is a six-month cohort led by a facilitator.