What You'll Learn
Through this certificate, you’ll develop the practical skills and strategic insight needed to lead and manage nonprofit organizations effectively. You’ll gain expertise across key areas essential to mission-driven success, including:
- Accounting and finance for governmental and nonprofit organizations, such as budgeting, reporting, strategic planning, program analysis, fund accounting, general and revenue funds, and capital project funds.
- The tenets of nonprofit leadership, including mission statement definition, managerial and financial controls, organizational capacity, fundraising and revenue generation, marketing, volunteer management, governance and board of directors, operations, and sustainability.
- Fundraising principles and practices, such as grant writing, prospect research, development office organization, giving motivations, communications, capital campaigns, and gift planning.
Courses
The Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate requires four courses. You may choose any from the nonprofit management certificate course group in the certificate course search.
Searching and Registering for Courses
Available course options vary by term. You can browse options for fall, spring, or summer in the certificate course search within the DCE Course Search & Registration platform
Our Community at a Glance
Going back to school doesn’t have to mean putting your life on hold. We’ve designed our courses and certificates to give you the flexibility to pace your studies to fit your schedule.
-
36
Average Age
-
83%
Working Full Time
-
29%
Students Outside the U.S.
-
1.5 years
Average Time to Complete
Earning Your Certificate
Most of our certificates can be completed online and no formal application process is required to pursue a certificate.
To meet the requirements for the certificate, you must:
- Complete the four certificate courses for graduate credit.
- Earn at least a B grade in each course.
- Complete the courses within three years.
Learn more about pursuing a certificate and the process of requesting your certificate.
Stack Your Certificate Into a Degree
Stackable credential pathways allow you to earn multiple credentials by completing courses that meet overlapping requirements. In the short term, you can earn your nonprofit management certificate. Once completed, those four courses may count toward either a master’s degree in management or a master’s in museum studies.
This stackable pathway offers an efficient, cost-effective way to earn short-term credentials to help fill immediate skill gaps and acquire specialized knowledge while building a foundation for long-term success that showcases your expertise in the field.
Learn how to plan a stackable credential pathway.
Nonprofit [management] is a totally different ballgame. I treat my nonprofit, the National Center, as a business. And I think all the things I've learned in the classes at the Extension School have helped me build upon that philosophy.
Cost
Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
| Our Tuition (2025–26 rate) | $3,440 per course |
|---|---|
| Average Tuition of Peer Institutions | $5,476 per course |
| Average Total Cost | $13,760 |
