Certificate in Nonprofit Management

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The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management provides an overview of central concepts in managing nonprofit organizations and is intended to meet the needs of students seeking a focused experience in order to prepare for or advance their careers in the nonprofit sector. It may be appropriate for students who seek to expand their knowledge but who do not wish to commit to a master’s degree program. Certificate students enroll in regular courses of the Trachtenberg School and earn graduate credit. Regular graduate tuition and fees apply.

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The Graduate Certificate also is available to students enrolled in the Master’s of Public Administration or Master’s of Public Policy degree programs within the Trachtenberg School and to students in certain master’s degree programs offered by other GW academic units, who may earn the Graduate Certificate concurrently with their master’s degrees. Certain limitations and deadlines apply. Interested students should contact the certificate advisor for more information.

Courses and Requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management requires that students complete twelve (12) credit hours and maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average in order to be awarded the Graduate Certificate.

The field has two required courses and two elective courses.

REQUIRED COURSES (2 courses, 6 credits):

  • PPPA 6031 Governing and Managing Nonprofit Organizations (REQUIRED)

ONE of the following: 

  • PPPA 6032  Managing Fundraising and Philanthropy

  • PPPA 6033  Nonprofit Enterprise

ELECTIVE COURSES (Students must choose two of the following courses (6 credits): 

  • PPPA 6016  Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation 
  • PPPA 6032  Managing Fund Raising and Philanthropy (If not taken as a required course above.)
  • PPPA 6033  Nonprofit Enterprise (If not taken as a required course above.)
  • PPPA 6034  Managing Nonprofit Boards 
  • PPPA 6053  Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  • PPPA 6055  Contracting Out and Public-Private Partnerships
  • PPPA 6058  International Development and NGO Management
  • PPPA 6063  Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact Investing
  • PPPA 6085  Leading Diverse and Inclusive Organizations
    - A relevant TSPPPA Special Topics course approved by the certificate program advisor
    - A relevant course in another GW academic unit, approved by the certificate program advisor (Limited to one 3-credit course outside of TSPPPA for the certificate.) 

Admissions to the Certificate Program

Applicants are required to meet the admission standards for admission to the Masters degrees in the Trachtenberg School. Submitting a GRE test score is optional.

Relation to the Masters Programs

If certificate students decide to apply to the MPA or MPP degree program, they must apply by the posted deadline and meet the admissions requirements of the program. Up to 9 credits of their certificate coursework taken prior to admission to a degree program will be accepted in the master’s program within two years of completing the course and if a grade of B or better has been earned in the course. Certificate students who think they may wish to apply their entire certificate courses toward a degree (that is, all 12 credits) thus need to apply and gain admission to the degree program before registering for their fourth nonprofit course.

For further information concerning academic requirements and content of the Graduate Certificate Program, contact Dr. Michael Worth, program director and Professor of Nonprofit Management.

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