In 2015, there were more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. In 2010 the nonprofit organizations accounted for 9.2% of total salaries paid nationwide. In 2014 GDP share of non-profit organizations stood at 5.3%.

Non-profit organizations perform vital functions in our society that most Americans can stand behind. From working on social inequality issues to providing housing and health care for low income families to public news networks who are free of major networks’ agendas, non-profit organizations are an extension of Americans’ desire to impose our values into the American way of life where for profit organizations are either not economically feasible or cannot exist without the threat of corruption.

Masters degree programs in Non-profit Management teach students about the principles and structures of non-profit organizations. Students gain necessary skills for advancing the development of nonprofit programs, assessing the efficiency of an organization, and for understanding the psychology behind marketing non-profit organizations’ ideals to the public.

Masters in Non-profit Management Concepts

Specifically, a Masters degree program in Nonprofit Management will provide you with knowledge in most if not all of the following areas:

Typical Coursework

  • Methods & principles of psychological research in the nonprofit arena
  • Social & cultural diversity in non-profit organizations
  • Non-profit organization missions, governance, and operations
  • Assess performance, structure and program development
  • Ethics of non-profit management
  • Leadership techniques and strategies in non-profit management
  • Psychopathology in the workplace
  • Human development
  • Statistics and analysis
  • Applied research in orgnizational leadership
  • Social psychology
  • Grant writing for non-profit organizations
  • Laws and regulations governing non-profit organizations
  • Finance principles associated with non-profit program management

Salary Benefits and Career Advancement

Those who continue with their educational careers and earn a PhD in a managerial or organization psychology field will be able to demand more for their services and will likely find more diverse and autonomous opportunities.

As per the Bureau of Labor and Statistics in national nonprofit private industry the median annual wage per employee in 2012 was $46,568.

Often times with a certain level of experience, managerial positions in non-profit organizations can be given to individuals with only a bachelor’s degree. However, with a changing economy and increasing competition in the non-profit industry, those with higher qualifications will likely find many more job opportunities.

Career possibilities for those with a Master’s degree in Non-profit Management

  • Director of development
  • Business manager
  • Nonprofit program director
  • Nonprofit management in various areas
  • Community college instructor

If interested in knowing more about the career possibilities in the field of non-profit management, you should contact schools offering programs, such as organizational psychology or business administration, to make sure you are embarking in the right educational direction for your career ambitions. Below is a list of related programs that you might want to consider:

  • M.S. in Leadership (specializations in General Management, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources Leadership, Innovation and Technology, Leader Development, Project Management)
  • MBA in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Project Management, Marketing, and Technology
  • M.S. in Psychology – Specializations in Leadership Development, Organizational Psychology
  • M.S. in Psychology – Specialization in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • M.S. in Public Health – Management and Policy
  • MBA in Global Management, Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Public Administration, Technology Management

Resources:
BLS, Research Data on the Nonprofit Sector
The National Center for Charitable Statistics, Quick Facts About Nonprofits