Nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations advance social progress, support health and human rights, aid in disaster recovery, and provide arts and education, among other critical services. Become the agent of change you aspire to be through mission-based work.
Around the world, nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations are delivering much-needed services, advocating for social causes, and mobilizing for collective impact. In fact, there are 1.5 million nonprofits registered in the United States alone and over 10 million NGOs worldwide.
This substantial growth within the social sector requires skilled leaders, managers, and staff to strengthen its operations and implement best practices. Johns Hopkins’ online Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management is the first of its kind to be international in scope and domestic in practice. Students acquire the leadership, management, and organizational skills needed to succeed in the nonprofit sector, either domestically or abroad. This MA program offers courses that focus on leadership, fundraising, grant writing, strategic planning, project management, marketing, communications, and resource development. Students complete their studies with a capstone project that concentrates on a real-world issue relevant to today’s nonprofits.
Offered 100% online, the JHU Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management program gives you the flexibility to earn your degree while still working full-time. You can also tailor the program toward specific career interests by choosing one of three focus areas and building your final capstone experience around an issue relevant to you.
Nonprofit management master’s-level courses are designed to help you develop specialized knowledge and skills in organizational leadership, nonprofit governance, financial oversight, fundraising, volunteer management, and program evaluation.
You’ll also examine the relationships among nonprofits, government agencies, private funders, and the communities they serve. These advanced competencies will help you assess an organization’s needs, make responsible resource decisions, and connect daily operations to its mission.
One important area of study is measuring organizational effectiveness. Nonprofits must communicate results to funders, board members, staff, and the people who benefit from their services. Learning to establish meaningful performance indicators, interpret program data, and report outcomes helps you identify opportunities to improve services and demonstrate accountability.
Below are a few examples of nonprofit management master’s courses that you can take as part of our program. These courses will help you gain the skills you need to advance in your career and improve your abilities. As part of the program, you will be expected to take required core classes as well as choose from relevant electives to complete your degree.
An example of one of our recent courses is highlighted in this article.
If you have a passion for leading positive change, a career in nonprofit management may be the perfect fit. Get insights into the field of nonprofit management, including average salaries and career paths.
The program has sharpened my skills and expanded my ability to lead with both strategy and heart. Courses in governance, equity, and sustainability have prepared me for real-world challenges, and I see those lessons reflected daily in my leadership roles.
Accessible from anywhere online, our D.C.-based program offers you access to top-tier faculty who are leading practitioners in the nonprofit field.
Learn from well-respected professionals with long and distinguished careers in the social sector, public service, and nonprofit leadership. Many of our faculty members are active in the field, bringing with them practical examples of today’s most relevant topics.
Customize your program to match your professional objectives. Select courses within one of these Focus Areas, including “Project Management, Evaluation and Leadership”, “International Mission-Based Organizations”, or “Social Enterprise.”
Your program caps off with one of two opportunities to showcase your skills: a project relevant to the field or an in-depth research paper that benefits the social sector in some way. All capstones will possess some aspect of real-world application.
Our mission, to provide a strong foundation of knowledge upon which innovative policy programs and promising leaders can develop, informs all of The Center’s initiatives. The Center encompasses several degrees and certificate programs designed to enhance understanding of the processes of government and global security.
Become an agent of change and enhance your nonprofit leadership expertise with a flexible, online Nonprofit Management graduate-degree program.
Johns Hopkins University’s MA in Nonprofit Management program is a 10-course, 30-credit professional master’s degree program – often completed within 12-24 months, though students have up to seven years for degree completion. Courses are offered 100-percent online.
The admissions criteria for the MA in Nonprofit Management program includes a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent international credential, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The application can be completed online and requires supporting materials, including resume, transcripts, and more.
Tuition and fees for the MA in Nonprofit Management program currently are $52,400. The cost per course is $5,140. Students may be eligible to access federal loans, employer tuition assistance, military and veterans benefits, or partner-organization benefits to offset the cost of the degree. Learn more about financial aid options.
When identifying their elective courses, students can focus in one of three areas: Program Development, Administration, and Evaluation; Social Enterprise and Innovation; or Philanthropy and International Non-Governmental Organizations.
Yes. Students can choose to either: conduct an original research study based on a relevant issue or challenge of nonprofit management; execute a research project that will contribute substantially to the nonprofit sector or to a specific nonprofit organization in some capacity; or produce a research-based report that addresses a significant policy issue for the nonprofit sector in the U.S. or abroad.
Depending on an individual’s background and professional experience, this degree can support career progression or pivots toward roles such as:
The degree is particularly important for professionals looking to move from direct service or program delivery into management. For more senior positions, employers typically look for demonstrated leadership, budgeting, fundraising, and staff-management experience in addition to graduate education.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social and community service managers, who coordinate programs for nonprofits, social service organizations, and government agencies, had a median annual wage of $80,390 in May 2025. Employment in the occupation is projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
Nonprofit management knowledge applies across organizations with different missions and funding models. Graduates can pursue opportunities with:
Some graduates also apply these competencies in corporate social responsibility, community investment, philanthropy, or public-private partnership roles.
An organization’s mission shapes the exact work it does. A healthcare nonprofit, for example, has different program and compliance priorities from an international humanitarian organization, but both prosper with sound financial management, effective leadership, and clear evidence of impact.