A nonprofit organization is also referred to as a “non-governmental organization” (NGO). A nonprofit that works on a global scale is usually referred to as an NGO, which denotes its independence from the government of the nonprofit’s home country. Academic coursework for nonprofit professionals can take an international perspective to support work done under the traditional definition of a non-governmental organization (NGO), or a domestic or community-based perspective to cover any type of nonprofit work. In either case, academic or training tracks in oversight, management, or program delivery are common among the various types of NGO courses.
Many universities around the world offer degrees to people who work or plan to work for a non-profit organization. These degrees fall into the management or program delivery categories. The various types of NGO management courses are typically aligned with a typical business curriculum at the bachelor’s or master’s level. Nonprofits are businesses, and the academic skills required of NGO executives are the same as those required of for-profit business executives. Strategic management, marketing, human resource development, and accounting are just a few of the topics covered in most courses.
Program delivery courses can cover a wide range of topics that help nonprofits provide services to their constituents. Social work, international relations, economic development, and even engineering can all be covered in NGO courses in a degree-granting setting. Nonprofit-specific degrees are available at some institutions for both management and program delivery professionals. Nonprofit management, community economic development, urban planning, and public affairs are all terms used to describe these degrees.
There are a plethora of NGO courses available outside of a degree-granting institution to hone the skills of nonprofit workers. Trade associations, proprietary schools, and college and university continuing education departments all offer these courses. These organizations frequently award certificates or certifications in the subject matter studied. Classes in fund raising and development, advocacy skills, legal issues, and tax concerns are examples of NGO courses that are typically available in this way.
In some cases, the type of work that the nonprofit does can be used to distinguish NGO courses. Nonprofits are usually classified into one of several program types. They could be social services, economic development, technical assistance, or advocacy groups, for example. Effective service delivery topics, such as proper youth development or family counseling, are commonly covered in courses for nonprofits that deal directly with people. Other types of NGOs that provide technical assistance or carry out economic development projects will frequently have project or skills-specific coursework focusing on how to make a task easier to complete.