This year-long, graduate-level certificate program has been specifically designed for mid-career professionals in nonprofit organizations. Recognizing the complex and challenging set of skills that are necessary to excel in human services management, this program includes five blocks of classes in key subject areas. This certificate program is offered in partnership with Suffolk University in Boston.
Applications for the ’23-24 academic year have now closed!
Please see below for FAQs, and reach out to Nina Walat for any further inquiries.
To watch a virtual Info Session from 2022, please click here.
Table of Contents:
- Who attends this program
- Benefits to participants
- Benefits to employers
- 2023-2024 curriculum
- Classes
- Fees
- Graduate Credit
- University Partners
- More information
Who attends this program?
This program is for nonprofit agency staff working in program management, human resources, administration, and finance capacities. Current participants include program managers, residence directors, project managers, office managers, executive directors, and staff accountants. Registration is open to employees of Providers’ Council members and non-member nonprofit organizations, and experienced professionals who would like to enter the nonprofit sector.
You can hear from student and instructor perspectives on the program from an Info Session in 2022 here.
To be eligible for this program, applicants must have a supervisor recommendation and a bachelor’s degree or 2 years of nonprofit work experience. Admission to the program is contingent upon approval by the university partner and the Providers’ Council.
What does this program offer participants?
- Academic training specific to management, evaluation, administration, and finance responsibilities in a human services nonprofit
- Preparation for career growth opportunities
- A professional network among the participants
- Potential graduate credit waivers to a Master in Public Administration program
What benefits does this program offer to employers?
- Educational curriculum that addresses your organization’s needs
- Great employee benefit for committed staff
- May help retain critical staff
- Can increase the capacity of the organization
- Can develop new leadership candidates
2023-2024 Curriculum and Program Structure
The Certificate in Nonprofit Human Service Management Program consists of five mandatory blocks of classes for the 2023-2024 academic year. The program allows students to explore crucial topics in greater depth. For example, the comprehensive class on Alternative Revenue Strategies for Nonprofits covers a variety of strategies for diversifying an organization’s income and financial sustainability, including grant writing, fundraising, and social entrepreneurship. In this course, students develop a strategic understanding of how nonprofit organizations can integrate diverse revenue streams into a comprehensive revenue strategy in order to effectively achieve their mission in a critical and dynamic fiscal environment. In addition, the program allows for an expanded focus on the important Legal & Ethical Issues for Nonprofits class. These course topics, along with the other courses focusing on Introduction to Nonprofit Human Service Management, Financial Management, Program Evaluation, and Human Resources Management, provide graduates of the Certificate Program at both schools with a well-rounded skill set to be successful managers in today’s human service sector.
Program Schedule
Classes for both cohorts will meet on Fridays, from 9am – 4pm through the academic year. Block I begins early September, 2023 and Block V ends late May, 2024. If you have conflict concerns or would like more information about the program schedule, please contact Nina Walat.
Ways to participate
Students can choose to take part in our online-only or in-person cohort (contingent on University and CDC regulations). Each cohort will fill on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please note that those who would like to take part in the in-person cohort must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before classes start, as per Suffolk University’s regulations.
What are the classes in this program?
The program will provide education in the following areas for the Certificate in Nonprofit Human Service Management:
- Human Services Nonprofit Management
- Human Resource Management
- Nonprofit Financial Management
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Nonprofits
- Information Based Management
- Alternative Revenue Strategies for Nonprofits
Reasons to consider applying to the program:
- The program is a great value — for less than the cost of one graduate class you get several graduate classes, valued between $7,000-$14,000
- Receive training and education that will make you eligible for career advancement
- Develop a professional network to support your career advancement
Fees
The Council strives to offer this important program to its members at an incredible value; less than the cost of one graduate class. Pricing for the 2023-2024 Program will be $3,500 for members and $7,000 for non-members.
There is also a $50 application fee per sponsoring organization, regardless of the number of applications submitted.
Graduate Credit
In additional to developing critical skills sets, those who complete the program may also be eligible to receive credits towards a master’s degree program.
Students must maintain an adequate GPA to qualify for transfer credit towards graduate programs. Additionally, students must have a bachelor’s degree before beginning the program in order to qualify for graduate credit.
Suffolk University allows graduates of the certificate program to apply 12 graduate credit waivers and six credits for graduate course requirement waivers toward a Master in Public Administration. The credit waivers, equivalent to four graduate classes, account for nearly one third of the total credits needed for a degree.
About Our Partnership
Suffolk University’s Moakley Center for Public Management began a human service management certificate program in partnership with the Providers’ Council in 2002. More than 400 future leaders have graduated from the Suffolk University and Providers’ Council program. For more information about Suffolk University’s Moakley Center for Public Management, please visit www.suffolk.edu.
Questions? Please contact Nina Walat, nina@providers.org