Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate
The College of Letters & Science and the Lubar College of Business offer a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. The program is designed to provide students with the essential theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to manage and lead nonprofit sector organizations successfully.
Courses address the full range of skills needed to serve nonprofit organizations effectively, including financial management, resource development, governance, organizational leadership, and program planning and accountability. Both students and instructors in the program include experienced professionals representing a full spectrum of nonprofit organizations.
The Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Leadership is one of only 12 programs worldwide to be recognized with accreditation from the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC). Per the accreditation review panel, UWM's program "...unambiguously meets 16 of the 16 major content subject areas through curriculum instruction..." and surpassed these requirements in 10 of those categories. Online options for program completion are available.
Related Certificates
Program Type
Graduate Certificate
Program Format
On Campus
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Applications are considered on a rolling admissions basis, although we suggest that a completed portfolio be submitted at least 6-8 weeks prior to the beginning of the starting semester.
Applicants should keep in mind that applications for various University fellowships are typically due in January. If you are planning to apply for Financial Aid, all application materials must be submitted by March 1 of each year.
Admission
Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted in to a certificate program.
Application
- Admission to a graduate certificate program requires formal student application through the Graduate School admissions application system, including the required admissions application fee.
- Certificate programs will inform the Graduate School of their admission recommendation for an applicant. The final admission decision is made by the Graduate School.
- Early application to the certificate program is recommended; late application is possible, but may incur delays for certificate conferral related to time required for credit tracking.
- Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.
Credits and Courses
Students wishing to earn a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management must complete the required 15 graduate credit hours. No student may complete all 15 credits within a single school or college. The curriculum consists of the following five courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| BUSMGMT 718 | Concepts and Practice of Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| BUSMGMT 721 | Fundraising and Development for Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| BUSMGMT 724 | Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| NONPROF 725 | Governance of Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| BUS ADM 766 | Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations | |
| NONPROF 740 | Executive Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations | |
| NONPROF 705 | Professionals and Volunteers in Nonprofit Organizations | |
| NONPROF 795 | Introduction to Nonprofit Revenue Streams and Portfolios | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Application to all graduate programs are completed through the UWM Graduate School. Please see their website for detailed information about the application process and contact them with questions.
We also have provided information about applying to one of the Public & Nonprofit Administration graduate programs and our admissions criteria:
How to apply for the graduate certificate in Public & Nonprofit Administration
Additional Requirements
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Articulation with Degree Programs
- Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
- Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
- All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
- Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
- Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
- A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
- Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
- 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
- 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.