Program Completion Options

Option A: Concentration Area Courses

Fundraising Management Concentration

Organizations require a variety of funding streams to insure cash flow and avoid reliance on any one particular source. The staff and board must develop a long-term strategy to expand funding sources and maintain relationships with current donors. This concentration area provides in-depth knowledge and skills related to the role of fundraising within a nonprofit organization, the development and implementation of a fundraising plan, and the management of the fundraising operation. This concentration area expands on the exploration of various sources of funds, including foundations and corporations, government entities, and individuals. Students learn strategies for identifying potential donors, relationship-building, and growing donor relationships over time.

History and Infrastructure of Philanthropy
4 classes
Course #4580

This course examines the history of U.S. philanthropic tradition in the United States, the role of philanthropy in the nonprofit sector, and the growth of philanthropic institutions. Laws and regulations pertinent to philanthropy and charitable giving are also explored.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Describe the historical development of philanthropy and fundraising in the United States
• Discuss the various types of philanthropic organizations, their structures and missions
• Understand the rudiments of philanthropic and fundraising initiatives.

Individual and Institutional Donor Cultivation
7 classes
Course # 4581

This course explores the fundraising process in-depth, including annual giving programs, major gift awards, planned giving, and capital campaigns. The cultivation of foundation, corporate, and individual donors will be presented in detail. Fundraising, strategic planning, and building donor relationships will also be addressed.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Apply skills to identify, cultivate, and solicit funding sources
• Utilize skills to develop and sustain relationships with foundations
• Identify appropriate granting foundations, corporations, and other funding opportunities
• Use marketing and public relations techniques effectively
• Discuss the ethical context of fundraising

Entrepreneurial and Earned Income
4 classes
Course #4582

The financial health of many nonprofit organizations depends on the ability of organizational leaders to be creative in their approach to generating resources. One way to supplement the contributions from donors, foundations and corporations, and other funding sources is to create sources of entrepreneurial and earned income. Such initiatives need to be explored by organizational leaders with staff, and proposed to members of the board. Skills needed to generate this type of income for nonprofit organizations will be discussed along with ideas on how to generate earned income.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the rudiments of fee-for-service and how nonprofit organizations start a business
• Recognize funding streams appropriate to an organization’s mission
• Examine income-producing possibilities for organizations
• Understand regulatory and legal issues regarding entrepreneurial and earned income
• Become more familiar with marketing and small business development

Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations*
6 classes
Course #4583

Every year hundreds of foundations, corporations, and government agencies have millions of dollars available to be distributed to nonprofit organizations. To access these funds, fundraising professionals must know how to write and submit grants. Grant writing is a competitive process that requires knowledge of the politics of grant writing, the art of grant writing, and the mechanics of grant writing. In this course, students learn how to identify potential funding resources, how to satisfy the needs of grantors, and how to write winning grants.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Have knowledge of the application and grant review process
• Understand the concepts of relationshipbuilding with potential grantors
• Understand the importance of grant-seeking research
• Explain the differences between private and government funding
• Know the parts of a grant and how to write a grant
• Know what grant reviewers look for in a grant

*This course is offered in both the Fundraising Management and Human Services Administration concentrations.

Human Services Administration Concentration

Human services professionals manage and lead organizations that address some of the most important and critical societal needs. The Human Services Administration concentration area enables present and future human services professionals in the public and private sectors to effectively develop and shape their organizations to facilitate and improve services. Courses in this concentration area provide students with a better understanding of the United States human services delivery system. Students also strengthen management skills that are critical to success within the human services administration arena.

American Social Policy and the Development of Human Services
6 classes
Course #4540

This course traces the emergence and evolution of human services in the United States. Students are introduced to the broader field of social welfare policy. The development of social policy will be examined, and include social, economic and political perspectives, as well as perspectives on issues of race and gender.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of the human services system in the U.S.
• Describe the dominant ideologies, values, and beliefs that have influenced the development of social welfare systems
• Demonstrate conceptual clarity of policy making
• Explain the role of human services professions in influencing social policy
• Identify the social, economic, and political factors that influence social policies
• Understand how social policy is created
• Evaluate the effectiveness of social policy responses to identified problems
• Analyze the response of the social welfare system to the needs of populations at-risk

Analysis of Community Characteristics
5 classes
Course #4541

Students learn how to assess community needs through an analysis of community demographics, economics, institutions, and power structures. Common community problems such as homelessness, racism and prejudice, violence, unemployment, and access to health care are explored.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Objectively assess demographic, social, and economic patterns in a local community
• Examine the various power and economic dynamics of the community
• Delineate needs of a local community
• Demonstrate knowledge of holistic perspectives on community and its place in the larger context of society

Special Issues in Human Services Administration
4 classes
Course #4542

Issues unique to human services agencies are explored, including working with cultural, educational, and regional differences. Problems of supervision unique to human services are also explored. This course covers how to start a nonprofit organization that provides direct services. Students will also learn about the increased demand for accountability in the public sector.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Discuss skills in communication, team building, and coaching needed by human services administrators
• Understand laws and regulations that impact human services organizations
• Describe strategies to alleviate common causes of stress in organizations
• Explore legal and economic issues related to starting a new nonprofit human services organization
• Affect changes in organizations to meet increasing demand for accountability in the public sector.

Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations*
6 classes
Course # 4583

Every year hundreds of foundations, corporations, and government agencies have millions of dollars available to be distributed to nonprofit organizations. To access these funds, fundraising professionals must know how to write and submit grants. Grant writing is a competitive process that requires knowledge of the politics of grant writing, the art of grant writing, and the mechanics of grant writing. In this course, students learn how to identify potential funding resources, how to satisfy the needs of grantors, and how to write winning grants.

Sought Learning Outcomes:

• Have knowledge of the application and grant review process
• Understand the concepts of relationshipbuilding with potential grantors
• Understand the importance of grant-seeking research
• Explain the differences between private and government funding
• Know the parts of a grant and how to write a grant
• Know what grant reviewers look for in a grant

*This course is offered in both the Fundraising Management and Human Services Administration concentrations.

Program Completion Options

Option B: The Independent Project

Students may elect to complement their coursework with an Independent Project to fulfill their degree requirements. Students selecting this option will work with the Academic Advisor to complete their project. Students who do the Independent Project may begin to work with the Academic Advisor any time after completion of Module VII of the MSNM program.

Independent Project Options
Course #4536

• Literature Review and Analysis
• Organizational Study
• Grant Proposal

Literature Review and Analysis

A Literature Review and Analysis enables students to identify a social or organizational problem of interest and conduct an in-depth review of the literature on the subject. The review may include the history of developments on a particular topic, theoretical perspectives on a problem, and proposed solutions. Both qualitative and quantitative sources may be used. The academic advisor will help guide students toward possible sources of literature to be consulted.

Organizational Study

An Organizational Study enables students to identify a particular problem of interest connected to the operation or management of a particular nonprofit sector organization. An in-depth review of the literature is conducted on topics related to the problem. The sources collected for the literature review should not be focused on organizational programs or services, but rather on management theory and related policy perspectives that address organizational problems and issues. The Academic Advisor will help guide students toward possible sources of literature to be consulted.

Grant Proposal

The Grant Proposal option provides students with an opportunity to identify a specific need, and to write a grant proposal to request funds from a private funder, foundation, or corporation. The Grant Proposal begins with an in-depth review of the problem based on the results of research found in the literature. Other sources of information may include U.S. census data, government reports, and local demographic and socioeconomic statistics. The Academic Advisor will help guide students toward the sources of literature to be consulted.