Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Certificate Program

Advisor: Ms. Janice Maatman
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance certification can be accomplished two ways at WMU, as a stand-alone certificate with a major and minor in any discipline or as part of a minor in Nonprofit Leadership through the School of Public Affairs and Administration. Information about obtaining the certification by fulfilling the minor requirements for Nonprofit Leadership is found in this catalog under the School of Public Affairs and Administration.

The Nonprofit Leadership program is designed to prepare students for entry-level professional positions in nonprofit organizations. The certificate that the student receives is awarded by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, a national organization of over 70 collaborating universities and national nonprofit organizations. The WMU Nonprofit Leadership director and the national Nonprofit Leadership Alliance office assist students in finding employment and internship programs in nonprofit organizations. Additional information about the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance can be found at the national website
(www.humanics.org) or at the WMU SPPA website (www.wmich.edu/sppa/) or by contacting the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance director at the School of Public Affairs and Administration, (269) 387-8945.

Requirements

The Nonprofit Leadership program is offered in conjunction with a student’s major or minor or as a minor in Nonprofit Leadership. The requirements for certification are as follows:

1. Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Competency Requirements

The student must fulfill the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance competency requirements. These can be fulfilled through course work, workshops, internships, volunteer experience, service learning, or work experience.

2. Extra-Curricular Requirements

The student must fulfill the extra-curricular requirements prescribed by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. These requirements include participation in the Nonprofit Leadership Association, attending the National Management and Leadership Conference, and participating in prescribed workshops.

3. The student must complete the following three courses:

PADM 2000 - Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership Credits: 3 hours
PADM 3000 - Nonprofit Advancement Credits: 3 hours
PADM 4000 - Seminar in Nonprofit Leadership Credits: 3 hours

4. Internship

The student must complete a minimum internship of 300 hours (3 credit hours) in a nonprofit organization. This internship is typically completed in the student’s major or minor, although it can also be supervised by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance director as PADM 4100 Internship in Nonprofit Leadership.

5. Grades

The student must earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses that count toward fulfilling Nonprofit Leadership requirements

1. Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Competency Requirements

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance competency requirements include career development and exploration, communication skills, employability skills, personal attributes, a demonstrated understanding of historical and philosophical foundations of nonprofit organizations, youth and adult development, nonprofit board and committee development, fundraising principles and practices, nonprofit management, nonprofit accounting and financial management, community outreach/marketing and public relations, program planning, implementation and evaluation, risk management and legal issues, volunteer management, information management and technology, ethics and values, and diversity awareness.