Nonprofit Management Course of Study
Universitywide Second Major
Curriculum for 2000/2001
Goals
The goals of the Nonprofit Management course of study are to provide students with an overview of nonprofit organizations and civil society, to develop their knowledge and practical skills necessary for the establishment, effective administration and resource management of nonprofit organizations, and to promote their active participation in the policy-making processes on the local and state levels.
The second major is designed for the students of the Tallinn Pedagogical University who will be promoting nonprofit activities in the fields of education, culture, sports, social work, etc. or will be cooperating with nonprofit organizations through employment in public sector. The course of study prepares graduates to meet the challenges of the ever-evolving public service sector in nonprofit organizations, foundations, research organizations, local/state government institutions and even in business sector organizations that serve the public good.
Description of the course of
study
The 13 courses
include 7 core courses with total of 12 credits which are intened to equip
students with a set of basic concepts and analytical tools for thinking about
and making decisions on nonprofit management and public policy questions. The 6
electives with total of 3 credits and a prerequisite “Fundamentals of Politics
and Governance” with 1,5 credits are germane to their sepcializations and offer
students the opportunity for further concentration.
The course of study involves both the academic approach (Introduction to Nonprofit Sector; The Concept of Civil Society: Theories and History; Organized Civic Initiatives in Estonia) and the practical approaches to the nonprofit management. The latter offers the students skills to develop and effectively administer the resources of the nonprofit organizations (Financial Management and Fund Development; Strategic Marketing; Strategic Management for Nonprofit Organizations; Introduction to the Management for Nonprofit Organizations; Public Relations for Nonprofit Organizations; Strategic Planning, etc.). Some of these courses also involve a short-term internship in nonprofit organizations.
Basis and origin of the curriculum
The curriculum is based on respective programs and courses of study (MPA or MSc in Nonprofit Management and MA in Philanthropic Studies) in several US universities such as the Seattle University, the Indiana University Center of Philanthropy, the University of San Francisco, the University of Kansas City, the Yale University, the New York University, in the European universities such as the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (MSc in Voluntary Sector Organisation and MSc in Management of Non-Governmental Organisations), the University of Utrecht (Nonprofit Management Program) and the Budapest Business School.
Outline of individual courses
CORE COURSES (total 12 credits):
The Concept of Civil Society: Theories and History
2,0 credits A
Fund Development and
Financial Management for Nonprofits 1,0
credits A
Legal Issues for
Nonprofit Organizations
1,5 credits A
Strategic Marketing
for Nonprofit Organizations
1,5 credits A
Ethics: Personality, Respect
and Social Autonomy
1,5
credits A
Description of the courses
1. CORE COURSES
1.1
Introduction to Nonprofit Sector
2,0 credits
This course focuses on nongovernmental and nonprofit
organizations. Historical, descriptive and practical concerns of the nonprpofit
sector are explored: definitions, societal position, types and areas of
activities of nonprofit organizations. Special attention is paid to the
changing relationships and cooperation between public, forprofit and nonprofit
sectors; comparisons of the forprofit, public and nonprofit sectors; nonprofit
sector and the administrative policy. Taxation policy. Development of the
nonprofit sector in Estonia.
1.2 Introduction to the
Management for Nonprofit Organizations
2,0 credits
This course introduces the
students to the key issues involved in managing nonprofit organizations:
mission statement, goals and objectives; organizational culture and managerial
style; role and tasks of the Board; functions and tasks of the executive
director, personnel and volunteers; human resources management, personnel
selection and methods; personnel training and performance analysis; volunteer
recruitment, motivation and management; operational issues in the provision of
services and programs, and their practical implementation. Quality management
in nonprofit organization: optimisation and insurance of feedback; feedback
analysis; internal and external forces, and analysis that influence the
managerial decision-making.
1.3 The Concept of Civil Society: Theories and
History
2,0 credits
The course examines the concept of the civic society in traditional civil theory (Locke, Rousseau, Hegel); civic society and democracy, power, hegemony, mass society, modernism (Tocqueville, Marx, Gramsci, Althusser, Cohen, Arato, Habermas). Civic society and political culture (Putnam, Shils). Particular emphasis is based on analyzing the expectations and challenges facing the civic society in the political discusssions of the 1980s and 1990s. Civic society in the era of post-socialist change.
1.4 Fund Development and Financial Management
for Nonprofit organizations
1,0 credits
This course provides an
introduction to the use of financial information in organizational
decision-making. It teaches various financing possibilities: fundraising;
preparation of grant applications; main topics and requirements in funding
proposals. Students will develop skills that will enable them to assess
organization needs, select prospective donors, prepare a persuasive grant
proposal and maintain appropriate contact with donors after the grant has been
received and implemented. Available financial recourses: foundations, business
sector, and private donations. Formation of fund development plans in nonprofit
organizations: budgeting, financial condition analysis, income forecasting,
targeted financing. It also teaches the financial reporting in the nonprofit
organization: financial statements, performance reporting, preparation of
financial report.
1.5 Legal Issues for Nonprofit Organizations
1,5 credits
The course begins
by abalyzing the main issues in the Law on the Nonprofit Organizations and
Foundations. It also concentrates on the establishment and administration of
nonprofit organizations, including the power and competency of the board, its
formation and responsibilities; dissolution of the organization; creation of
assets, principles of ownership and distribution. It also covers the taxation
policy and the nonprofit sector; the nature of tax exemptions and concessions.
The course draws on a selection of issues related to the labour law:
conclusion, content and termination of employment contracts; transfers;
specifications of employment contract and the contract for services; working
hours, vacations, benefits. Legal guarantees offered by nonprofit
organizations. Legal regulation of donations and sponsorship.
This course examines present condition and future development of the Estonian civil society through the introduction and analysis of empirical research on civil society. The course also covers the structure of the civil society; civic society resources: economic, social, organizational; current problems and challenges facing the civic society in Estonia.
1.7 Strategic Marketing for
Nonprofit Organizations
1, 5 credits
A practical exmination of successful strategic marketing for nonprofit organizations including the tools for marketing, their applications and results. Provides an understanding of and practical uses for the marketing in the provision of services and programs; developing a marketing plan and creative strategy. The course will also practically examine the principles and practices of marketers and the impact of these practices on society and the environment: green marketing, consumer activism, limits to growth, constrained resources, quality management and anti-consumerism.
Philanthropy as a form of voluntary
activity for common good. Differences between charity and philanthropy.
Different types of charity. Concepts and idea of volunteerism; use and
activities of volunteers. History of philanthropy from ancient times until
modern age.
2. ELECTIVES
2.1 Strategic Planning
1,5
credits
This course examines management theory and practice through a framework
involving strategic thinking and strategic planning. It covers a number of
important topics, including the formation of organization mission, goal and
objective setting, strategy formation; analysis of internal and external forces
influencing the organizations and its strategic planning process; SWOT
analysis; performance audit and evaluation.
2.2 Public Relations
for Nonprofit Organizations
1,5 credits
This course is a general introduction to the concepts and techniques of
managing public relations for nonprofit organizations: presentation of the
organization to various target groups, communication techniques for media;
specifics in the process of communication with the printing press, radio and
television. Representation of nonprofit organizations, relations with public
sector and government agencies; lobbying opportunities and constraints. Legal
and decision-making processes in the government institutions: methods of
influencing the process. Public policy and civil participation in the process.
1,5
credits
Examines the principles of
contracts, their preparation, performance, amendments and termination; separate
introduction to various types of contracts that have significant meaning for
the employees of nonprofit sector: terms and conditions in contracts of sale,
contracts for use, barter agreements, gratuitous contracts, authorization
agreements, contracts for services, also main principles of contracts on
scientific research and grants.
2.4 Ethics: Personality, Respect and Social
Autonomy
1,5
credits
The course discussed the arguments which the authors of modern character
ethics (Anscombe, Williams, Wolf, MacIntyre, Foot, Stocker) have presented pro the morale considering human
individuality (character, sympathies, emotions, social tendencies) and anti Kantian normative ethics. The
course focuses on the analysis of one of the most critical topics of modern
character ethics – dignity, independence and self-respect. The course also
studies the subjects such as altruism as a rational attitude and trust and
moral attitudes. Analysis of key texts and materials. The course is valuable
for any nonprofit practitioner confronted with the need to make complex
decisions that affect the well-being of the public.
This course provides an introduction to the history and role of the nonprofit sector in the society: nonprofit sector and democracy, nonprofit sector and civic society. Comparisons of nonprofit sectors in Europe, Scandinavia, North America; trends and developments, problems and challenges. Nonprofit sector and the European integration.
The Estonian project was financially supported by UNDP and BAPP
(Baltic-American
Partnership Program).
Contact :
Ülle
Lepp
e-mail:mikko@ehi.ee
or mikkokari@solo.delfi.ee