MindEdge

The online certificate program introduces learners to key current management issues for nonprofit organizations. Fundraising, capital campaigns, board and volunteer development, budgeting, reading financial statements, leadership, marketing, and setting strategic direction are all addressed, and video commentary on these crucial topics will give you insight into how nonprofit professionals apply key concepts in their own organizations.

Each 3 to 5 hour, self-paced course offers an assortment of interactive exercises, videos, selected readings, case studies, and self-assessments that will engage you and help you practice effective decision making in a nonprofit setting.

The Ask the Expert feature connects you to a network of experts ready to answer any content-related questions you have. You can expect to receive a response within 24 to 48 hours, though some questions are answered the same day they are sent.

Upon successful completion, download a printable certificate of completion. This certificate has no textbooks or prerequisites. Read more …

365-day access / $699 / Register for the Nonprofit Management Certificate

Earn:

CEUs: 4.4 (Contact Hours: 44 hours)
HRCIs: 35 (Type: Specified - Strategic Business: 27, General: 8)
SHRMs: 44
CFREs: 23

Gain an understanding of budgets and how they are used in nonprofit organizational settings. Learn the uses and functions of budgets and the relationship between strategic budgeting and tactical budgeting. Learn to recognize organization-wide budgets and different budget systems. Get an overview of advanced budgeting topics, such as capital budgets, cash flow budgets, and opportunity budgets. Learn how nonprofit organizations are using different budgeting techniques to handle operating challenges. Gain the ability to analyze a nonprofit operating budget. You will have access to this course for 30 days. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 3–5 hrs.
30-day access / $79 / Register for this course

Recognize key terminology and practices for running a successful capital campaign within a nonprofit organization. Learn about the phases of conducting a capital campaign—evaluation, feasibility study, organization, solicitation, and post-campaign activities—and how to avoid common pitfalls. Expert video commentary, a case study, and a vocabulary game ensure that you have a solid grasp of the content for execution in your nonprofit organization. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 3–5 hours
30-day access / $79 / Register for this course

Study fundraising for nonprofit organizations with an emphasis on the fundamental issues. Learn the key concepts related to nonprofit fundraising, such as annual campaigns, capital campaigns, and planned giving. Understand how nonprofit funds can be raised through direct mail and telemarketing and how the Internet may be used to generate donations. Compare and contrast fundraising through corporate donations vs. foundation grants. Learn about the different sections of a grant application. Learn methods for evaluating annual campaign performance and how ethics apply to nonprofit fundraising. Understand the importance of donor relations. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 4–6 hrs.
30-day access / $150 / Register for this course

Develop your ability to appropriately interpret the major financial accounting statements that are used by nonprofit organizations. Gain an understanding of the types of financial statements that are used by nonprofit organizations and how they differ from for-profit financial reporting. Learn the power and limitations of accounting information in assessing financial performance and decision-making. Understand the uses of financial statement analysis, or ratio analysis, for nonprofit organizations. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 3–5 hrs.
30-day access / $79 / Register for this course

Strategic grant writing helps align the identified needs of a nonprofit (and its clients) with funding sources, whether they are foundations, government agencies, corporations, or individuals. This course offers a guide to the basics of grant writing, an increasingly crucial method for raising money to fund projects and programs for nonprofits and other organizations. The course explores the relationship of grant writing to an organization’s strategy for fundraising. It also outlines the six stages of grant writing and highlights best practices. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 4-6 hours
30-day access / $150 / Register for this course

This course covers management best practices for leading a nonprofit organization. You will gain an understanding of the nonprofit sector and the issues that leaders face in this exciting and growing field. You will also be exposed to the major areas of responsibility for nonprofit leaders, including strategy, managing employees, fundraising, grant writing, board governance, and marketing and social media. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 3-5 hours
30-day access / $99 / Register for this course

Examine the foundations of leadership and what it takes to be a successful and effective leader in a nonprofit organization. Learn to distinguish between some of the better-known leadership theories (Fiedler’s contingency theory; path-goal theory; Vroom-Yetton-Jago theory). Understand the difference between leadership, management, and administration. Learn the seven bases for leadership and understand the impending leadership shortage in the nonprofit sector. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 3–5 hrs.
30-day access / $99 / Register for this course

Understand the responsibilities of the nonprofit board and discuss different models for organizing one. Learn the differences between a nonprofit board and a for-profit board. Study different approaches for recruiting and filling a nonprofit board and the pros and cons of large vs. small boards. Learn how nonprofits can develop and maintain volunteers. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 5 hrs.
30-day access / $150 / Register for this course

Examine the ways nonprofit organizations use marketing to publicize their mission and to gather contributions of time and money. Learn how marketing is used to determine the needs of nonprofit clients and their donors. Understand the “3Ps” of services marketing in the nonprofit organization. Explore the role of ethics in nonprofit marketing and the process of nonprofit marketing plan. Understand how new service products are developed by nonprofits. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 3–5 hrs.
30-day access / $79 / Register for this course

Introduces participants to the use of social media in communicating, marketing, public relations, and fundraising for nonprofits. The major social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest) are explored as vehicles for nonprofits to reach their members, volunteers, and donors. Read more …

Estimated time to complete: 3-5 hours
30-day access / $79 / Register for this course

Understand how a nonprofit’s strategy constitutes its decisions about what it will do and how it will do it. Learn the basics of strategy in a nonprofit context. Understand the strategic planning process and how different approaches may be taken by different organizations. Learn how to construct a mission statement. Learn how budgets and capital budgets interrelate with nonprofit strategic planning. Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 3–5 hrs.
30-day access / $79 / Register for this course

This two-course bundle offers the introductory through intermediate skills needed for those involved in gaining funding for any nonprofit organization’s mission. Strategic grant writing aligns the needs of a nonprofit with funding sources, whether those sources are foundations, government agencies, corporations, or individuals. The first course in this bundle, Introduction to Grant Writing, offers a guide to the basics of grant writing. The course explores the relationship between grant writing and an organization’s strategy for fundraising. It also outlines the six stages of grant writing and highlights grant writing best practices. Advanced Grant Writing, the second course in this bundle, challenges learners to push those newly acquired grant writing skills to the next level, challenging learners to ask iterative questions in order to sharpen and refine each grant proposal and push it to the top of the pack. By looking closely at how a logic model can shore up a proposal at each key stage, this course will demonstrate how to push planning, evaluation, and budgeting from good to great. Read more…

180-day access / $259 / Register for the Grant Writing Skills Suite

Earn:

IACET CEUs: 1.1 (Contact Hours: 11 hours)
HRCI Credits: 5 (Type: Specified - Strategic Business: 5)
SHRM PDCs: 5
CFRE Points: 11

A how-to guide for anyone who’s got a great idea about how to give back to the community—but doesn’t know how to turn that idea into a reality. Discuss the key steps in getting a nonprofit off the ground, including incorporating your organization; applying for tax-exempt status; drafting a business plan; choosing a board of directors and writing bylaws for the organization; recruiting employees and managing volunteers; and addressing the crucial issue of fundraising. Through rich video and interactive content, obtain a detailed and highly practical introduction to the fast-growing world of nonprofits. (Note: This course is not included in the Nonprofit Management Certificate) Read more …
Estimated time to complete: 4 hrs.
90-day access / $79 / Register for this course

Designed to challenge and engage you while exploring key real-world leadership issues confronted by nonprofit managers. Assume the role of executive director of the troubled Courtney Museum and deal with a series of personnel, marketing, financial, and board/community relations issues. As you make tough decisions, an adaptive scoreboard reflects the impact of those choices on the museum’s prospects. Video commentary from experienced nonprofit leaders provides qualitative context and explores the consequences of choosing different paths for reviving the museum. (Note: This simulation is not included in the Nonprofit Management Certificate) Read more …
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Prerequisite: Experience in nonprofit management
Estimated time to complete: 10 hrs.
90-day access / $399 / Register for this course

Pushing your grant writing skills to the next level is an exercise in focusing on the details. This course shows you how to ask iterative questions of yourself, your team, and your proposed program in order to sharpen and refine your grant proposal and push it to the top of the pack. By looking closely at how a logic model can shore up your proposal at each key stage, this course will demonstrate how to push your planning, evaluation, and budgeting from good to great.(Note: This course is not included in the Nonprofit Management Certificate) Read more …

90-day access / $159 / Register for this course

Because they rely on the public’s trust, nonprofit organizations must adhere to the highest ethical standards; even a hint of impropriety could jeopardize a nonprofit’s reputation, its fundraising, and eventually its mission. At the same time, nonprofits with 501 (c)(3) status must be scrupulous in their compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. This course provides a detailed introduction to nonprofit ethics and compliance, examining a range of topics including: mission and vision statements; governance policies; conflicts of interest; fundraising ethics; IRS compliance; state laws and regulations; and the role of the compliance officer. This self-paced course, filled with videos and interactive case studies, will help you understand one of the most important areas of nonprofit management. (Note: This course is not included in the Nonprofit Management Certificate) Read more …

90-day access / $99 / Register for this course

To effectively manage a nonprofit organization, leaders need to be aware of the current trends, challenges, and best practices that are shaping the sector. This course will provide an overview of the key topics that are the focus of today’s nonprofit leaders. You will learn about the ways in which the nonprofit sector is changing, as well as some new approaches to leadership, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. This course will also explore how nonprofits can grow, sustain themselves in challenging times, and utilize data and technology to improve their performance and assess their progress. (Note: This course is not included in the Nonprofit Management Certificate) Read more…

90-day access / $79 / Register for this course