Why a MBA in Nonprofit Leadership Degree + Online No GMAT Option

This article provides an overview of the MBA in Nonprofit Leadership degree program, some of the subject matters and courses that the program covers, and why obtaining this degree could be an excellent way to advance your career. It also presents an online MBA in Nonprofit Leadership program that you may want to consider. This program does not require GMAT scores for admission.

What Is an MBA in Nonprofit Leadership?

A master of business administration (MBA) is one of the most respected graduate degrees. It quickly became so popular, however, that schools started to develop concentration areas, thereby further enhancing the skills of their graduates. One such concentration is for nonprofit leadership. The MBA in nonprofit leadership, therefore, has been designed to help students gain the practical and theoretical knowledge they need to make sure they can manage a social or community organization. A specific concentration is required because nonprofit organizations do not aim to make money. They aim to bring about social change, which requires a different approach.

Different schools are able to set their own requirements for admission, although most of them look for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree and have a number of years of professional experience. Furthermore, many schools will request certain GMAT/GRE scores, although not all. To complete an MBA in Nonprofit Leadership, most students will have to study for around two years, although accelerated programs that only take 16 to 18 months are also available. An internship is also often required in a relevant field.

Schools are also able to set their own curriculum, particularly in line with the concentration option. That said, a common curriculum is generally seen for the MBA core, and the elective courses will focus on humanities and social sciences. These include topics, such as program planning, fundraising methods, and other aspects of nonprofit management. The core curriculum usually includes classes in:

  • Business Ethics
  • Volunteer Management
  • Effective Grant Writing
  • Nonprofit Marketing
  • Strategic Program Evaluation

Usually, schools also emphasize a range of other leadership and management skills, which are required across all types of organizations. These include areas, such as human resources management, budgeting, finances and accounting, supervision, and more.

Why Earn an MBA in Nonprofit Leadership?

The MBA is the most advanced type of business degree and it is generally the only degree required to take on a high position in business. That being said, if you are interested in researching business, then you could consider the DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) degree as well, or another type of doctorate degree. For this, you will first have to graduate from an MBA. Overall, completing an MBA in nonprofit leadership will give you the skills and knowledge required to make a real difference in a social organization.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that social and community services managers had a median salary of $64,680 per year as of May 2016. However, this is at the bachelor’s degree level. Those who have completed a master’s degree, particularly an MBA, are more likely to find themselves in the top 10% of earners, who earn $110,970 per year or more. The BLS has also reported that there will be a 10% increase in demand for the skills of these professionals from 2014 to 2024, which is faster than the national average and will translate in around 13,200 new jobs.

Online Option for MBA in Nonprofit Leadership

Liberty University

If you are interested in completing an MBA in nonprofit leadership online, then you may want to consider Liberty University. The university’s School of Business has a unique Master of Business Administration in Non-Profit Leadership and Management program that does not require GMAT/GRE scores for admission, which is rare. Yet, the degree is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, which is the gold standard in accreditation for business schools. The Liberty University program has been created to develop confident, passionate, and influential leaders in social organizations. They are trained to take their career to the next level and to make a difference in the lives of others. Furthermore, the degree has been designed to ensure that graduates are forward-thinkers so that they can make educated predictions about what will happen in nonprofit organizations in the future.

The degree program looks at important issues, such as resource development, community relations, strategic planning, financial accounting for decision making, and leadership, management, and leadership in nonprofit organizations. The program takes 45 credit hours to complete and is available 100% online, another unique feature. Furthermore, if allowable and approved, as much as 50% of the program hours can be transferred.

The core curriculum of the MBA in Non-Profit Leadership and Management includes:

  • Strategic Marketing Management
  • Managerial Finance
  • Legal Issues in Business
  • Business Research Methods
  • Accounting for Decision Making
  • International Business
  • Organizational Design and Structure
  • Global Economic Environment
  • Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management
  • Operations Management
  • Policy and Strategy in Global Competition

A final unique element of the Liberty University degree is the fact that they include a cognate for their concentration, rather than a huge variety of electives. Hence, those who want to graduate with this concentration must also complete:

  • Workforce Planning and Employment
  • Strategic Communication Campaigns for the Digital Age
  • Grant Acquisition and Management
  • Non-Profit Management

Those who have graduated from Liberty University‘s program, or from another university that delivers MBA degrees in nonprofit leadership, have a range of career opportunities available to them. These include:

  • Investment fund manager
  • Compliance manager
  • Regulatory affairs manager
  • Social and community service manager

Summary

Because the core of the degree is the MBA, students are equipped with all the necessary business skills to run an organization properly at the strategic level. The key difference is that the focus is not on making a profit, but rather on making a difference. Additionally, those who work in the nonprofit sector require very different financial and accounting skills, as funding sources come from many different locations, and budgets are usually much tighter. By completing an MBA in nonprofit leadership, therefore, you will equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to be that manager and leader who is able to take on these challenges. Doing so should give you a great deal of professional and personal pride. This is true not in the least because your skills and expertise will have a direct impact on the outcomes delivered by the nonprofit organization you work for, which is likely to be a social organization. In a nutshell, your skills and experience will enable you to visibly change the world for the better.

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