The USC Price School of Public Policy has established a new Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management degree. Building upon the Price School’s longstanding commitment to working across government, business and the nonprofit sector to find solutions to critical public problems, as well as its highly respected and nationally ranked academic programs in philanthropy and nonprofit management, the Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program will provide current and future generations of nonprofit leaders with the knowledge and expertise to lead high-performing nonprofit organizations. The program will enroll its inaugural class in the summer of 2015.
“The Price School is exceedingly well positioned to contribute depth, understanding, and value to the study and practice of philanthropy, nonprofit management, and social innovation,” said Price Dean Jack H. Knott. “With this new Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program, we offer yet another distinctive avenue for making a difference in communities, both here and abroad.”
The new degree reflects the increasing role of nonprofits and philanthropy in public service delivery, policy advocacy, community change, and social innovation and impact, and builds upon the school’s research expertise and professional connections housed in the Price School’s Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy and Sol Price Center for Social Innovation.
“The challenges of leadership in the nonprofit sector are fundamentally different from the other two sectors due its mission focus, the complexity of multiple funding sources, the unique legal and regulatory environment, and the array of interactions with government and business,” said James M. Ferris, the Emery Evans Olson Chair in Nonprofit Entrepreneurship and Public Policy and director of The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy. “The Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program will provide greater depth for many students pursuing careers in philanthropy, nonprofit management, and social innovation and it will enrich the offerings for students in our other highly ranked degree programs at the master’s level, particularly in public policy, urban planning, and public administration.”
The program curriculum will focus on critical components of leadership for social impact: from board governance, financial management and fund development to economic strategy, program evaluation and strategic planning. In addition to its distinct academic curriculum, the program will allow students to engage with high-performing philanthropic and nonprofit organizations in the Los Angeles area through a culminating capstone course. With over 35,000 nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles – including many organizations with hybrid governing structures – the Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program is unique in its ability to provide students with dynamic opportunities to work alongside local foundations and nonprofit organizations.
Upon completion of the program, students will have a rich understanding of the nonprofit sector, as well as the skills and leadership capacity required to effectively navigate the unique challenges of making a social impact in today’s world. Graduates of the program will go on to effectively lead organizations that make a difference – service delivery nonprofits, advocacy organizations, social enterprises, or philanthropic institutions.
Price School alumni, many of whom currently serve in high-level positions within the nonprofit sector, welcome this important addition to the school’s degree offerings, recognizing the impact that the program will have in preparing the next generation of nonprofit leaders.
“As a Price alumna who has spent decades working in the nonprofit sector, I am thrilled that the Price School has developed the new Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program,” said Irene Hirano Inouye, President of the U.S.-Japan Council and Chair of the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees. “This program will be of tremendous benefit to anyone working in the nonprofit sector, leading philanthropic organizations, or serving as a nonprofit board member or volunteer.”
The program is designed for both professionals with several years of work experience in the nonprofit sector as well as those seeking to establish a career in this area. The Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management degree will be offered as a one-year cohort program for students enrolled full-time — enabling working professionals at various career stages to dedicate a year for in-depth study. Additionally, students can pursue the degree part-time over two years, complemented with internships.
The Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management degree will serve as a critical investment in the future leadership of the nonprofit sector, which is the third largest workforce in the nation, employing approximately 10% of the U.S. workforce. The program will provide the next generation of nonprofit executives with the skills, training, and leadership capacity required to replace the baby boomers retiring from prominent positions at local and national nonprofit organizations across the country.
“To support the continued advancement and professionalization of the nonprofit sector, we must ensure that the next generation of nonprofit leaders has the technical, managerial, analytical, and leadership skills required to navigate the unique challenges of nonprofit organizations,” said Fred Ali, President and CEO of the Weingart Foundation. “The Price School’s new Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management degree will do just that, benefiting not only the nonprofit sector but more importantly, the communities and people that it serves.”