The University of Montana , Office for Civic Engagement, and the Montana Nonprofit Association are proud to offer online short courses in nonprofit administration specifically designed for busy professionals! Practicing administrators and others interested in building skills relating to nonprofit administration are encouraged to register.

New this year! The Online Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Administration will offer students education and specific training in the field on nonprofit administration. Through a set of core courses and an internship, students will combine theoretical learning about nonprofit practices such as grantwriting, strategic planning, fundraising and human resource management with hands-on experience at a nonprofit organization. Students will take at least 12-credits from among a series of 1- and 2-credit online courses in addition to completing a 4-credit internship course. All courses must be taken for graded credit, and we cannot retroactively grant credit for courses already completed on a non-credit basis .

Please note the following information:

• Each course will involve approximately 5 hours of work each week: 2.5 hours of online contact and 2.5 hours of study/homework. The one exception to this is Grantwriting, which, due to its intricacies, may require up to ten hours a week over the six-week duration of the course.
• Required textbooks are indicated in the course descriptions below. Students should purchase textbooks before the first class meeting. Textbooks may be purchased online (i.e., Amazon, etc.).

Six-week Courses (one credit):

PSCI 460: Strategic Planning highlights the importance of leadership for realizing an organization's fullest potential. It also introduces strategic planning--a process by which staff members can bring their shared vision of success into being. The reading assignments are designed to increase knowledge of strategic planning and leadership, and the writing assignments are designed to build personal skill and confidence by asking you to draft a brief strategic plan. There is no required textbook for this course. Course meets September 28 - November 6, 2009. Instructor: Jesse Munro, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science at The University of Montana. Available for 1 undergraduate or graduate credit.

PSCI 460: Grantwriting teaches students how and where to look for foundation and government funding sources; and the fundamentals of writing effective grant proposals. The required textbook is The Everything Grant Writing Book: Create the Perfect Proposal to Raise the Funds You Need (Everything Series), 2nd Edition , by Nancy Burke Smith and Judy Tremore. Course meets November 9 – December 18, 2009. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D. Available for 1 undergraduate or graduate credit.

PSCI 460: Introduction to Nonprofit Board Management--Building the Effective Board explores the components inherent in creating and maintaining a governing body that promotes a healthy and successful nonprofit organization. Critical governance, leadership, and management elements are studied including: strategic planning; policy-making; fundraising and financial roles and responsibilities; strategies for board recruitment, orientation and evaluatoin; and Executive Director/Board relationships. The required textbook is The Nonprofit Handbook, 5th Edition , by Gary M. Grobman, published by White Hat Communications. Course meets January 25 - March 5, 2010. Instructor: Terry Profota, Adjunct Professor in the College of Business at Montana State University and president of Sage Solutions consulting. Available for 1 undergraduate or graduate credit.

PSC 483/PSCI 460: Introduction to Fundraising teaches students the basics of fundraising, including annual fund, major gifts, capital campaigns, plannned giving, grants and special events. The course will also give students the foundation and tools needed to implement these plans into action. By the end of the course students will have developed at least one major fundraising plan focusing on one area. The required textbook is Fundraising Basics: A Complete Guide by Barbara Ciconte and Jeanne Jacob. A suggested, but not required , textbook is Conducting a Successful Fundraising Program , by Kent E. Dove. This coures is offered two times: PSC 483: May 18 - June 26, 2009, and PSCI 460: March 8 - April 16, 2010. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D. Available for 1 undergraduate or graduate credit.

PSCI 460: Introduction to Financial Management teaches the basics of financial management for nonprofits. This course will explore special issues related to nonprofit financials including budgeting, reporting, tax issues and accounting, focusing primarily on financial statements, continuous budgeting and executive processes. The required textbook is Management Control in Nonprofit Organizations by Robert N. Anthony and David W. Young. Course meets April 19 - May 28, 2010. Instructor: Lisa Swallow, Business Technology Faculty, University of Montana-College of Technology. Available for 1 undergraduate or graduate credit.

Ten-week Courses (two credits):

PSCI 402: Volunteer Management introduces students to the process of recruiting, retaining, and rewarding volunteers at a nonprofit organization. The course will be beneficial to anyone interested in learning about specific volunteer management issues at nonprofit organizations. This course will explore special issues related to nonprofit volunteer management including recruitment and retraining volunteers, supervision, evaluation and special topics. Required textbooks are Leadership and Management of Volunteer Programs: A Guide for Volunteer Administrators by James C. Fisher and Kathleen M. Cole (available on Amazon.com and other sites); and The New Breed: Understanding & Equipping the 21 st Century Volunteer by Jonathan McKee and Thomas W. McKee (also available at Amazon, etc.). One additional, suggested (but not required) textbook is The Volunteer Recruitment Book by Susan J. Ellis. Course meets August 17 – October 23, 2009. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D. Available for 2 undergraduate or graduate credits.

PSCI 404: Ethics and Legal Issues introduces students to the challenge of ethics in public service and the legal issues associated with serving the public. It is suggested that every public servant has a moral obligation to strive for excellence in the performance of their public duties. The question is, should this moral obligation also involve one's personal life? This course focuses on developing an understanding of ethics and applying that understanding to work-life situations. Students are introduced to the concepts of ethics and morals; integrity; compromise; ethical citizenship and civic virtue. All of these concepts are essential when discussing the ethical challenges in public service. This course provides a basis for developing an understanding and applying the theories of ethics to the role of a public servant. The required textbook is the Ethics Challenge in Public Service by Carol W. Lewis and Stuart C. Gilman, Jossey-Bass, Second Edition, ISBN 0-7879-6756-4. Course meets November 2, 2009 – January 8, 2010. Instructor: Jesse Munro, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science at the University of Montana. Available for 2 undergraduate or graduate credits.

PSCI 405: Advocacy and Public Policy is intended for students and professionals interested in learning the concepts related to nonprofit advocacy and public policy. The course will examine how policy influences nonprofits as well as how nonprofits impact policy. It will address the role of nonprofit organizations in the public policy process including advocacy strategies and techniques and examine in turn how laws shape nonprofit involvement in that process. Required textbooks are Nonprofit Management by Michael J. Worth (available on Amazon and others) and The Public Sector by Jan-Erik Lane (also available on Amazon, etc.). Suggested (but not required) is Managing and Measuring Social Enterprises by Rob Paton. Course meets January 11 – March 19, 2010. Instructor: Cindy Briggs, Ph.D. Available for 2 undergraduate or graduate credits.

PSCI 403: Program Planning is intended for students and professionals interested in learning about nonprofit program planning, including conducting needs assessments and other methods of community outreach; staffing; budgeting; marketing; evolving programs; and the various methods of evaluating programs, both during and after initial program planning. The required textbook is Field Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Marketing and Evaluation by Carter MacNamara, published by Authenticity Consulting and available online. Course meets March 22 – May 28, 2010. Instructor: Marian Palaia, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science at the University of Montana. Available for 2 undergraduate or graduate credits.

PSCI 401: Human Resources introduces students to the field of human resource management in public and nonprofit organizations. It focuses on the knowledge and skills required by both personnel officers and those who manage personnel on a daily basis. The course provides a solid base in developing an understanding of human resource management and applying that understanding to work-life situations and for those considering a career in supervision/management. The course also provides an overview of the numerous federal laws, executive orders, and court decisions that have shaped the field of human resource management. A solid understanding of these concepts and laws is essential to operating successfully in the field of human resource management. The required textbook is Human Resources for Public and Nonprofit Organizations by Joan E. Pynes, Published by Jossey-Bass, ISBN: 978-0-470-33185-9. This course is offered two times: June 1 - August 7, 2009, and May 31 – August 6, 2010. Instructor: Jesse Munro, Adjunct Instructor in Political Science at the University of Montana. Available for 2 undergraduate or graduate credits.

Internship (four credits):

PSCI 498: The internship component of the certificate program includes at least 350 hours of volunteer or paid hours working directly with a nonprofit organization. If the student works at a nonprofit organization, professional work that is aligned with the program focus will qualify as internship credit. Students will complete various reflection activities, including a formal, 10-page paper, documenting their learning throughout the internship experience. Available for 4 undergraduate or graduate credits.

For internship syllabus, or for more information on these courses or the Professional Certificate, please visit http://www.dhc.umt.edu/oce/nonprofitadmin.html or contact Marian Palaia at marian.palaia@mso.umt.edu or 406-243-2586 or Andrea Vernon at andrea.vernon@mso.umt.edu or 406-243-5159.

Co-sponsored by:

.