About the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
Who are we?
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations dedicated to educating, preparing and certifying professionals to strengthen and lead nonprofit organizations. The NLA also prepares undergraduate and graduate students for careers with national and international nonprofit organizations.
What is the Nonprofit Sector?
The "Nonprofit Sector" is the collective name used to describe institutions and organizations that are nongovernmental and do not exist to make money for owners or investors. Often, the nonprofit sector is referred to as the not-for-profit sector, the third sector, the independent sector, the philanthropic sector, or the social sector. The nonprofit sector exists to enhance the social fabric of our country.
The nonprofit sector has been growing steadily, both in size and financial impact, for more than a decade. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of nonprofits has increased 25 percent; from 1,259,764 million to 1,574,674 million today. The growth rate of the nonprofit sector has surpassed the rate of both the business and government sectors.
How do we work?
Students enroll in the program and receive the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance certificate and the Certified Nonprofit Professional certification (CNP) while pursuing a bachelor's, a master's or a graduate certificate degree. Certificates are earned by:
- Achieving ten professional competencies
- Completing 300 hours of field-based experiences at a local, national or international nonprofit
- Being active in The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Student Association
- Attending at least one Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Management Institute
- Taking advantage of the NLA provided opportunities (mentorship, professional development, etc)
The path to achieving the competencies is explained in the Undergraduate and Graduate links.
The NLA Core Competencies
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• Communication, Marketing & Public Relations
• Cultural Competency and Diversity
• Financial Resource Development & Management
• Foundations & Management of the Nonprofit Sector
• Governance, Leadership & Advocacy
• Legal & Ethical Decision Making
• Personal & Professional Development
• Program Development
• Volunteer and Human Resource Management
• Future of the Nonprofit Sector
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For each competency we have identified learning outcomes. The learning outcomes explain what knowledge and skills students get by completing the ten competencies.
How we benefit students: The CNP certification
At the completion of the program students receive the NLA diploma, the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) national credential and are ready for the competitive job market.
Our CNPs:
- Have met or exceeded all Alliance Certification standards.
- Have professional nonprofit skills.
- Know the nonprofit sector.
- Have real world experience.
What a typical NLA student is like
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance program is not for everyone! It is designed for serious, hard-working students who desire in-depth learning about nonprofit organizations. It is for those who want to develop new skills and boost their chances on the job market, who are enthusiastic about working at building a successful career in the nonprofit sector.