Nonprofit Leadership

The B.A. with a major in Nonprofit Leadership is a multidisciplinary degree earned through the Helzberg School of Management in the College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis. The degree requires 128 semester hours, including a combination of courses from Rockhurst’s liberal core, social science, business, and nonprofit leadership. A 300-hour internship with a nonprofit organization also is required.

The Nonprofit Leadership major is designed to prepare students for careers and leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. Through this course of study, students gain competencies necessary to manage information and resources and to lead people, programs, and organizations in an environment driven by the desire to make a difference in their communities, their nation, and their world.

Program Goals

• Leadership: Articulate and apply the skills of leadership and professionalism in a dynamic, mission-driven nonprofit sector.
• Ethical Behavior: Describe, assess, and discern ethical behavior that is grounded in standards, codes of conduct, accountability, and values.
• Nonprofit Leadership Skills and Knowledge: Demonstrate professional competencies necessary to lead and manage nonprofit organizations.
• Diversity/Cultural Competence: Apply cultural competence and inclusiveness for leadership within diverse organizational and community settings.
• Information Analysis/Application: Apply and evaluate appropriate organizational information for effective operation of nonprofit organizations.
• Communication: Communicate productively in a variety of contexts with awareness of purpose and audience.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Describe the role and function of governance and executive leadership in achieving the mission and vision of nonprofit organizations.
• Evaluate personal leadership strengths and areas for future personal growth.
• Explain codes of conduct/ethics and other strategies for creating a culture of ethical accountability for professionals and volunteers in philanthropic, nonprofit organizations.
• Apply steps of an ethical decision-making process to a case study.
• Create a professional network by actively developing relationships with mentors in the field.
• Apply the elements of program planning in nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrate knowledge of effective resource development strategies, practices, and frameworks.
• Describe recommendations for inclusive leadership within diverse work and community settings.
• Implement research-based, donor-centric strategies to advance an organization’s mission.
• Integrate multiple communication practices as part of a cohesive marketing and fundraising strategy.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills for advocating for change.
• Produce well-organized presentations (written and oral) that demonstrate critical and integrative thinking.