By definition, nonprofit management refers to the administration of a service-oriented group or organization formed not to generate profits but to improve the lives of people in a locality, state, or country. Nonprofit management is the systematic stewardship of a not-for-profit organization to foster its humanitarian goals and objectives.

Best Online MBA in Non-Profit Business - fact

At a Glance

A majority of nonprofit organizations are unarguably manned by individuals who commit to working for a cause. But because nonprofits receive vast amounts of monetary donations, handle several projects, and have their activities monitored by the government, they need people with management skills especially tailored to steer nonprofits. These are professionals who have the skills to effectively conduct nonprofit operations and maintain financial transparency and accountability. Nonprofits should be structured properly to make them easier to control. This is where the services of nonprofit management professionals are needed.

Like its for-profit counterparts, the nonprofit sector aims to produce something of value. Nonprofits make this visible through social outcomes such as providing free education to children from low-income families, etc.

As a nonprofit professional, these are some of the most vital roles you need to play to materialize your organization’s objectives:

Obtaining resources such as fundraising, hiring, and training staff, etc.
Setting Goals
Facilitating effective communications
Providing leadership
Making decisions

Nonprofit professionals need to possess a set of skills to succeed and help your organization thrive. These include:

Effective Communication
Problem-Solving
Leadership
Confidence to speak in public
Budgeting
Strategic Planning
Time Management
Delegation
Networking and Relationship-Building

If you are a natural leader, a good communicator, and have a passion for solving problems especially if it involves improving lives, you have a great potential to succeed as a nonprofit management professional. One way to make this a possibility is to enroll in an MBA in nonprofit management program. If you have completed a bachelor’s degree and are already employed, you may opt to study online. Several popular business schools in the United States are offering MBA in nonprofit management programs online to address the demand for professionals in the nonprofit sector.

As online students in MBA in nonprofit management programs, you will be immersed in comprehensive studies of business management, and receive lessons on the operations, issues, and management strategies distinct to nonprofits. Its curriculum is designed to develop and hone your understanding of core business topics such as:

Management
Finance
Accounting
Marketing
Operations Management
Quantitative Analysis
Economics, and more

On top of these core business classes, the MBA in the nonprofit curriculum will provide you with specialized knowledge of managing a nonprofit organization. These specialized courses you will probably encounter in a nonprofit concentration include:

Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit Management
Strategic Fundraising
Ethics in Public Service
Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations

As working professionals with aspirations for economic, professional, and financial advancement, pursuing an MBA nonprofit management online program is a strategic way to achieve them. One of the things that you need to do is ensure that the business school you intend to enroll in has what it takes to provide you with the education you need to reach your goals.

What’s in it for Graduates of MBA in Nonprofit Management Online Graduates

Did you know? The United States is home to 1.5 million nonprofit organizations, and 15% of the world’s nonprofits are in the U.S. It is a clear indication that as a graduate of an MBA nonprofit management online, you will have a place to practice your profession and share your knowledge and skills with the community. Some of the most probable charitable causes that may require your passion and expertise include:

Addiction
Animal welfare
Arts Access
Child Welfare
Climate Change
Disaster Relief
Environmental Protection
Gender parity
Health and wellness
Homelessness
LGBTQIA Rights
Offender Rehabilitation
Peace
Population Displacement
Poverty
Racial Prejudice

Moreover, nonprofits are not just about providing social services. They also play a big role in the economy. They consume goods and require services that create jobs. Nonprofits spend more than $900 billion a year on goods and services that range from purchases of equipment to the procurement of daily supplies of nonprofit establishments like hospitals, schools, etc.

As a holder of an MBA degree in nonprofit management, you possess the qualifications to take on different key roles in a nonprofit environment. As someone with a passion for service, the jobs you will get in a nonprofit are meaningful, associated with a sense of accomplishment, and financially rewarding.

But since nonprofits don’t operate to make a profit, the consumers of their services are not the ones that provide them with sustaining income. It is one of the reasons why they need knowledgeable and skilled graduates of nonprofit management programs to run the organization. These are some of the typical generators of funds that help to keep nonprofits going:

Fundraising Initiatives
Memberships
Donors
Foundations
Grants
Investments
Corporate Sponsors

Your specialization in nonprofit management may make some people think that your competencies are limited to nonprofit work. They should know that a nonprofit MBA is an advanced business degree that provides them with the competencies and credentials to take on leadership roles in the business sector. As a graduate of an MBA nonprofit management online, your specialization gives you more knowledge and skills on top of your advanced business management competencies. It provides you with more career opportunities and better chances for professional advancement.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for Social and Community Service Managers will garner a 12% growth from 2021 to 2031. It is much higher than the average growth rate for all occupations. The BLS attributes this growth to the increasing need for social services, particularly in the areas of drug addiction treatment, elder care, and environmental protection.

How good are the best online MBA in Nonprofit Management programs?

MBA nonprofit management online programs are not uncommon because several colleges and universities are offering the degree online. While it would be easy to find MBA in nonprofit management programs online, you need to make sure that the program you choose can equip you with the knowledge and skills you want to master. While the schools offer the same area of specialization, the concentration courses vary from one school to another.

As a prospective student of an MBA nonprofit management online program, only you can determine which school is the best for you based on your academic and professional goals, financial capability, schedule, and the quality of the online program.

Several students may have similar goals, but if they don’t have the same financial capability, they may have different choices, as one of them might opt for a prestigious and more expensive school.

In short, the determination of the best online business school is based on what every online graduate student considers to be the best that could cater to his/her needs in terms of flexibility and affordability. But there’s one element that we consider essential for all students: academic quality. Each student should know the quality of education an online business school provides as it can contribute to their competence, employability, and potential for career advancement.

As a measure of academic quality, we take into consideration the accreditation of the business schools that we included in our research. It serves as a manifestation that the school has met the accrediting body’s standards of educational quality.

The 10 Best Online MBA in Non-Profit Business Schools in 2023

Southern Oregon University

Online MBA in Nonprofit Management

Tuition per credit for online MBA program: $430.00
Units Required: 49 Credit Hours
Program Length: 16 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Grants
- Loans
- Work-Study
- Scholarships
- Summer Aid
- Veterans Benefits
- Tuition Equity

Southern Oregon University’s School of Business offers an MBA Nonprofit Management online to address the needs of working professionals who aspire to attain their career goals through advanced business education.

SOU’s MBA curriculum is designed to develop and hone analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. You’ll need these competencies to stand out not only in the field of business management but in the administration of nonprofits.

The university’s nonprofit management specialization reinforces your core business skills with nonprofit operational strategies like grant writing and volunteer management.

Core Courses

Advanced Organizational Behavior
Economic Analysis
Financial Management Practices
Graduate Research Project
Information Systems
Legal Issues in Business and Management
Managerial Accounting for Decision Making
Marketing Management and Strategies
Strategic Operations Management
Capstone

Nonprofit Management Subjects

Board Governance and Volunteer Management
Building a Nonprofit Brand
Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit Fund Development
Nonprofit Grant Writing
Nonprofit Program Evaluation

SOU commits to providing you with comprehensive knowledge of the ethical practices and principles of operating a business enterprise. Its nonprofit management concentration equips you with the competencies to manage nonprofit organizations strategically. The entire curriculum will provide you with a good understanding of the business and nonprofit environments.

Southern Oregon University’s accreditation comes from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Wilmington University

MBA in NonProfit Management

Tuition per credit for online MBA programs: $512.00
Units Required: 36 Credit Hours
Program Length: 12 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Federal Student Aid
- Grants
- Loans
- Work-Study

Wilmington University’s College of Business delivers its MBA program to prepare you for management positions in a variety of business enterprises. The program focuses on developing and honing the core competencies that empower you to execute complex managerial tasks from a global business perspective.

The university’s nonprofit management curriculum immerses you in topics that emphasize the role of nonprofits play in the present economy. WilmU’s MBA nonprofit management online program commits to playing the role of potential leaders to steer their organizations with able leadership and excellent administrative and fundraising skills.

Core and Nonprofit Management Courses

Business Strategy
Financial Analysis
Global Marketing Management
IT in Business
Managerial Decision-Making
Nonprofit Management
Nonprofit Governance
Nonprofit Sustainability
Organizational Behavior and Ethical Leadership
Seminar in Nonprofit Management
Survey of Data Analytics
Elective, or
MBA Internship

WilmU offers one of the most affordable online MBAs in the country, but it carries the academic quality that a team of expert mentors provides. Through its instructors, WilmU provides you with first-hand knowledge of the challenges and strategies of modern business. It is also home to a committed professional network that can help to point you in a direction where opportunities for career advancement may be available.

Liberty University

MBA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management

Tuition per credit for online MBA programs: $565
Units Required: 45 Credit Hours
Program Length: 24 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Work-Study Program
- Federal and Private Loans

On top of the advanced business management knowledge that it provides, the online MBA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management program at Liberty University equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to lead a nonprofit organization. Its curriculum consists of traditional business courses that furnish you with solid knowledge of core business processes and nonprofit management subjects that provide you with the competencies you need to lead a nonprofit organization.

LMBA Core Courses

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

Nonprofit Management Courses

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

As a nonprofit institution itself, Liberty University is committed to providing an excellent MBA Nonprofit Management online education. The university is recognized by several institutions for its capability to provide affordable quality education.

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Trevecca Nazarene University

MBA in Nonprofit Management

Tuition per credit for online MBA programs: $590
Units Required: 36 Credit Hours
Program Length: 15 – 22 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Federal Loans
- Federal and State Grants
- Military and Employer Programs
- Private Student Loans

Trevecca Nazarene University offers an online MBA program designed to provide you with the competitive edge you need to stand out in a variety of fields in the business world. Its MBA concentration in nonprofit management provides you with the skills you need to run a nonprofit organization in a business fashion.

Core MBA Courses

Accounting and Finance for Managers
Business Analytics
Global and Economic Environment
Introduction to Graduate Business Studies
IT Strategy in Business
Managerial Accounting
Marketing Management
Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Strategic Finance

Nonprofit Management Courses

Fiscal Administration in Nonprofits
Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership and Management
Raising Human and Financial Resources for Nonprofits

Trevecca University has considered itself a leader in online education for over 20 years. It is also known as a provider of servant leaders, difference makers, and problem solvers. As a private Christian college, Trevecca is committed to helping students achieve emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual growth.

Trevecca Nazarene University’s MBA programs are recognized by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Hope International University

MBA in NonProfit Management

Tuition per credit for online MBA programs: $650.00
Units Required: 36 – 42 Credit Hours
Program Length: 12 – 24 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Federal Direct Loans
- VA Benefit

Hope International University’s College of Business and Management offers an MBA in Nonprofit Management online to equip you with some of the most essential competencies in business management:

Leadership
Ethics
Analysis
Critical Thinking
Problem-Solving
Research
Financial Analysis
Environmental Economics

You will need many of these skills to successfully manage a business and nonprofit organizations.

Core Courses

Entrepreneurship
Financial Management
Global and Environmental Economics
Marketing Management
Researching Business Solutions
Servant Leadership and Ethics
Strategic Management and Planning, and
Choose one:
- Synthesis Paper
- Capstone Project

Non-Profit Management Concentration Courses

Choose Four Courses:

Boards, Committees, and Leadership
Contemporary Issues for Non-Profit Management
Enterprise Development
Strategic Fundraising
Human Resource Management
Missional Entrepreneurship

HIU’s MBA in nonprofit management online program comprises solid research training, ethics-based teaching, and a curriculum that consists of a combination of theoretical and practical learning. Its courses are taught by professors with excellent academic records and years of real-world business experience. Students complete the online MBA in nonprofit management degree with sound core business knowledge and a professional specialty in nonprofit management.

Hope International University’s academic programs are recognized by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

Lakeland University

Online MBA with Nonprofit Leadership Concentration

Tuition per credit for online MBA programs: $708.00
Units Required: 36 Credit Hours
Program Length: 12 – 18 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Federal Stafford Loan
- Graduate PLUS Loan
- Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
- Scholarships and Discounts
- Military Benefits

Lakeland University’s online MBA provides a deep understanding of business and economics. It develops and strengthens your managerial skills and provides you with business knowledge and strategies to address the problems and challenges of modern business.

Its nonprofit leadership specialization immerses you in extensive coursework to develop and hone your knowledge and skills in nonprofit management.

MBA Core Courses

Accounting and Finance Foundation
Applied Managerial Accounting
Applied Marketing Management
Applied Microeconomic Theory
Business Research Methodology
Economics and Statistics Foundation
Corporate Strategy and Decision Making
Legal and Regulatory Environments of Business
Managerial Finance
Organizational Effectiveness
Production and Operations Management

Nonprofit Concentration Courses

Foundations of Nonprofit Leadership
Role of Nonprofit Organizations in Public Policy
Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations

Lakeland University’s MBA curriculum is tailored to fit the schedules of both working professionals and traditional students. It aims to allow students to complete their degrees at a pace that doesn’t affect their current careers and personal schedules.

Lakeland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Bushnell University

Online MBA in Nonprofit Management

Tuition per credit for online MBA programs: $740.00
Units Required: 36 Credit Hours
Program Length: 12 – 24 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Grants
- Student Loans
- Scholarships

Through its School of Business, Leadership, & Technology, Bushnell University offers its 100% online MBA program to allow working adults to pursue an advanced business management degree without disrupting their busy work and other commitments. Its MBA curriculum aims to provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the concepts and practices of effective business management.

The university’s nonprofit management specialization immerses you in extensive training to provide you with the ability to manage volunteers. It also offers topics that give you a deep understanding of the role and importance of the public’s trust in the success of nonprofit organizations.

MBA Core Courses

Business Ethics
Business Portfolio
Managerial Accounting
Managerial Economics
Managerial Finance
Managerial Statistics
Organizational Behavior
Strategy and Managerial Decision-Making

Nonprofit Management Courses

Legal and Ethical Issues for Non-Profit Organizations
Volunteer Leadership
Marketing Strategy
Great Leaders or Leadership and Mission Fulfillment
Human Resources Management and Operations and Service Management

Bushnell University guarantees that its online MBA programs can help to take your business management career to a higher level. On top of its MBA curriculum, Bushnell University also commits that through its online MBA in nonprofit management, it will provide you with a deep understanding of the role of Christian leadership in addressing complex nonprofit management issues and making crucial business decisions.

Bushnell University got the accreditation for its academic programs from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Concordia University – Wisconsin

Online MBA in Nonprofit Management and Public Administration

Tuition per credit for online MBA programs: $760
Units Required: 36 Credit Hours
Program Length: 24 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Federal Direct Stafford Student Loan Program
- Graduate Assistant
- Veterans Educational Assistance
- Employer Tuition Reimbursement

The online MBA in Nonprofit Management and Public Administration at Concordia University – Wisconsin is a blend of advanced business management studies and a deep analysis of the management and administration of nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

The university’s MBA curriculum consists of core business courses that are highly in demand in modern business settings, including six sigma and project management. On top of the core courses are nonprofit management and public administration subjects that prepare you for management and administrative roles in nonprofit organizations and public institutions. These courses will provide you with a deep understanding of nonprofit and public administration subjects such as fundraising and revenue generation, public and intergovernmental relations, fraud prevention, budgeting, and volunteer recruitment.

Core Courses

Ethical Leadership for Dynamic Organizations
Financial Analyses to Drive Business Growth
Managerial Economics & Econometrics
Mastering Analytics and Decision-Making
People-Focused Management
ARM Corporate Risk Management
Industry Leaders Seminar Series
Service Learning
Study Abroad
Capstone – Strategic Management
Experiential Learning Courses – Choose 2
Introduction to Six Sigma
MBA Internship/Intraship
Project Management

Nonprofit Management and Public Administration Courses

Pick four courses from the list:

Fraud Management
New Venture Formation and Business Development
Nonprofit Fundraising and Grant Writing
Public Personnel Administration
Publicity and Public Relations
Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship

Concordia University’s online MBA in Nonprofit Management and Public Administration is primarily designed for working professionals. It is dedicated to maximizing your strengths and potential to become a true and able leader of a nonprofit or governmental organization.

Concordia University is recognized by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.

Brenau University

MBA in Nonprofit Leadership

Tuition per credit for online MBA program: $785
Units Required: 42 Credit Hours
Program Length: 24 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Federal Student Aid
- Need-Based Financial Aid
- State Financial Aid
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Loans

The online Master of Business Administration in Nonprofit Leadership program at Brenau University’s College of Business and mass communication is designed for working professionals. It focuses on preparing students for leadership roles in various nonprofit settings and teaching them to work harmoniously with volunteers, manage nonprofit finances, and equip them with the skills they need to market a nonprofit organization.

Brenau University’s online MBA in Nonprofit Management curriculum consists of traditional MBA core requirements and nonprofit courses. As an online graduate student, you need to complete all of these courses to earn an MBA degree.

MBA Core Courses

Budgeting for Managers
Business Law and Ethics
Excellence in Operations
Financial Management
Management of People
Marketing Strategy
Strategic Management

Nonprofit Management Concentration Courses

Principles and Practice
Not for Profit Marketing and Branding
Principles of Grant Writing for Non-profits
Volunteer Leadership and Board Governance

With more than two decades of providing graduate education online, Brenau University is confident that its online MBA program can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to get that big break you want in your career. Its online MBA courses are taught by professors with vast experience in the real business world. They are committed to sharing their learning experiences to make you aware of possible solutions when similar problems come your way.

Brenau University’s academic programs comply with the academic standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Johnson & Wales University

Online MBA with a Nonprofit Concentration

Tuition per credit for online MBA program: $842
Units Required: 36 – 42 Credit Hours
Program Length: 12 – 24 Months
Financial Assistance Options:
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Loans
- Work while in College

Johnson & Wales University’s College of Professional Studies offers an online MBA with a concentration in Nonprofit Management to allow working professionals to pursue advanced business education despite their busy schedules. Its curriculum focuses on providing students with creative thinking and other skills they need to become effective as a leader and part of a nonprofit team.

JWU requires non-business undergraduate degree holders to take foundation courses to acquaint themselves with the business management process before taking the MBA core courses.

MBA Core Courses

Effective Leadership
Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Law
Evidence-Based Research in Management
Financial Management
Financial Reporting and Control
Operations Management
Strategic Marketing

Nonprofit Management Courses

Methodological, Decision-Making, and Analytic Techniques
Theory and Practice of Nonprofit Management, and
Choose two from the following:
Business Policy and Strategy
Career Capstone Course
Ethics and Social Change
Financial Management and Budgeting in Nonprofit Organizations
Personnel Deployment in Nonprofits
Program Evaluation
Public, Private, and Nonprofit Collaboration
Nonprofit Resource Development
Social Entrepreneurship

JWU developed its MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management with the help of students and renowned leaders in the nonprofit sector. It aims to provide students with the leadership, strategic, and creative thinking competencies they need to stand out in their professions.

Johnson & Wales University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary objective of nonprofit organizations?

Nonprofit organizations were created with the primary purpose of improving the quality of life of people in a community, state, or country. They are not created to garner profits or financial gain but to promote or safeguard public welfare and interest.

What’s the difference between Nonprofit and For-Profit companies?

There’s one big difference that separates a nonprofit from a for-profit organization, and it is the word profit. A nonprofit company operates without the intent to make profits but to provide services associated with a defined cause.

A for-profit organization, on the other hand, operates with the intent to make profits and expand its market share. It generates income from customers who buy the company’s products or services.

Are nonprofit management professionals in high demand?

Yes. With 1.5 million nonprofits in the country, there is certainly a demand for various nonprofit positions, such as fundraisers and community service professionals. Because nonprofits rely on donations and sponsorships to thrive, they need professionals with knowledge and skills to establish connections and implement strategies to raise funds. This is where your MBA in nonprofit management will come into play. Almost 12,000 jobs for fundraisers are available each year, and in November 2022, the nonprofit sector needed 6,300 fundraising managers. With an MBA degree in nonprofit management, you could easily grab one of these posts.

What’s the difference between nonprofit and social enterprise?

Nonprofits and social enterprises are often considered synonymous as both are organized towards providing solutions or alleviating specific social issues. Despite their similarities, there is a big difference between them. Nonprofits rely on donations, grants, and public funding. In contrast, social enterprises are different because they operate a business to generate profits.

Is an MBA in Nonprofit Management Worth It?

Yes, especially if you have that passion for service and contribute your skills to a cause.

As we have said earlier in this article, the jobs you will get as a nonprofit management degree holder are financially rewarding, meaningful, and gratifying because of the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel at the end of each day.

Before you go, see the following: