The Top Nonprofit Management MBA Online Programs

The business of creating sustainable nonprofit organizations can be rewarding both personally and financially. Students who are interested in an online Master of Business Administration in nonprofit management have a unique opportunity to help others while pursuing their own career goals. Not only is there a growing need for professionals in this area, nonprofit management wages are also very competitive with their for-profit counterparts. In addition, an MBA nonprofit management online degree can lead to corporate entrepreneurship as well as political service and public governance.

Obtaining a nonprofit management MBA online degree usually involves a two-year commitment. Students in the top nonprofit management MBA schools online can expect to learn the basics of marketing, economics and leadership in addition to courses focusing on specific nonprofit issues like fundraising and sustainability. A nonprofit internship will also be required to provide students with management experience in their chosen area of expertise.

How can I tell if an online MBA nonprofit management degree is right for me?

Students interested in enacting social change, motivating others and administration will most benefit from a nonprofit management MBA online degree.

Other common characteristics amongst many online MBA nonprofit management students include:

• A proclivity for communicating with persons outside organization
• An aptitude for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• A flair for making decisions and solving problems
• A knack for communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• A capacity for guiding, directing, and motivating subordinates

How long does it take to earn an MBA online nonprofit management degree?

A nonprofit management MBA degree online takes approximately the same time to earn as any other MBA online. Two years of full time schooling is on average required to earn this degree. However, some institutions have part-time or accelerated programs that give students the flexibility to complete the degree under a timeframe that suits their schedule.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA nonprofit management schools online?

Accredited online MBA nonprofit management programs typically require students to possess a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in the MBA program. An undergraduate degree in subjects such as public administration, organizational management, management, and business administration may be preferred by some schools that have an MBA nonprofit management online program.

The following criteria are also used by many online MBA in nonprofit management programs in making admissions decisions including:

• References or Letters of Recommendation
• Work experience
• Academic transcripts
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)

What courses will I take in nonprofit management MBA programs online?

An online MBA in nonprofit management is usually a two-year program. During the first year, students can expect to complete core online MBA courses that give them a broad understanding of general business practices. Economics, business leadership, marketing, ethics and communications are a few of the most common required classes for an MBA online nonprofit management degree.

The second year of a nonprofit management MBA online program focuses more on specific nonprofit issues such as fundraising, volunteer recruitment and public policy. In addition to required courses in social entrepreneurship and sustainability, students are required to complete a nonprofit internship. Schools with the best online nonprofit management MBA rankings have a variety of work experiences to choose from, and current employment in nonprofit organizations can even satisfy curriculum requirements.

Students enrolled in online nonprofit management MBA programs often do internships in order to enhance their education. Internships are useful. Through them, students not only make valuable business contacts, but they also get an opportunity to apply what they are learning in their classes.

What are the best online MBA in nonprofit management books I should consider reading?

Some books students interested in nonprofit management MBA careers may find on point are:

1. Managing the Non-Profit Organization (Peter F. Drucker) – A maven of management philosophy, Drucker explains the unique pitfalls and motivational tools that are best used when managing a nonprofit.

2. Good to Great in the Social Sectors (Jim Collins) – This book clearly exposes the winning strategies of real-life nonprofits to attract quality workers, maintain professional standards and build brand recognition in the nonprofit sector.

3. Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability (Jeanne Bell, Jan Masaoka and Steve Zimmerman) – A valuable treatise on the connection between mission and monetary stability, this book provides a useful guide on creating a framework for long-term nonprofit financing.

4. The One Page Business Plan for Nonprofit Organizations (James T. Horan, Jr.) – This book illustrates a number of viable business plans for nonprofit startups and includes a lengthy section on finding nonprofit employment.

5. The Harvard Business School Guide to Careers in the Nonprofit Sector (Stephanie Lowell) – This addition to the acclaimed Harvard Career Guide Collection is a necessary reference for students planning to graduate from online nonprofit management MBA schools.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue nonprofit management MBA jobs?

Although the typical nonprofit management MBA salary is less than its corporate counterpart, the job outlook in some nonprofit areas is very good. In May 2011, there were 222,810 people employed as education managers and 134,100 working as social and community service managers. Students who complete an accredited online Master of Business Administration in nonprofit management will be eligible for careers such as:

• Operations Manager – $92,390
• Fundraising Manager – $105,690
• Education Administrator – $90,200
• Social and Community Service Managers – $57,950

During the next ten years, the need for graduates from online MBA nonprofit management programs will increase dramatically in many sectors. As the baby boomer generation continues to age, the need for social and community service managers is projected to increase by almost 30%. The need for fundraisers and operations managers is also expected to increase as the number of nonprofit organizations rises.

Employers often want students who have earned their degrees from AACSB accredited nonprofit management MBA programs because accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business can be an indication that a business school provides a quality education.