Is it Worth it to Get a Master's in Nonprofit Leadership?

Working for a nonprofit organization can be one of the most rewarding jobs you can pursue, and skilled leaders in that industry are in-demand. Discover how leadership training through a master’s of nonprofit management program can help you start making a meaningful difference.

Available online as a full or part-time program, courses in nonprofit leadership can help you develop talent and innovate in the nonprofit space. Apply today with year-round admissions and start your leadership journey.

For over 15 years, nonprofit job growth has outpaced all other industries, reaching as high as 33% and rising even during the Great Recession. 

Careers in nonprofit organizations have flourished in part because of their incredible variation, which includes fields like healthcare, education, social services and more.

To support those industries, robust professional programs in nonprofit management developed alongside their growth, enabling the next generation of nonprofit leaders to gain the skills and experience needed to help organizations thrive. 

You do not need a professional-level degree to work for nonprofit organizations, but a master’s in nonprofit leadership can help you earn more, while flexible online degree programs (like those at Pacific) adapt to your life and schedule.   

But is it worth it to get a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership (MNL)? Stick around and see how an advanced degree can help you take the essential next step in your career.

NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP ADMISSIONS

What Skills Do MNL Graduates Gain?

A nonprofit leadership degree equips graduates with a diverse skill set crucial for navigating the complex landscape of social impact organizations.

Designed with coursework that emphasizes ethical leadership and decision-making, the expertise you can gain through an MNL program compliments the more technical aspects of running a productive organization, including:

• Nonprofit marketing. The goals of nonprofit organizations require a specific style of marketing and communications, one that the expert faculty in an MNL program teach using real-world examples and results.

• Nonprofit strategic planning. Nonprofit organizations generally operate on a smaller budget than their for-profit counterparts, so creating strategies that make the most with little waste are imperative.

• Nonprofit program design. Often providing a public service, successful nonprofits use effective leadership to identify ways to provide outreach and education, all supported by knowledgeable leadership.

All of this supports the core of the MNL curriculum, which aims to empower motivated difference-makers to become exceptional leaders who can help usher in meaningful change.

What Kinds of Organizations Hire MNL Graduates?

As the name suggests, many of those who pursue a master of nonprofit leadership degree will either enter or return to jobs at nonprofit organizations.

The nonprofit space is perhaps one of the most diverse in the working world, and that means that those with training in nonprofit management can use their skills in a wide variety of different industries, including:

• Healthcare. The largest nonprofit sector, healthcare nonprofits have grown substantially in the last decade, fueled by healthcare professionals who want to better impact their industry.

• Education. Distinct from leaders at the school district level, leadership at educational nonprofits can help create equitable spaces for learning both in and outside of the classroom.

• Social services. Whether run through municipal agencies or dedicated nonprofits, organizations that provide essential social services need effective leadership to continually receive funding and support.

• Environmental protection. Advocating environmental justice for all, environmental nonprofits do more than just protect wild spaces, with special emphasis on addressing environmental concerns in urban areas.

• Government. From county-level to country-wide, leadership roles in government make use of similar skills gained during the MNL program, with mission-oriented planning and strategy.

Is an MNL Required to Get a Job in the Nonprofit Field?

A degree in nonprofit leadership is not required to work at nonprofit organizations that align with your passions and purpose.

Degrees and training in social work, education, business, healthcare, criminal justice and so much more can all prepare you for a career at a nonprofit that interests you.

However, leadership roles at these same organizations frequently require advanced training, something that a master’s in nonprofit leadership provides.

These roles are accompanied with higher pay and greater job responsibility as you help support nonprofit teams through nuanced external and internal strategy. 

For this reason, the MNL is not generally considered an entry-level degree, as many nonprofit leaders take on additional skill building programs while already working in their current career.

What are the Benefits of Having an MNL?

For those already passionate about the work done by nonprofit organizations, an advanced degree in nonprofit leadership can help create a new pathway to put innovative ideas into practice.

Professional nonprofit leadership programs empower aspiring leaders to flourish with new skills under experienced mentors, with lasting benefits visible throughout their entire career.

These benefits include the ability to:

• Strengthen existing leadership skills. The aptitude you’ve honed throughout your career is taken to the next level in a nonprofit leadership program, allowing you to lead organizations with empathy and with a focus on social justice.

• Create successful teams. The careful selection, promotion and leadership of varied teams is what allows nonprofit organizations to function, especially with their often lower operating budgets.

• Advance your career more quickly. A leadership degree can enable you to move to management roles more quickly, helping you make an impact faster and stay in leadership roles longer.

• Enact just and meaningful change. Nonprofit organizations are only as effective as their leaders are capable, and those with professional training can create the change they want to see more precisely.

Applications for Pacific’s online Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership program are open year-round, with scholarships available for select students.

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