Certificate in Nonprofit Administration
Download the Nonprofit Administration Certificate Brochure (requires Adobe® Reader®)
The 5-course graduate-level certificate in Nonprofit Administration is for working professionals and graduate students interested in a specialized nonprofit focus. It can be completed in one year of part-time study or in combination with another graduate program, including the MGA.Fels has a long tradition of training nonprofit leaders and, in recent years, nearly one-third of Fels graduates have gone on to work in nonprofit organizations.
Courses are taught by distinguished nonprofit leaders with expertise in fundraising, budgeting, marketing, human resources, board development, and advocacy. Because the certificate classes are also classes within the Fels Master of Governmental Administration program, students are quickly welcomed into the extended Fels family of faculty, alumni, students, and staff.
Certificate Requirements
To complete the certificate program in Nonprofit Administration, students must complete three required courses and two electives. Each course requires approximately 36 hours of in-class time and meets once per week, either on Saturdays or weeknights. The three required courses are:
GAFL 528 Marketing for Nonprofits or GAFL 521 Fundraising for Nonprofits
GAFL 722 Budgeting and Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Entities or GAFL 729 Financial Management of Nonprofit Institutions
GAFL 749: Leading Nonprofit Organizations
In addition to the core, students must take two electives. The Fels Nonprofit Certificate Director will advise certificate students on elective courses based on the students' area of interest. Among the courses currently offered from which students may meet the elective requirements are:
GAFL 520: Nonprofits and Social Entrepreneurism
GAFL 521: Fundraising for Nonprofits
GAFL 625: Human Resource Management for Nonprofit and Government Organizations
GAFL 729 Financial Management of Nonprofit Institutions
GAFL 735: Performance Management
GAFL 748: Foundations and Grant Management
GAFL 750: Advocacy, Lobbying, and Government Relations in the Nonprofit Sector
GAFL 753: Project Management
Students may take one elective anywhere in the university with the pre-approval of the Fels advisor but must complete one of their electives at Fels.
Admissions Requirements
All applicants should apply online. Click here to apply.
Certificate applicants must have a bachelor's degree and be admittend to the certificate program by application through the Fels Admissions Office. There are three options for enrolling in the certificate program:
Working Professionals
Working professionals can apply to the certificate program by completing an interview and submitting 3 letters of recommendation, official copies of undergraduate transcripts and any graduate coursework, a 1-page personal statement, an application form, and a $70 application fee. (GREs are not required)
Penn Students in Other Programs
Penn graduate students can apply to the certificate program by completing an interview and submitting official undergraduate transcripts, a 1-page personal statement, an application form, and a $70 application fee. Letters of recommendation may be transferred from the student’s primary program. One class may be transferred from the student's primary school, pending approval from a Fels advisor.
Fels MGA students
Fels MGA students can apply to the certificate program by submitting an application and personal statement (recommendation letters and transcripts are not required).
Admissions Deadlines & Fees
Students may begin the certificate program in the fall, spring, or summer term.
Tuition and general fees for the 2007-2008 academic year for the School of Arts & Sciences are $4,509 per course. The tuition rate may vary for students enrolled in degree programs in other Penn departments.
For more information regarding the Fels certificate program, contact Michelle Garcia-Navarro, Admissions Director, at garciana@sas.upenn.edu. For information regarding courses or registration, please contact Karen Kille, Student Services Coordinator, at karener@sas.upenn.edu.