Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership
Academic title: Nonprofit leadership, graduate certificate
12 Credits
to Graduate
January 11
Next start date
*Recommended apply date is minimum 6 weeks prior to next start date.
Earn your graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership online
Lead with purpose and make a bigger impact in your community with a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership. You'll build the knowledge and practical skills to drive change, while building credentials to advance your career in the nonprofit sector.
The graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership can be completed in as little as one year.
This 12-credit program consists of four courses:
- Board governance and executive leadership
- Strategic planning for organizations
- Grant writing fundamentals
- Nonprofit management
Earning your certificate in nonprofit leadership satisfies the academic competency for the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential - the only recognized credential in the nonprofit sector. If you're interested in earning the CNP credential, you'll also need to complete other requirements including professional experience, volunteer service and pass an exam.
Path to your Master of Public Administration degree
The graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership serves as a pathway to CMU's NASPAA accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. The 12 credits you earn in this certificate can be applied toward the master's program, putting you nearly one-third of the way to your degree.
With a certificate in nonprofit leadership, you'll gain practical skills you can use immediately while setting yourself up for future educational advancement.
Graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership overview
| Core credits | 12 |
|---|---|
| Elective credits | 0 |
| Total credits to graduate | 12 |
How much does a certificate in nonprofit leadership cost?
The cost shown below is based on the current tuition and fee estimate. Your actual cost of attendance for financial aid purposes may vary based on your assigned tuition rate, the number of credits you're enrolled in and the length of your enrollment period. If you're enrolled in a single module instead of a full semester, your housing and food, transportation and personal expenses will be adjusted based on the number of weeks you're enrolled (for example, 12-week or 8-week modules). If you're enrolled less than half-time, your cost of attendance will not include housing and food, personal expenses or loan fees.
- Military tuition benefits: Active duty, veterans and military-affiliated students may qualify for reduced tuition, waived fees and need-based awards.
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission, you must:
- Submit a completed application for admission and an application fee
- Submit official transcript(s) from previous institution(s)
- Hold a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of at least 2.7
Applicants with an undergraduate cumulative GPA between 2.5 and 2.69 may still be considered for admission to the certificate program, but must submit additional information, including:
- An essay (two to three pages in length) that discusses:
- Your professional goals
- How the completion of the certificate will facilitate the achievement of those goals
- An explanation of the circumstances that contributed to your undergraduate academic performance
- The steps you have taken to ensure your success in the M.P.A. program
- Contact information for three references that can attest to your potential to succeed in the program
- A current résumé