December 1, 2006 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Q. Is there a list of schools in the United States that offer continuing education, short courses, or executive programs in different facets of philanthropy?
A. Unfortunately, there is not yet one “master list” that compiles all educational courses in every field of philanthropy. However, the following resources should provide all the information you need:
The most comprehensive list of educational offerings was created by Roseanne M. Mirabella, an associate professor of political science at Seton Hall University.
There you will find contact information and Web links to 255 colleges and universities that offer courses in nonprofit management. The site breaks up listings both alphabetically and by state, as well as into categories such as graduate and undergraduate degree programs, noncredit courses, continuing-education courses, and online education.
For courses specifically aimed at managers of volunteers, Energize Inc., a training and consulting firm in Philadelphia that focuses on volunteerism, offers a comprehensive list of programs around the country.
For instruction in grant seeking and proposal writing, check out the Foundation Center, whose Web site lists several free classes and fee-based seminars by city. The site also lists the center’s online course offerings.
And for more fund-raising assistance, you may want to consider the short courses and certificate programs offered around the country by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University’s Fund Raising School.
For one-day seminars and workshops, go to The Chronicle‘s Events page, where you can search by location, type of event, subject, and date to find out what is coming up in your region.
Remember, too, that many professional associations, such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the National Committee on Planned Giving, frequently sponsor educational events, so contact local chapters in your area to find out what’s on their calendars.
To read more about trends in nonprofit-management education, see The Chronicle’s special report on the topic, “Gaining Success by Degrees” (January 8, 2004).
