ACM600 Management of Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

This course is an overview of management of nonprofit organizations within the broader societal context. The course examines the broad historic and current context for work in the nonprofit sector; strategic leadership, including board governance and executive leadership within an organizational life cycles framework; concepts of business strategy, strategic planning, benchmarking, and evaluation; and an overview of operations planning. Strategic linkages between an organization’s mission and values, strategic direction, and programming are examined.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Analyze types and characteristics of nonprofit operating principles and structures.
2. Apply concepts of nonprofit accountability and ownership.
3. Analyze the relationship between external factors and organizational programs.
4. Explain operations and characteristics of a board governance model.
5. Compare and contrast strategic planning and strategic management.
6. Create measurable benchmarks for monitoring progress against strategy.
7. Evaluate operating goals, objectives, tactics, and implementation tools.
8. Analyze the role of strategic planning within organizational life, explaining the relationship among organizational mission, strategy, vision, and values.