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Nonprofit Management


Meet the increasingly challenging demands of nonprofit administration and learn how to improve your organization’s effectiveness with a comprehensive, flexible online program designed for working adults.

 
 

Lead the Way to Justice and Change

Learn essential tools and frameworks of nonprofit management, including board development, financial management, fundraising, marketing, program evaluation, and nonprofit law. All taught through a cutting-edge program that equips you with the skills to carry out your mission and support your cause and community in the most effective ways. Aligned with the program’s mission, you can look forward to strengthening your skills, building connections, and becoming change agents for a more equitable and just nonprofit sector and world.

ETPL listed

Listed on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) for Alameda/Contra Costa County

Best Online Schools

Ranked among the Top Consensus Best Value Online Schools for 2023


Enjoy engaging, interactive online class sessions that directly apply to your day-to-day work. All taught by professors and instructors with substantial experience in all aspects of the nonprofit field, from board planning and fundraising to organizational development and financial and personnel management.


As a new executive director that did not have any coaching, this program has been very helpful with helping me to better understand the technical side of nonprofit management. There are lots of resources that the professors give to students, and you can refer to them in your daily nonprofit activities.

Sarah ChavezNonprofit Management Graduate

With the Common Good at Heart

Do you want a rewarding career that enables you to serve others and improve lives? Working in the nonprofit sector allows you the opportunity to work on behalf of a cause or a mission that is personally significant to you and of great value to society. As employment in the nonprofit sector continues to grow, so does the need for qualified, knowledgeable nonprofit management and staff.


Work on behalf of a cause or a mission that is personally significant to you and of great value to society.

Employment Opportunities

Opportunities for employment in the nonprofit sector abound in a number of "sub-sectors," included among them:


Health and Human Services


Education and Research Institutions, Social and Legal Services (including family and child care-related agencies)


Arts and Culture (including theatres, music organizations, museums, botanical and zoological gardens, public broadcasting, etc.)


Environmental Organizations, Religious Institutions (also known as "Faith-Based Organizations")


Foundations (public and private)


Occupational Outlook

$77K Salary

The median annual wage for social and community service managers was $77,030 in 2023.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

9% Growth

Employment of social and community service managers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average occupation.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

1.5 Million

More than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations are registered in the U.S.
– Urban Institute

Reach New Heights

Through coursework in the Nonprofit Management program, you’ll acquire a comprehensive understanding of the latest best practices in nonprofit management and frameworks that will help you build more equitable, effective organizations. As a result, you’ll be qualified to serve in a variety of influential roles:

Executive Director

Strategic Planner

Development Director or Fund Developer

Marketing or Communications Director

Grant Writer

Volunteer Coordinator/Manager

Program Manager or Supervisor

Board Development Specialist or Consultant

Finance Director or Budget Manager

Organization Development Consultant



With this comprehensive set of practical courses, I have developed a strong, broad framework of understanding and skills to advance my work with the nonprofit sector. It is an extraordinary resource.

Rebecca BrownNonprofit Management Graduate

Cal State East Bay's Nonprofit Management program provided invaluable knowledge and skills that enable me to serve effectively on a Board of Directors of a community-based organization. This program is so essential to non-profit organizations that I highly recommend it to all Board of Directors or staff. At our organization, board and key staff members were trained.

Bang NguyenNonprofit Management Graduate

sharma

I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the CSUEB faculty, staff, and students. This certificate program is akin to an in-depth orientation to the nonprofit sector and made me aware of the special needs of nonprofit organizations. I would highly recommend the CSUEB Nonprofit Management Certificate program!

Radhika SharmaNonprofit Management Graduate

As a Cal State East Bay graduate, you can look forward to leaving the program with:


A thorough grounding in all aspects of nonprofit management, including board development, financial management, fundraising, marketing, program evaluation, and nonprofit law.


The skills and confidence to meet the evolving demands of nonprofit administration and your existing day-to-day challenges head-on.


The ability to foster a stronger pool of administrators, staff, and volunteers.


A Certificate Program with Options

The Nonprofit Management Certificate Program is conveniently offered online.

To earn your Certificate in Nonprofit Management, you will need to complete eight required courses and three elective courses.


Required Courses

Courses are not sequential and may be taken in any order you choose.

Course schedules, including the term courses are offered in, are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on courses currently being offered, view the Course Schedule.

Course Units Fall Spring Summer
EXTX 550: Board Development and Governance
1.2 CEUs
X
X
EXTX 551: Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations 1.2 CEUs X X
EXTX 552: Fundraising Fundamentals 1.2 CEUs X X
EXTX 553: Marketing and Communications for Nonprofit Organizations 2 CEUs X X
EXTX 554: Program Evaluation
1.2 CEUs
X X
EXTX 555: Law of Nonprofit Organizations 1 CEUs X X
EXTX 556: Ethics of Nonprofit Organizations
1.2 CEUs
X X
EXTX 557: Leadership Skills for the Nonprofit Professional
1.2 CEUs
X X

Elective Courses

Course Units Fall Spring Summer
EXTX 560: Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
0.60 CEU
X
EXTX 561: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations 0.60 CEU X X
EXTX 562: Advocacy and Lobbying for Nonprofits 0.60 CEU X X
EXTX 563: Proposal Writing
0.60 CEU
X
X
EXTX 564: Program Development
0.60 CEU
X
EXTX 565: Effective Social Media for Nonprofits
0.60 CEU
X

EXTX 566: Creating a Culture of Change: Fostering DEI in the Workplace

1.2 CEU X X

EXTX 567: Using Data to Measure Equitable Impact

0.60 CEU

X X

EXTX 568: Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Leaders

 0.60 CEU

X X

EXTX 569: Fundamentals of Community Engagement for Nonprofit Leaders 

 0.60 CEU 

X

EXTX 580: Advanced Fundamentals of Financial Management

1.2 CEU X

EXTX 581: Nonprofit Consulting 

 0.60 CEU  X

EXTX 585: Intro to Change Management

 0.60 CEU X

EXTX 700: Advanced Fundraising

1.2 CEU X X

Amira Barger

MBA

Amira Barger serves as a leader in nonprofit management and has done so for the last 14 years. The foundation for her leadership and community-building was set at an early age when her family moved from San Diego, CA to the tiny Pacific Island of Guam, USA to serve as missionaries in the 90’s. Barger was intrigued by the budding ideas around what would one day be coined “collective impact” and her upbringing entrenched the desire to live a life of service. She decided to use her skills to continue forward movement in the nonprofit sector. She received a BA in Marketing from Vanguard University, an MBA from Letourneau University, and invested in her professional development by receiving both the CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) and CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designations. In addition, Barger serves on the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration’s Board as Chair and part of the External Relations Committee. She's also an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, the Public Relations Society of America, and the American Public Health Association.

Stephanie Casenza

MS, APR

Teaching keeps you fresh and helps you stay current in your field. I enjoy introducing others to the depth and breadth of development and helping them find their niche in the field.”

Stephanie Casenza has devoted her career to helping advance the mission and vision of a broad range of organizations as a professional and a volunteer. Moving easily between the business and not-for-profit worlds, she has held management, development, and public relations roles for advertising/public relations agencies and for social services, higher education, healthcare, and arts organizations throughout California. Casenza has taught courses at University of California, San Diego Extension; at San Diego State University; and Nonprofit Management Solutions in San Diego. In addition, she has served on more than a dozen nonprofit boards. She currently serves as director of development for LSS of Northern California, which provides supportive housing services to formerly homeless individuals, families, and emancipated foster youth in multiple counties.

She earned a master’s degree in executive leadership from the School of Business at University of San Diego and her undergraduate degree in journalism from San Diego State University. She also received the universal accreditation for public relations from the Public Relations Society of America and is a candidate for the CFRE.

Jacqueline Chan

MPH

Jacqueline Chan has dedicated her career to help nonprofit and public agencies use data to drive equitable impact and inclusive community development. She currently serves as the Director of Data and Evaluation at United Way Bay Area where she oversees organizational efforts to measure impact and use data insights to drive decision-making. Chan has over a decade of experience in applied research and evaluation spanning the fields of public health, education, housing, sustainable development, and workforce development. She strongly believes equity and empowerment are critical for the transformational change needed to disrupt the cycles of poverty and injustice.

Chan holds a Master of Public Health degree in Global Epidemiology from Emory University.

Douglas Cook

CPA, MPA

Douglas Cook, CPA, MPA is Principal of Cook & Company, an accounting firm specializing in performing independent audits of nonprofit organizations. He has nearly two decades of professional accounting experience and has become a well-respected specialist in nonprofit accounting and tax issues. Cook has also taught at San Francisco State University and Golden Gate University.

Dwight Dickerson

JD

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

I sincerely believe as professionals that we have a duty to bring along the next generation of professionals. The joy of teaching is to inspire students to move forward with the desire of learning and doing and not be afraid to take risks.Life is not about the ultimate destination but the journey getting there and what we experience and learn along the way.

Dwight Dickerson, Esq. is the Director of the Paralegal Studies Program at California State University, East Bay and a former member of the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission and an active member of and presenter for The American Association for Paralegal Education.

He has been a member of the faculty of the CSUEB Paralegal Studies Program since 1991, and is an instructor of Contract Law and Nonprofit Law on the CSUEB Hayward Hills campus. Dickerson graduated from Brandeis University with honors majoring in American Urban Studies and received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School. He has been an active member of the State Bar of California since December 1977, specializing in real estate, consumer business, and non-profit law related matters.

Tamara Hamai

PhD

Dr. Tamara Hamai is president of Hamai Consulting and has been working to support children and families for 20 years. She received extensive formal training in human development, research, evaluation, and statistical methods while earning her MA (2006) and PhD (2015) in Applied Developmental Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. She leads and oversees every one of Hamai Consulting’s contracts. She has held positions in research and evaluation at various non-profit organizations and public agencies serving children and youth, such as First 5 Monterey County, Los Angeles Universal Preschool, Los Angeles County Children’s Planning Council, and the Kinship Center Adoption Clinic. In addition to teaching at CSUEB, Dr. Hamai has taught research methods and statistics at CSU Monterey Bay in the undergraduate Psychology and Master’s in Social Work programs for the past 3 years, and has an additional 7 years of experience teaching in the Psychology Departments at CSU Dominguez Hills, Woodbury University, Mount Saint Mary’s College, and Argosy University.

Dr. Hamai is a recognized expert in areas related to parenting, adverse childhood experiences, and family violence. She has been featured by KTLA, KPIX CBS San Francisco, ABC 7 News, NBC Radio, American Psychological Association, Western Psychological Association, Institute for Violence, Abuse, and Trauma, American Evaluation Association, National Head Start Association, and several blogs. She co-authored a chapter on Adverse Childhood Experiences with one of the original authors of the ACE Study, Dr. Vincent Felitti (2020), and is a reviewer and on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody, & Child Development, and Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma.

Amy Hsieh

MFA

Amy Hsieh is a nonprofit fundraising professional with over 20 years of experience successfully developing partnerships with corporations, foundations and government agencies. With a commitment to helping nonprofits advance their institutional funding strategy, Hsieh has a solid background in all aspects of grants management, including grant writing, prospect research, program and partnership development, evaluation, and budget development.

Hsieh's expertise spans the fields of health and human services, education and youth development, employment and vocational skills training, behavioral health, housing and homelessness, and HIV/AIDS services.

Hsieh has managed institutional fundraising for various nonprofits, including Bay Area Community Health, Samaritan House, and the Health Trust. She currently serves on the boards of the Eating Disorders Resource Center and the San Francisco Unified Lion’s Club, enjoys hiking and healthy living, and is committed to helping nonprofits magnify their impact.

Hsieh has a BA from Yale University and an MFA in Studio from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Heather Imboden

MCP

Heather Imboden is a founding principal of Communities in Collaboration, a woman-owned evaluation and community engagement consultancy based in Oakland, California. Imboden combines her skills in facilitation, outreach, and analysis with her expertise in community and economic development to lift community voice in partnership with diverse stakeholder groups for nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies. Imboden’s work often focuses on advancing equity at the intersection of public education, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization. She is also committed to local capacity development, striving to share her knowledge of the tools of engagement so that communities have a greater ability to advocate on behalf of themselves. In addition to her experience in community development, Imboden’s background includes more than 15 years of experience in marketing and communications for nonprofits.

Irene Koehler

BA

My goal is to teach you to use social media in support of your unique needs and objectives, not force you to use it like everyone else.

A respected social media marketing and personal branding expert, Irene Koehler has helped thousands improve business results by strategically developing marketing strategies and personal brands. Driven to support others' success, she works closely with clients to understand their objectives and challenges to create a unique plan tailored to fit their needs. Koehler is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, and strategist, and she also teaches social media marketing courses at San Francisco State University and Cal State East Bay. Connect with Koehler at Irene Koehler Consulting on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, Koehler has a lifelong passion for community service and has held leadership positions in civic, cultural, educational, and non-profit organizations.

Joel Mackey

MS

My favorite part of teaching is the moment when the chemistry in the class reaches a crescendo of group interaction that leads to a heightened appreciation of learning together.

Joel Mackey is an attorney currently serving as the Executive Director of the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund, aka the Ed Fund. He is also an instructor with University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University and California State University East Bay. Mackey is also a graduate student at Northwestern University seeking a master’s degree in mental health counseling.

Prior to joining the Ed Fund, he worked as the legal and policy analyst with Making Waves in Richmond, CA. Previous to Making Waves, Mackey served fourteen years as the Executive Director of East Bay Habitat for Humanity and nearly four years as the Executive Director of Harbor House in Oakland. Before embarking upon a career in the nonprofit sector, Mackey was employed as an attorney in law firms in both San Francisco and Chicago. He maintains his license to practice law in both California and Illinois. His legal expertise in nonprofit legal issues augments his nonprofit legal advising and consulting practice focusing on group facilitation, strategic planning, organizational development, and mediation services.

Mackey’s nonprofit experience includes service on numerous nonprofit boards, including East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, Berkeley Community Law Center, the Homeless Action Center, Consumer Credit Counseling, the People’s Credit Union, and the Family Independence Initiative.

Mackey is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University. He completed his undergraduate studies at Trinity College.

Mackey’s avocation is coaching youth sports. He is currently the head coach of the girl’s varsity basketball team at Making Waves High School. He has also coached boy’s high school basketball and youth soccer for more years than he can remember.

Reva Patwardhan

BA

I firmly believe that amazing things can happen when people with a shared purpose find a way to work together through the bumps and bruises of nonprofit teamwork and leadership. I enjoy helping people find their new ways of managing, collaborating and leading to realize that potential.

Reva Patwardhan, founder of Greater Good Coaching, specializes in helping nonprofit leaders build careers and teams that make a big impact, without burning anyone out. She's worked with leaders up, down, and across the organizational ladder: From CEOs and executive directors to senior and middle managers to front line organizers.

Patwardhan has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector as a fundraiser, communications director, lobbyist, board member, facilitator, coach, and diversity trainer. She also facilitates interpersonal learning groups with the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She serves as chair of the Board of Directors at Rethink Media. She serves on the coaching and consulting faculties of the SEIU BOLD Center, Leaderspring, and LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics). She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and a certified Integral Coach.

Melissa Perez

BBA

Melissa Perez is a senior consultant at Glavin Jacobson Inc. (GJI), a nonprofit management consulting firm that helps nonprofits of all sizes navigate the challenges they face as they grow. Since joining GJI, Perez has helped clients secure their first really large gifts from donors and increase volunteer leadership involvement. Her proudest achievement is creating a strong culture of philanthropy among staff and volunteer leadership that work on behalf of her client organizations.

In addition to fundraising experience with annual fund, major gifts, and foundation and corporate grants, Perez has expertise in complex corporate partnerships and management of the development office team. Throughout her career, Perez has interwoven volunteerism with philanthropy to create meaningful experiences for fellow employees, board members, and funding partners.

Perez’s career spans the non-profit and corporate communities from United Way, the San Francisco Opera and AT&T to small non-profit start-ups. She has served in staff and board roles and is currently the president of the board of directors of Development Executives Roundtable (DER). Perez’s board experience provides additional insight into corporate partnerships, volunteer engagement, and board leadership.

Perez graduated from The University of Texas with a BBA in Marketing.

Renee Rubin Ross

Program Director, PhD

In our time, non-profit organizations do critical, meaningful work. It’s exciting to give students tools to lead, support, and amplify the accomplishments of those organizations.

Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, principal of Renee Rubin Ross Consulting, is a nationally recognized leader in board and organizational development and strategy. Her firm offers strategic planning processes, facilitation, and coaching for social sector organizations.

Dr. Ross teaches Board Development and Grant Proposal Writing for the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. She is a board member of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management and governance chair.

Committed to racial equity in the nonprofit sector, Dr. Ross supports organizations and individuals in practices that celebrate and amplify diverse voices and perspectives. Dr. Ross utilizes inclusive, participatory facilitation and training methods that structure conversations to surface thinking, build investment, and engage the wisdom of the group.

Between 2011 and 2014, Dr. Ross served as a program officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation, working with more than 15 non-profit organizations to focus their message for greater alignment with grant guidelines and share grantees’ stories and successes. Her doctorate in education from New York University explored parent participation in schools.

Shaké Sulikyan

BA

Making the world a better place is my mission in life.

Shaké Sulikyan leads with a growth-minded approach and inspired teams to achieve record-setting results. Through her career, she’s aligned talent and resources to drive large-scale initiatives, build fruitful relationships, and identify collaborative and mutually beneficial business opportunities.

Sulikyan's nonprofit career includes roles in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, social service, and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. In addition, she has given back to the nonprofit sector as a volunteer and a board member for various organizations. She currently serves on the Board of Development Executives Roundtable and oversees the planning and execution of all education programs as Programs Chair. She moved to the U.S. at the age of 12 and currently lives in Livermore with her husband and 12 year old son. She holds a BA from Clark University where she later served as President of the Alumni Association.

 
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Amira Barger

Amira BargerMBA

Stephanie Casenza

Stephanie CasenzaMS, APR

Jacqueline Chan

Jacqueline ChanMPH

Douglas Cook

Douglas CookCPA, MPA

Dwight Dickerson

Dwight DickersonJD

Tamara Hamai

Tamara HamaiPhD

Amy Hsieh

Amy HsiehMFA

Heather Imboden

Heather ImbodenMCP

Irene Koehler

Irene KoehlerBA

Joel Mackey

Joel MackeyMS

Reva Patwardhan

Reva PatwardhanBA

Melissa Perez

Melissa PerezBBA

Renee Rubin Ross

Renee Rubin RossProgram Director, PhD

Shaké Sulikyan

Shaké SulikyanBA

You're Invited to Enroll

There are no formal admissions requirements for the Online Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. If you can satisfactorily complete the program coursework, you are invited to enroll. Additionally, if you are interested in taking individual courses, you can do so without formal admission to the certificate program.

You may enroll in this program at any time, and start taking classes during any term. 

*Cal State East Bay alumni: The Forever Pioneer Discount is available for this program. Registration must be processed via this Forever Pioneer form in order to qualify for the discount.

Still have some unanswered questions? Visit the support center for further information. »

Common Questions

What happens if I need to withdraw from a course?
Withdrawal and Refund Policies vary depending on the type of program in which you enroll and some Continuing Education programs have course-specific refund policies that supersede the standard refund policy. Visit the Registration Policies section for more details.
How long will it take me to complete the program?
The program is designed to enable students to complete the full program in 6-9 months. However, students may take as long as they wish to complete the program, depending upon their time availability and budget. There is no deadline for completion and no prescribed order of courses. Required courses and elective courses are offered throughout the year. The average length for Certificate course completion is 6-9 months.
How long is each course?
Required courses have 12 hours of instructional time (4 course meetings that are 3 hours each). Elective courses have 6 hours of instructional time (2 course meetings that are 3 hours each).
Is there any work to do outside class time? If so, how much?
Coursework is typically completed during class meetings with the possibility of 1-2 hours of homework outside of class.
What is the program format?
The Nonprofit Management Certificate Program is conveniently offered online.

Financing

Is financial aid available for this program?
Traditional Financial Aid (such as completing the FAFSA, Pell Grants, etc.) is not applicable for certificate programs, but there may be other suitable options to help you in financing your program. Learn more about other financial aid options.
Are any discounts available for this program?
Yes, this program qualifies for the Forever Pioneer discount for Cal State East Bay alumni. You can complete and submit the Forever Pioneer Registration Form to receive the discounted pricing. Advanced registration is required to qualify for the discount.
What are the tuition costs for the program?
Tuition costs: $160-$315 per course (Tuition fees are subject to change at any time.)

Accessibility Services

Does the university provide accessibility services?
Yes, our Accessibility Services department provides academic accommodations and support services to address the individual needs of students with differing abilities, permanent disabilities or temporary disabling conditions. For more information, including program details and contact information, visit csueastbay.edu/accessibility.

Certificate of Completion

How do I request my certificate?
To obtain your official certificate, you must complete all requirements of your program and then complete and submit this form. Upon verification of requirement completion, your certificate will be sent to you.

Search Results

At Cal State East Bay, we pride ourselves on putting students first, from the moment you inquire until you graduate. We hope you've found answers to your questions in this support center, but if not, please get in touch.

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At a Glance

Area of study: Certificate in Nonprofit Management

Ideal for: Current or aspiring nonprofit staff, board members, or foundation professionals seeking to upgrade their skills, become more marketable, advance their careers and organizations, and bring justice into the world.

Program format: Online

Number of courses: 8 required courses, plus 3 elective courses

Program length: 6-9 months

Tuition cost: $160-$315 per course (Tuition fees are subject to change at any time.) Forever Pioneer discount is available for Cal State East Bay alumni.

Questions?

Please let us know if we can answer any questions about the Nonprofit Management program. Many answers can also be found in our online Support Center.

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