MASTER OF NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT
TranslateYourVision into Reality
TranslateYourVision into Reality
MASTER OF NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT
Table Of Contents A Living Curriculum 6 Real World Lessons 12 Flexible Options 17 Envision Your Future 20 Your Degree 24 Course Descriptions 26
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MNM vs. MBA 28
Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. – Warren Bennis
O U R M IS S IO N The mission of the Master of Nonprofit Management degree (MNM) is to enhance the social advocacy, leadership and management capabilities of professionals in nonprofit, civil society and third sector organizations. Guided by our Jesuit mission to develop men and women in service of others, we seek to support graduates to learn proficiently, think logically and critically, identify and choose personal standards of values, and be socially responsible. Further, we encourage the development of skills and leadership abilities necessary for distinguished professional work and contributions to the improvement and transformation of society.
L E A D THE WAY For nearly 25 years, the Master of Nonprofit Management degree at Regis University has empowered individuals to institute real change at their organizations and communities. Our community of professionals will equip you with the tools to excel personally while also elevating your organization.
Regis University draws upon more than 130 years of tradition inspired by the Jesuit vision of St. Ignatius Loyola. We provide adult learners with a values-centered education that nurtures the mind and encourages the pursuit of truth.
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THE J E S U IT V IS IO N
A L I V I N G C URRI CU L U M Both students and faculty in the MNM degree program are experienced professionals representing a wide spectrum of nonprofit organizations. Courses include the full range of skills needed to serve the ever-changing nonprofit sector more effectively.
Curriculum Through our unique curriculum, students explore the nonprofit sector in detail, examining fundraising, human resources, social marketing, financial management, grant writing, and more from a variety of perspectives. Informed by Regis’ Jesuit heritage, our curriculum seeks to enhance the social advocacy, leadership, and management capabilities of professionals who address challenging social issues in the US and globally.
Outcomes
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The MNM program outcomes are designed with careful consideration of the Regis mission while taking into account research from the sector, input from faculty and alumni, and the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council curriculum guidelines. Our goal is to develop leaders with a strong balance between theory and practice, and leadership and managerial skills for a dynamic sector.
Education is the mother of leadership. – Wendell Willkie
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
M.D.Kinoti, Ph.D. Chair, Global Nonprofit Leadership Department, Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management
With its strong grounding in the Jesuit values that serve as a backbone to education at Regis, Associate Professor and Global Nonprofit Department Chair Kinoti sees the MNM program as the most robust program of its kind. “The program is grounded in the Jesuit background of social justice, and has more than 24 years of experience,” he said. “It gives students a comprehensive theoretical and practical development that prepares them for significant leadership roles.” Kinoti serves on numerous NGO boards, including the Colorado Nonprofit Association, and is an international advisor to the Farm Concern International and Global Youth Peace Corps Boards. He brings a thorough understanding of global issues to the program, having both lived and worked in the developing and developed worlds. With his background in peace building and conflict resolution, he has facilitated graduate courses in several parts of the world, including Peru, Uganda and Tanzania.
“It has been quite enlightening to learn and apply the unique Jesuit values of social justice and how they form a significant motivation for service to others and the development of a better humanity,” he said.
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Kinoti sees the MNM program as a comprehensive preparation for the real-life issues facing nonprofits and their leaders today. It’s the program’s roots in Jesuit values, though, that Kinoti points to as its defining feature.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Eugene Wilkerson, Ph. D. Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management
After six years in the Global Nonprofit Leadership Department, Eugene Wilkerson, Ph. D., is most proud of the relationships he has been able to cultivate with the students in his classes. It’s no surprise, though; the drive his students exhibit is second to none, both in their work ethic and their desire to create change outside the classroom, he said. “The passion of our students is unmatched,” he said. “They want to change the world.” Wilkerson joined the department in 2008 and became a faculty member in 2011. He emphasized the way the MNM degree uniquely prepares its participants to excel in the third sector, and to lead with confidence in positions ranging from development director to executive director.
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“Our program focuses on the unique needs in leading and managing in the third sector,” he said. “This program gives students an understanding of the importance of reflection, which I think is probably the single most powerful take-away it leaves with students.”
R EA L W O R L D L E S S ONS
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The majority (about 85 percent) of the courses taught in the Master of Nonprofit Management program are taught by affiliate faculty members. These knowledgeable individuals teach while also working as professionals in the nonprofit sector, many as leaders of major nonprofit organizations. By bringing real-world context to the classroom, our faculty give students first-hand knowledge about bringing real change to their organizations.
Dreams are the touchstones of our character.
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– Henry David Thoreau
AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT
David Henninger Executive Director, Bayaud Enterprises
With more than 16 years’ experience teaching in the MNM program, it’s the continued passion of his students that keeps David Henninger inspired. “The Regis MNM student is different in the passion and commitment for the work of nonprofits compared to students taking courses at other universities,” he said. “It’s someone who truly wants to make our community and the world a better place. There’s a global vision that permeates the classroom and manifests into the whole community.” Henninger, who has served as a board member for more than 20 nonprofits and leads an $8.2 million nonprofit focused on individuals with disabilities, said the MNM program’s focus on the Regis mission and Jesuit heritage also distinguish it from other programs, and aligns perfectly with the goals of its graduates.
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“What sets this program apart is the student learner – the commitment to wanting to be part of the sector while also gaining technical and conceptual framework,” he said. “This degree program helps prepare you for being a more effective and efficient leader in the nonprofit world, while impacting the whole of the community and world.”
The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
A DEGREE THAT RESPECTS YOUR TIME Many of the students and faculty in the Master of Nonprofit Management program are working professionals with full-time jobs as well as families and other commitments. The MNM degree is offered in an accelerated, flexible, and online and ground format that allows students to design their own schedules to fit their needs. We know finding the right balance between your educational, professional and personal responsibilities is possible and rewarding. That is why we offer busy professionals learning and scheduling options designed to meet their needs. It makes fitting your studies into your busy schedule achievable.
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Most students complete their coursework within two years, though they have the option to take up to six. Participants take one eight-week course each term, with classes being taught in the evenings. Terms start six times per year. Regis University is one of the few universities in the U.S. to offer both a campus-based and online Master of Nonprofit Management degree.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Sage Nichols MNM’14
After working with Spanish-speaking families for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and at the Autism Society of Colorado, Sage Nichols was looking for an opportunity to round out her leadership and capacity-building skills. She found it in the MNM program. “The MNM program is unique in that it provides nonprofit professionals with the absolutely perfect blend of curriculum,” Sage said. “Now, I feel equipped to engage in program evaluations to further an organization’s performance. I also look at governance through a different lens now, which allows me to see the true health and climate of organizations.” What surprised Sage about the program, she said, are the valuable relationships she has forged. She knew she’d meet new people, she said, but didn’t expect the relationships she built to be so genuine and supportive. The faculty, she added, is sincerely interested in the development of each student.
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“This group of amazing minds and kind hearts has been there for me not only as a student, but as a friend, and for that I am most grateful,” she said.
E NV IS ION Y OU R F UTU RE A MNM degree opens doors for graduates nationally and internationally, whether you are just entering the field or are an experienced professional seeking to create significant change.
Achieve Your Goals •
Serve your community
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Change career paths
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Influence positive change
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Become a leader
Individuals with an MNM degree advance their careers in roles such as: •
Executive Director
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Program Director
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Development Director
Many work at the local, state or federal level in: •
Human Services
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Health Care
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Social Services
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Government/NPO Liaison
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Compliance
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In business, our graduates are sought after for positions in: •
Health Care
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Philanthropy
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Corporate Social Responsibility
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Program Management
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Sustainability
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and more.
Be the change you want to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Scott Franssen Senior Development Officer Tennyson Center for Children
For Scott Franssen, participating in a SOFE was the last thing he thought he’d do as part of his path to obtaining his MNM. And yet, his experience in East Africa was, as he described, “an experience that enhanced my learning in ways that are difficult to summarize. It was an experience that will impact me for years to come.” Despite more than a decade of professional experience in the third sector, Franssen said he pursued his MNM degree through Regis’ program because he wanted to round out his experience and knowledge of organizational leadership. “The program provided resources and knowledge to branch out beyond my specific focus to become more diverse and better prepare me for my next phase of professional development,” he said. With a goal of leading a nonprofit as its executive director, Franssen said he felt the MNM program would position him to set himself apart from his competitors and give him the confidence he needs to succeed.
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“I sort of ‘fell into’ my career, which is like learning to swim by being thrown into a pool,” he said. “Instead of just trying to keep one’s head above the water, the program teaches elements of leadership beyond survival. The program truly enhanced my ability, and confidence, as a leader in the nonprofit community.”
YOUR DEGREE Degree Requirements An essential part of Regis University’s mission is the service of humanity. The MNM degree strives to achieve this through the required 36-credit-hours and the program’s culmination in one of two capstone courses: a professional research project, or the Service Oriented Field Experience (SOFE). Required courses: 27 credit hours Electives: 6 credit hours Capstone: 3 credit hours
Capstone MNM students have their choice of two capstone projects: a professional research project, or a Service Oriented Field Experience (SOFE). The professional research project involves the creation, development and evaluation of a product or program, presented in a thesis-like format. Students, supported by faculty, research and write on topics of interest, or develop a culminating project in line with their program. The SOFE project offers students the opportunity to engage in a cultural immersion and service exchange in a culture different from their own. During these 10-14 day educational service journeys led by MNM faculty members, students learn how nonprofit organizations meet the needs and challenges of humankind in those worlds.
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Past SOFE projects have been held on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, in urban areas of Denver, and at nonprofits in Peru, Uganda, Tanzania, Mexico, Belize, Ireland and South Africa. For more information regarding the SOFE, visit Regis.edu/SOFE.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. –Nelson Mandela
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Core Course Descriptions MNM 601 History/Theory/Future of Nonprofits (3) Examines origins and societal roles of nonprofit organizations in a global environment. Addresses types and characteristics of nonprofit organizations, and trends and projections for the future of the third sector. MNM 607 Social Justice & the Nonprofit Sector (3) Focuses on developing a foundation for studying and developing critical thinking skills in the area of social justice. Examines social justice in the third sector and its importance to current and future leaders. Investigates globalization in, and its impact on, community development. MNM 633 Human Resource Leadership in NPO’s (3) Examines the management of people working in nonprofits. Includes hiring policies and practices, compensation, staff development, staff evaluation, collective bargaining, labor/management issues and equal employment opportunity. Considers the role of volunteers; their recruitment, organization and management.
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MNM 644 Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations (3) Focuses on using financial information management for budgeting, finance and investment decision-making in nonprofits. Topics includes acquisition, reporting, taxation, risk management and regulatory issues. Emphasizes unique problems of nonprofits in capital formation, generating earned income, managing endowments, gifts and tax planning. MNM 647 Program Development & Accountability (3) Designs and analyzes programs using research methods and best practices to determine program effectiveness while providing accountability to the organization’s mission. Utilizes evidence-based data to evaluate and develop strategies that produce effective program measurement. MNM 648 Governance and Organizational Leadership (3) Examines accountabilities of nonprofit governance. Analyzes governing board and executive director roles in leading change, decision processes and modeling ethical behaviors. Explores strategies that position the organization for leadership.
MNM 651 research methods for nonprofit orgs (3) Focuses on various research techniques necessary for an effective investigation of social and organizational concerns in the nonprofit sector. MNM 655 leading from within (3) Explores the role of mindfulness in leadership. Investigates practices that connect beliefs and behaviors as it relates to leadership. MNM 670 Financial Resource Development (3) Examines resource development principles, strategies and techniques. Topics include an overview of resource development from foundations, corporations, government and individuals, proposal writing and presentation, direct mail, conducting special events, and individual major gift programs. MNM 677E-W Service Oriented Field Experience (SOFE) (3) Examines the historical factors, political climate and unique contributions of the nonprofit sector in a variety of national and international settings through hands on experience. Students will travel in other countries and/or regions. MNM 684 Leadership & Organizational Development (3) Explores and analyzes the concept of systems thinking and how this paradigm creates new models of leadership for nonprofits. Investigates ideas, strategies and techniques that enable nonprofits to become learning organizations. Emphasizes student’s capacity to provide sustained, creative leadership within their own nonprofit organization. MNM 697 Professional Project (3) Forms the Capstone experience representing the creation, development, improvement or evaluation of a product or program or entails the writing of a thesis. Provides immediate applicability in a specific nonprofit agency or sector of the nonprofit world.
Elective Course Descriptions MNM 603 Conflict Resolution for Leaders (3) Examines effective communication, with an emphasis on understanding oral communication styles. Explores tools and strategies for managing diverse communication styles in nonprofits. Examines theory and practice of resolving conflict, including understanding varying conflict management styles at the intrapersonal, interpersonal and inter-group arenas. MNM 612 Advocacy and the Third Sector (3) Examines the rights and responsibilities of nonprofits in the governmental process. Explores the importance of government to the nonprofit mission, the legal parameters of nonprofit involvement and techniques for establishing an effective presence in the political process. MNM 615 Social Enterprise (3) Analyzes ways a nonprofit maintains an entrepreneurial atmosphere to raise funds and to serve constituents. Identifies the major ethical, legal and managerial issues that surround nonprofit enterprise. MNM 620 Strategic Marketing for Nonprofits (3) Introduces the theories, applications, and tools of social marketing for creating social change in global civil societies. Explores a process to design, plan and execute marketing strategies responsive to the needs of target audiences. MNM 624 Grant Writing (3) Provides an in-depth examination of grant writing, including foundation, federal and corporate proposals. Examines the essentials of a successful grant writing strategy for nonprofit organizations. MNM 675 International Third Sector (3) Examines the role of the third sector throughout the world. Analyzes the legal, political, economic, cultural and organizational climate of the sector in a variety of regions including Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa and Latin America. Evaluates the critical components of non-governmental organizations (NGO) relative to nonprofits in the United States.
MNM vs. MBA A Closer Look
Master of Nonprofit Management
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(MNM)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Prepares graduates for roles as managers and executives in the social sector.
Prepares graduates for roles as managers and executives in the private/business sector.
Curriculum covers all aspects related to the social sector and specifically on essential skills for leading a nonprofit.
Curriculum covers a broad spectrum of subjects related to private business management and growth.
Courses focus on social needs, human and fund resources management, program development and evaluation and analytical methods to support social service organizations to serve humanity and improve social and environmental conditions.
Courses emphasis is on economics, finance, and marketing, to support retail, manufacturing, banking and financial organizations where profit generation is the primary goal.
Lower tuition costs
Higher tuition costs
Graduates learn essential aspects of funding and financial management unique to the social sector. Social sector organizations are usually funded by donations, foundations and government grants.
Students trained in profit generation, which is essential in private businesses operations and growth.
The faculty in most MNM-related programs represent a variety of disciplines; their academic training and research areas may include law, political science, economics, business, sociology, social work and organizational theory.
Most faculty in MBA programs have training primarily in accounting, business, economics, finance, law and organizational theory.
Graduates are hired by social organizations and nonprofits to contribute to social and public good.
Graduates hired by businesses to increase the profits of individual companies.
For individuals determined to make positive changes in the world.
For individuals focused on financial and business career development.
YOUR NEXT STEP
How to Apply Take the next step. Connect with a Regis admissions counselor for information and assistance. Regis Admissions 800.944.7667 Regis.edu/Admissions
Requirements •
A baccalaureate degree in any field of study from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university
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Current or recent significant engagement in a nonprofit organization (paid or volunteer), and/or access to a nonprofit’s leadership team
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Demonstrated ability to achieve graduate-level writing and critical analysis
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Completed graduate application form
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$75 non-refundable application fee (waived for Regis University graduates)
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Degree-bearing transcript, submitted within 30 days of the application
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Completed admission essay
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Current resume
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Faculty interview
Your application is due two weeks prior to the program start date.
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Application Materials & Process
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TranslateYourVision into Reality
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