What Does a Nonprofit Program Manager Do?

Nonprofit organizations are formed for a wide variety of reasons and to address a range of causes. From charitable organizations to advocacy groups, welfare associations, foundations, state-sponsored organizations, and religious institutions, nonprofits come in different forms. Whether focusing on their local communities or working on an international level, nonprofit organizations can play a crucial role in the lives of others.

Nonprofit program management can be a great option for graduates looking to pursue meaningful careers after graduation. Nonprofit program managers have the opportunity to take on leadership roles with purpose, working with other dedicated professionals to help steer organizations. By earning an advanced education, such as a Master of Arts (MA) in Social Impact, future professionals can develop the skills they need to work on causes that they’re passionate about.

What Is a Nonprofit Program Manager?

Charitable and nonprofit organizations exist in a range of industries. Characterized by reinvesting any earnings to support their mission or cause as well as their employees, nonprofits can address many causes. Many people think of groups such as the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, or the World Wildlife Fund when they think of nonprofits. However, the definition also includes organizations such as advocacy groups, trade associations, religious organizations, museums, and veterans and retirement associations.

Behind every organization is a team of talented and dedicated individuals dedicated to making a positive impact. Key members of those teams are nonprofit program managers. Program managers help shape and implement business plans and strategies. From hiring to fundraising to budgeting to overseeing the organization’s progress, how a charity is managed is crucial to its success and longevity.

Professionals interested in becoming nonprofit program managers have a considerable amount of choices depending on the causes that they’re passionate about. These industries or causes include the following:

• Humanitarian organizations
• Environmentalist groups
• Employee beneficiary associations
• Fraternal societies
• Religious organizations
• Civil, social, and employee associations
• Retirement or veterans affairs organizations
• Charitable organizations and social advocacy groups

Depending on the type of organization, nonprofit program managers may take on various challenges or shape programs with a range of goals. Graduates trying to decide on which industry to pursue may want to consider factors such as travel requirements, location, size of the organization, and whether the association is a government agency. These factors can dictate a role’s work environment, whether it’s an office- or a field-based role, and day-to-day responsibilities.

Nonprofit Program Manager Skills and Responsibilities

Nonprofit organizations can provide key services at both a large and small scale, and locally and internationally. Depending on the organization, the type of services it offers can vary widely and may require a different skill set. For example, the day-to-day duties required of a manager of a religious organization might be significantly different from those of someone running a wildlife conservation or humanitarian project.

While the job requirements and background training may vary by organization, becoming a successful nonprofit program manager does require some of the same leadership skills across industries. These skills and responsibilities include the following:

• Communication and interpersonal
• Delegation and planning
• Program strategy and implementation
• Organization and time management
• Fundraising, grant writing, and knowledge of legal requirements
• Public speaking and education
• Management of spending and oversight of project budgets

Many nonprofits rely on the generosity of donors. Without providing donors with a reason to contribute, organizations can struggle to make a meaningful difference or to stay afloat. By fostering key leadership skills through advanced education and workplace experience, nonprofit program managers can help to not only work toward the organization’s mission but also provide donors with the feedback they need to know that their contributions are genuinely making an impact.

How to Become a Nonprofit Program Manager

The path to becoming a nonprofit program manager can look quite different from one candidate to the next. While leadership roles in nonprofit organizations don’t always require a specific type of education or experience, many companies look to candidates with both an advanced degree and workplace experience.

For many prospective students, completing a program such as an MA in Social Impact can be highly beneficial. These programs allow candidates to build both leadership and practical skills by completing courses in project management, grant writing and fundraising, and nonprofit and social sector leadership, as well as learning about different business models and marketing.

With many organizations operating in complex or specialized industries, candidates may need to build hands-on experience before advancing to leadership or management roles. This may involve completing additional industry-specific certifications to prepare themselves for the real-world challenges of nonprofit program management.

Salary and Career Outlook for Nonprofit Program Managers

A career in nonprofit work can be rewarding. Depending on the types of causes that they’re passionate about, future nonprofit leaders can find a wide diversity of opportunities. Whether graduates want to make a difference in environmental work or humanitarian causes, pursue social activism, assist in government agencies, or dedicate their careers to religious organizations, the nonprofit sector can open many doors of opportunity.

Depending on the type of organization and location and the candidate’s level of education and experience, the salary for nonprofit roles can vary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the average annual salary for social and community service managers was $77,030 as of May 2023, with a projected employment increase of 8% between 2023 and 2033.

Build a Rewarding Career as a Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit organizations aim to make a positive impact in the world. Across industries, demographics, and causes, passionate people are taking steps to make a difference. As nonprofit program managers, professionals have the opportunity to collaborate with other talented individuals and help steer their organizations toward success and impact.

By earning a degree such as the online MA in Social Impact from Claremont Lincoln University, graduates can develop the strategic and leadership skills they need to succeed. CLU’s program focuses on key learning outcomes, such as the ability to research, strategize, fundraise, and implement sustainable changes in social systems to prepare graduates for the real world.

Explore how you can begin a rewarding career as a nonprofit program manager with CLU.