This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Program goal

The program mission is to empower community leaders with the knowledge, theory, research and real-world applications needed to creatively solve public issues and shape public policy. The program equips current and future executives, boards, staff and volunteers to lead, govern and manage nonprofit organizations collaboratively, thoughtfully and ethically.

In the graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management program, students gain knowledge and skills in nonprofit governance, management, fundraising, and program development and evaluation that they will need to become leaders and change agents in this rapidly growing sector. The school welcomes degree applicants from any undergraduate major, as entry- and top-level employees in nonprofit organizations have a wide range of backgrounds, including the sciences and humanities, social sciences, and technology. Courses are scheduled in the evening and on weekends with the working professional in mind.

Student learning outcomes

  1. To understand the nonprofit sector’s relationship to the for-profit and government sectors
  2. To know how to build a fundraising and donor communication plan model
  3. To understand how to budget and evaluate the financial management practices of nonprofit organizations
  4. To have the skills to analyze and implement laws impacting nonprofit organizations and their governance

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.

Apply online today.

Admission requirements

Degree: Semester(s) of entry: Deadline dates: Test requirements:
Certificate Fall Feb 1 (early admission); Apr 1 (priority deadline); May 1 (final deadline) None
Spring Oct 1

In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, admission to the certificate program requires the same application procedure used for the M.P.A., with the exception of the standardized examination, which is not required. Further, the standardized exam requirement for the M.P.A. program is waived for certificate students who have a minimum GPA of 3.5 after completion of at least six credits of certificate course work.

Degree requirements

In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, the certificate requires a total of 15 graduate credit hours, comprising four courses in the graduate public administration program and one elective. The elective may be from the public administration curriculum or from elsewhere within the school or university.

Curriculum requirements

Required courses

Course Title Hours
PADM 650Principles of Nonprofit Management3
PADM 656Fund Development for the Nonprofit Sector3
PADM 659Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations3
PADM 661Nonprofit Law, Governance and Ethics3
Total Hours12

Elective

Course Title Hours
Select one of the following:3
Effective Managerial Communications
Planned Organizational Change
Power, Influence and Organizational Competence
Topic Seminar
Intro to Public Service and Administration
Critical and Creative Thinking for Public Managers
Politics and Economics
Comparative Public Institutions
Survey Research Methods
Government Management Models
Public Human Resource Management
Financial Management in Government
Organizational Behavior and Management in Government
Public Sector Budgeting
Applied Research Methods
Empirical Analysis for Evidence-Based Governance (PADM 623 is a prerequisite for PADM 624)
Policy Insights: Assessing Public Policies
Intergovernmental Relations
Workshop in Policy Analysis
Environmental Policy and Administration
Strategic Planning and Management in the Public Sector
Organic Human Resources Management
Grants Management
Administrative Law
Program Design and Evaluation
Nonprofit Advocacy and Government Relations
Community Power Dynamics
Advanced Topics in Revenue and Taxation
Local Government Administration
Comparative Public Administration
Leadership in the Public Sector
Governmental Administrative Decision-making Processes
Advanced Public Human Resources Management
Administrative Ethics
Capstone: Bridging Theory and Practice
Topics in Public Administration
One graduate three credit-hour course from elsewhere in the Wilder School or elsewhere in the university (with approval from the program chair)
Total Hours3

The minimum total of graduate credit hours required for this certificate is 15.

Students who complete the requirements for this program will receive a Certificate in Nonprofit Management.

Contact
Nancy Stutts, Ph.D.
Associate professor and graduate program director
nbstutts@vcu.edu
(804) 827-2164

Additional contact
Wilder School recruitment
wsrecruit@vcu.edu
(804) 827-0364