Online Graduate Certificate in
Non-Profit Leadership

Why Earn a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership?

Etown's Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership is for those seeking to positively impact their communities. Created with input from local non-profit leaders, this curriculum equips students with vital skills for the non-profit sector, such as financial stewardship, fundraising, ethical governance, and board management. Unique features include participation in non-profit peer group meetings and activities at the High Center for Nonprofits, providing our students with the opportunity to interact directly with leaders of non-profit organizations.

In addition, this certificate can be completed in as little as one year and stacked into Etown's 36-credit Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science in Strategic Leadership (MSL).

Program Outcomes:

Develop strategic revenue generation strategies, including fundraising, grant writing, and donor engagement.
Understand the principles of governance, advocacy, and the role of boards in non-profit organizations.
Analyze ethical dilemmas in leadership and propose ethical solutions.
Construct governance and advocacy frameworks aligned with organizational values.

Online

Program Format

credits required

to graduate

Can be Completed in

As Little As

One Year

Etown SGPS Ranked in the top

For Best Online

Colleges in Pennsylvania

by Forbes for 2024

Learn Skills to Impact Your Community

Etown's Non-Profit Leadership Graduate Certificate prepares you to make a significant and positive impact on your community through a variety of fulfilling careers. Upon completing the Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership program, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in leadership roles within non-profit organizations such as Development Officer, Operations Manager, Program Director and more. Our focus on emerging non-profit trends sets us apart in delivering relevant education, including offering education on "storytelling" and advocacy & legislation. Crafting narratives that highlight real-life experiences, challenges, and triumphs of individuals or communities impacted by the organization's work is a must for nonprofit storytelling.

Also setting this program apart is the fact the credits earned can be stacked into Etown's 36-credit Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science in Strategic Leadership (MSL).

Understand Tuition Costs and Explore Scholarship Opportunities

The Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership is priced at $695 per credit. Scholarships and financial aid are available to make your Etown SGPS education even more affordable. Below are just a few of the scholarships and programs available to students:

Alumni Scholarship: 15% tuition discount, available to Elizabethtown College alumni.
Affinity Partner Scholarship: 15% discount, offered to employees of organizations partnered with Etown SGPS.
Jay Fellowship Referral Program: This is a referral program that benefits both current students/alumni and prospective students. When a student or alum refers a new student, both the referrer and the referred student receive a complimentary credit for their program of interest.

Tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change annually.

Tuition & Aid

Online Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership

The Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from Elizabethtown College requires 12 credit hours of academic work. Students must take all 12 credits from Elizabethtown College to be awarded the graduate certificate.

Course Catalog Academic Calendar

Application Requirements & Process

Application Requirements

To be eligible to apply to any of our graduate certificate programs you will need to:

Have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher (waivers can be granted based on professional work experience and other factors).
Have a minimum of three years of professional leadership/management experience (can include undergraduate experience).
Have time to devote to your coursework; in an accelerated program, time spent outside of class is considerable.

Application Process

Contact or meet with our admissions staff for guidance and to find out more information.
Complete the graduate application via the online portal which includes the submission of a $25 nonrefundable application fee, which is waived for Elizabethtown College graduates.
- You will need to request official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended and upload your current resume.
- Additionally, prepare a 1-2 page essay addressing your motivation for pursuing the graduate certificate, a statement of professional goals, and goals for the application of the graduate certificate to your professional life.
After submitting your application, the SGPS Team will review it and make an admissions decision.
If accepted, you will receive an initial offer letter via the applicant portal, which you must accept to proceed with matriculation.
If there are any questions or concerns, the admissions team will contact you for further discussion.
After successfully completing your Elizabethtown College graduate certificate, students may complete the Advance in Graduate Certificate or Degree form in the JayWeb student portal to apply to a future graduate certificate or graduate degree. Additional materials may be required, depending on the program of interest.