Advanced Topics
The remaining sections are deeper or more directional. You do not need to study all of them. Pick 1–3 tracks that match your interests, career goals, or the type of nonprofit work you want to do.
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Programs, Evaluation, and Impact
Best for people interested in designing, running, and measuring the actual programs and services nonprofits deliver. -
Strategy, Leadership, and Organizational Change
Ideal if you want to understand (or eventually become) an executive director, lead major change, or help organizations grow and adapt. -
Specialized and Adjacent Domains
This is a collection of focused topics. Choose the ones most relevant to you: -
Volunteer Management: organizations that rely heavily on volunteers
- Advocacy, Public Policy, and Government Relations: policy change or lobbying work
- Community Organizing and Coalitions: grassroots movement building
- Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation: starting new ventures or hybrid models
- International and Global Nonprofit Management: working with NGOs outside your home country
Programs, Evaluation, and Impact
| Subject | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Program Design and Theory of Change | Logic models, needs assessment — W.K. Kellogg Foundation – Logic Model Development Guide (free PDF) | Philanthropy University – Program Design (free courses) |
| Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning | Outcomes, data use — CDC – Developing an Effective Evaluation Plan (free) | Coursera – Program Evaluation for Nonprofits (guided project) |
Strategy, Leadership, and Organizational Change
| Subject | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Planning and Adaptive Leadership | Allison & Kaye, Strategic Planning for Nonprofits | NonprofitReady – Strategy & Leadership (free registration required) |
| Risk, Crisis, and Organizational Resilience | Bilich, Managing Your Nonprofit for Resilience | FEMA – Nonprofit Security & Resilience (free modules) |
Specialized and Adjacent Domains
| Subject | Book / Text | Online Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Management | Connors, The Volunteer Management Handbook | NonprofitReady – Volunteer Management (free registration required) |
| Advocacy, Public Policy, and Government Relations | Gen & Wright, Nonprofits in Policy Advocacy | Philanthropy University – Advocacy 101 (free courses) |
| Community Organizing and Coalitions | Staples, Roots to Power | Philanthropy University – Community Organizing (free courses) |
| Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation | Bornstein & Davis, Social Entrepreneurship | Coursera – Social Entrepreneurship (CBS, audit) |
| International and Global Nonprofit Management | Missoni & Alesani, Management of International NGOs | Philanthropy University – Global NGO courses (free courses) |