Master of Nonprofit Administration

Administrative Office - San Francisco

415-422-2592

Program Director: Kathleen Fletcher, M.P.A., Ed.D.

Associate Program Director: Gleb Nikitenko, M.P.A., M.A.

The Master of Nonprofit Administration (M.N.A.) degree program prepares experienced adults for management and leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. The M.N.A. program is designed for students already working in (or transitioning to) nonprofit corporations, foundations, voluntary associations, community organizations, or nongovernmental organizations. The program is associated with the USF Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management, which conducts research on the nonprofit sector and philanthropy.

Program Objectives

• To addresses issues and problems of nonprofit management and help students master relevant concepts, skills, and analytic tools
• To investigate the political, economic, legal, and social environments of nonprofit organizations
• To provide students with knowledge of organizational behavior and management theory
• To prepare students to handle the skill areas necessary for managing nonprofit organizations: financial management, fundraising, strategic planning, board governance, legal requirements, human resources, marketing, and advocacy
• To teach students analytical skills, including research and evaluation methods and use of data analysis to improve decision making
• To prepare students to be reflective practitioners, capable of independent professional judgment that integrates theory, practical experience, and commitment to social values

Program Requirements

The M.N.A. degree requires 27 months of coursework, involving 30 units of required core courses, 3 units of elective courses, and a 3-unit summary project. All M.N.A. students take the first 30 units of required core courses and the final 3-unit summary project together. Required courses are sequenced as follows:

• NPA - 671 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
• NPA - 638 Management and Organizational Behavior
• NPA - 677 Governance, Strategic Planning, and Organizational Effectiveness
• NPA - 673 Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations
• NPA - 631 Nonprofit Human Resource Management
• NPA - 674 Legal Issues Affecting Nonprofit Organizations
• NPA - 675 Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations
• NPA - 678 Nonprofits & Public Policy
• NPA - 612 Research and Evaluation Methods
• NPA - 614 Data Analysis
• NPA - 616 MNA Summary Project
• MNA Elective

Students take an elective course during their last semester in the program. Each cohort is offered one of the following three courses as a default elective. These courses are offered on a rotating basis.

• NPA - 672 Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations
• NPA - 676 Management Information Systems
• NPA - 679 Nonprofit Lobbying and Advocacy

Students may opt to take a course outside of the M.N.A. program as their elective with the approval of their academic advisor.

Please see Nonprofit Administration Course Descriptions.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of all degree coursework with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
• Completion of a summary project
• Successful completion of all degree requirements

Please see Graduate Student Regulations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Nonprofit Administration, a graduate will:

• Understand the context of the nonprofit sector in the United States-its history, legal basis, scope of activities, role in society, and economic impact-as well as the growing importance of nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations throughout the world.
• Understand and successfully carry out the general management functions of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling in the specific context of the nonprofit sector and its societal role.
• Be a nonprofit management generalist who can oversee specific management areas such as fundraising, human resources, financial management, management information systems, marketing, government relations, and advocacy.
• Practice responsible and ethical leadership in relation to all stakeholders of their organization, including recipients of the organization's services as well as staff, board members, funders, donors, volunteers, and the general public.
• Understand the nonprofit sector's role in the public policy arena and advocate responsibly for their organization's cause and those served by it.
• Know how to conduct research and evaluation, regularly assess the results of their programs, and use those results to improve program delivery and impact.