Nonprofit Leadership Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership provides students with a unique opportunity to pursue a theoretically-based and practically-oriented education in leadership for nonprofit professionals. This program offers current and prospective nonprofit managers the ability to learn up-to-date professional skills and perspectives required to lead their organizations in the rapidly changing and complex nonprofit sector of society.
This program is available in a hybrid format.
Visit the program website for more information.
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Program Overview
The graduate certificate is specifically designed for the experienced nonprofit manager who has an advanced degree or an undergraduate degree and several years of professional experience. However, students who are just beginning their careers may also find value in expanding their skills with this certificate and are encouraged to apply.
Why Study Nonprofit Leadership at Grand Valley?
- GVSU's nonprofit program is accredited by the Nonprofit Academic
Centers Council and is regularly ranked in the top ten nationwide
for graduate programs in nonprofit management.
- Students have access to the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for
Philanthropy, focused on financial, technical, and administrative
support for nonprofits and the philanthropic sector.
- Grand Valley library's endowed Johnson Collection for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, which is one of the country's best collections on the nonprofit sector.
- Students are prepared for lives of active citizenship to contribute to local, regional, national, and global communities.
Career Insights
This tool shows an overview of potential career opportunities for this major. Actual salaries, employment opportunities, and job titles may change over time.
Location & Format
Classes for the program are a combination of online and in-seat on the Grand Rapids Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.
Format:Coursework
The certificate requires the completion of 15 credit hours of graduate study:
- PNH 661 - Nonprofit Management Practice
- PNH 662 - Nonprofit Financial Management
- PNH 663 - Nonprofit Organizations, Advocacy, and Public Policy
- PNH 665 - Nonprofit Boards, Trustees, and Governance
- Three credits of professional workshops or PNH 667 - Fund Development
Application Deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but the fully completed application must be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to the intended semester of enrollment. The $30 nonrefundable application fee is waived if the applicant has previously applied to GVSU.
Admission Requirements
For general requirements for graduate admission, visit Grand Valley State University’s admission section of the online catalog.
Admission into the nonproft leadership program has additional requirements, which are available on this page.
If you have additional questions, please contact our graduate admissions office.
Helpful Links
For More Information
School of Community Leadership and Development[email protected]
288C DeVos Center
(616) 331-6575
Program Director
Donijo Robbins, Ph.D.
(616) 331-6740
“Every time I go to class, I come back to work the next day with five more things that I want to incorporate into my job.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WEST MICHIGAN REFUGEE EDUCATION AND CULTURAL CENTER