UMOnline Programs - Nonprofit Administration

About the Program

The Nonprofit Administration Online Program offers students education and specific training in the field of nonprofit administration. These courses are offered entirely online and are designed for interested students as well as busy professionals working in the nonprofit sector. Practicing administrators and others interested in building skills relating to nonprofit administration are encouraged to register. The courses do not require specific meeting times. Students may elect to take one or all of the courses. There is no formal application process or enrollment requirement for these courses; you may simply register for the courses using this site. Students who do not wish to pursue the Professional Certificate may also take the courses individually.

The Nonprofit Administration Online Program is coordinated by the School of Extended & Lifelong Learning and the Office for Civic Engagement in partnership with the Montana Nonprofit Association.

Attention NCCC Alum!

The courses in the Online Program in Nonprofit Administration at the University of Montana present an ideal way for you to complete your Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Certificate requirements. Before registering, please visit the Office for Civic Engagement information page.

Professional Certificate

The Online Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Administration is approved through The University of Montana Academic Standards and Curriculum Review Committee and the Graduate Council. Through a set of core courses and an internship, students combine theoretical learning about nonprofit practices such as grant writing, strategic planning, fundraising and human resource management with hands-on experience at a nonprofit organization.

Students must complete at least 12 credits from among a series of 2-credit online courses in addition to completing a 4-credit internship course. A grade of C or above must be achieved in order to receive credit for any course.  Credit cannot be granted retroactively for courses already completed on a non-credit basis. (Non-credit course registration is no longer an option.)

There is no time limit in which to complete the Professional Certificate.  Additionally, there are no prerequisites for courses with the exception of the internship, in which case students are asked to complete three online nonprofit courses before beginning the internship.  Courses are offered once per academic year.

At the completion of 16 credits, students are asked to complete the Intent to Certify form to begin the Professional Certificate completion process.  Academic transcripts will include notation of the Professional Certificate and the date of completion.

Fees & Policies

Online Courses: $385 each
Internship: $435

Course fees are subject to change. The total cost for the Professional Certificate is approximately $3,000. Required textbooks are listed on course syllabi and may be purchased online (i.e. Amazon, etc.).

Fee Rates

There is no fee differential for out-of-state students.

Withdrawal Policy

Because of the intensive nature of these courses, students must login to the course no later than the third instructional day. Students will not be able to add into a course once it has started. The final deadline to withdraw from a course is one week before the last day of the course. After this date, no withdrawals are allowed and the course grade assigned by the instructor will be posted to the student transcript. To withdraw from a course, please submit a request to Clare Kelly, clare.kelly@umontana.edu.

Refund Schedule

Withdraw by payment deadline: 100% refund
Withdraw during 1st week: 75% refund
Withdraw during 2nd week: 50% refund
Withdraw 3rd week and beyond: no refunds

Please note The University of Montana requires a "Substitute W-9 Form" in order to process refunds for payments made by check. The "Substitute W-9" form requires your Social Security Number.

Financial Aid and Discounts

Financial aid is not available exclusively for the Nonprofit Administration Online Program. However, if students are simultaneously enrolled in a degree-seeking course of study, then the online courses may count toward the minimum credit requirement for financial aid. Please discuss this option with your primary institution of higher education.

Great news for national service alumni students can make use of their AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for these courses! It is important to note however that students do have to pay for courses up front and get “reimbursed” via the Education Award. For more information, please contact Laura Fellin at laura.fellin@mso.umt.edu or 406.243.2586.

System Requirements 

Please visit UM Online at the following link for necessary computer system requirements:

Course Schedule and Descriptions

All courses offered for 2 undergraduate or graduate credits. The internship is offered for 4 undergraduate or graduate credits.

Each course will involve approximately 5 hours of work each week: 2.5 hours of online contact and 2.5 hours of study/homework. The one exception to this is Grant Writing, which, due to its intricacies, may require up to ten hours a week. Please note that graduate level work will require additional time.

Syllabi listed below provide an overview of the course content, but are subject to change prior to the course start dates. The official course syllabus will be placed in Moodle (the course delivery system) prior to the beginning of the course.

Required textbooks are noted on the course syllabus and may be purchased online (i.e. Amazon, etc.). Students should purchase textbooks before the first class meeting.

Advocacy and Public Policy (PSCI 405)

This course is intended for students and professionals interested in learning the concepts related to nonprofit advocacy and public policy. The course will examine how policy influences nonprofits as well as how nonprofits impact policy. It will address the role of nonprofit organizations in the public policy process including advocacy strategies and techniques and examine in turn how laws shape nonprofit involvement in that process. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D.

Read the syllabus. For the required textbook, please see the syllabus.
Course dates: January 28 - April 5, 2013.

Introduction to Nonprofit Board Management (PSCI 406)

This course explores the components inherent in creating and maintaining a governing body that promotes a healthy and successful nonprofit organization. Critical governance, leadership, and management elements are studied including: strategic planning; policy-making; fundraising and financial roles and responsibilities; strategies for board recruitment, orientation and evaluation; and Executive Director/Board relationships. Instructor: Terry Profota, Adjunct Professor in the College of Business at Montana State University and president of Sage Solutions consulting.
Read the syllabus.
Course dates: January 28 - April 5, 2013.

Introduction to Financial Management (PSCI 413)

This course teaches the basics of financial management for nonprofits. This course will explore special issues related to nonprofit finances including budgeting, reporting, tax issues and accounting, focusing primarily on financial statements, continuous budgeting and executive processes. Instructor: Lisa Swallow, Business Technology Faculty, University of Montana-College of Technology.
Read the syllabus.
Course dates: August 27 - November 2, 2012.

Fundraising (PSCI 412)

This course teaches students the basics of fundraising, including annual fund, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, grants and special events. The course will also give students the foundation and tools needed to implement these plans into action. By the end of the course students will have developed at least one major fundraising plan focusing on one area. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D.
Read the syllabus. For the required textbook, please see the syllabus.
Course dates: August 27 - November 2, 2012.

Grant Writing (PSCI 411)

This course teaches students how and where to look for foundation and government funding sources; and the fundamentals of writing effective grant proposals. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D.

Please note: Students will write pieces of a grant proposal and must come to the course with a nonprofit in mind to work with on the grant. If you do not currently work for a nonprofit, or are not affiliated with one, please be sure to find one prior to the start of the course. You may contact Dr. Briggs at cindy.briggs@umontana.edu for ideas and suggestions.
Read the syllabus. For the required textbook, please see the syllabus.
Course dates: January 28 - April 5, 2013.

Human Resources (PSCI 401)

In this course, you will acquire substantive knowledge of each major area of human resource management, develop problem-solving skills relevant to situations faced by managers and personnel officers and develop technical skills relevant to the effective administration of personnel systems and the effective management of human resources. The course provides a solid base in developing an understanding of human resource management and applying that understanding to work-life situations for Executive Directors and staff who supervise and manage others. The course also provides an overview of the numerous federal laws, executive orders, and court decisions which have shaped the field of human resource management. Instructor: Jesse Munro, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science at the University of Montana.
Read the syllabus. For the required textbook, please see the syllabus.
Course dates: May 28 - August 1, 2013.

Program Planning and Evaluation (PSCI 403)

Learn how to articulate your goals and objectives, and how to design an evaluation plan that will show your grantors and other supporters that what you do actually makes a difference. It starts with identifying the program's culture, mission and vision to ultimately develop a comprehensive program plan. A well-designed and presented program plan, including mechanisms for assessing the efficacy of your work, should be the heart and soul of your operations and of your fundraising strategy. Instructor: Jesse Munro, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science at the University of Montana.
Read the syllabus.
Course dates: January 28 - April 5, 2013.

Strategic Planning (PSCI 410)

This course highlights the importance of leadership for realizing an organization's fullest potential. It also introduces strategic planning--a process by which staff members can bring their shared vision of success into being. The reading assignments are designed to increase knowledge of strategic planning and leadership, and the writing assignments are designed to build personal skill and confidence by asking you to draft a brief strategic plan. Instructor: Jesse Munro, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science at The University of Montana.
Read the syllabus. For the required textbook, please see the syllabus.
Course dates: August 27 - November 2, 2012.

Volunteer Management (PSCI 402)

Volunteers are the heart and soul of many nonprofits and often play a vital role in the capacity and success of an organization. The challenge is how best to train them, motivate them, retain them, and effectively utilize their strengths. Volunteer programs require the same type of managerial effort that any other program effort would require, and there are many factors to consider in ensuring that the experience is positive for both the volunteer and the organization. This course provides resources on effectively managing, training, recruiting, recognizing, and rewarding volunteers. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D.
Read the syllabus. For the required textbook, please see the syllabus.
Course dates: August 27 - November 2, 2012.

Four-Credit Internship (PSCI 498)

The internship component of the certificate program includes at least 350 hours of volunteer or paid hours working directly with a nonprofit organization. If the student works at a nonprofit organization, professional work that is aligned with the program focus will qualify as internship credit. Students will complete various reflection activities, including a formal, 10-page paper, documenting their learning throughout the internship experience.

Instructor consent is required for registration. Additionally, it is recommended that students complete two to three courses before beginning the internship. To obtain approval, please complete the Internship Registration Request. Questions regarding the internship may be directed to Colleen Kane in the Office for Civic Engagement at colleen.kane@mso.umt.edu or 406.243.5128.

Available for 4 undergraduate or graduate credits. Registration is required before hours can be applied to the internship.
Read the syllabus.
Course dates: Offered each semester.

Registration

Registration for courses in the Nonprofit Administration Online Program closes about two weeks before course start dates. Please register early. Each course carries a maximum enrollment and will be closed to registration when full. Each course also carries a minimum enrollment; therefore, a sufficient number of registered, paid students is required by the registration deadline or the course will be canceled and full refunds issued to students. We strongly encourage not waiting until the last minute to register as the courses may be full or canceled due to low enrollment.

If you are new to or relatively unfamiliar with the nonprofit sector, you are still welcome in these courses. A great resource for beginning to familiarize yourself with nonprofit organizations can be found at http://www.managementhelp.org/org_thry/np_thry/np_intro.htm. You can also refer back to this page and its links if you find yourself on unfamiliar ground in any of the courses.

The material taught and used in these courses largely concerns 501(c)3, or "charitable" nonprofit organizations. In many cases, however, knowledge gained can be adapted for use in other types of nonprofits.

2013-2014 Course Registration

*Please note: For the Grant Writing course, students will write pieces of a grant proposal and must come to the course with a nonprofit in mind to work with on the grant. If you do not currently work for a nonprofit, or are not affiliated with one, please be sure to find one prior to the start of the course. You may contact Dr. Briggs at cindy.briggs@umontana.edu for ideas and suggestions.

Internship
Instructor consent is required for registration in the internship. Additionally, it is recommended that students complete two to three courses before beginning the internship. To obtain approval, please complete the Internship Registration Request. Questions regarding the internship may be directed to Colleen Kane in the Office for Civic Engagement at colleen.kane@mso.umt.edu or 406.243.5128. After approval has been granted, the instructor will send the registrant a link to register online for the internship.

Professional Certificate