- Community & Alumni Engagement
- Professional Growth and Enrichment
- Professional Development Programs
- Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP)
Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP)
Fast Track Your Nonprofit Career!
Western Carolina University offers nonprofit professionals flexibility in completing this program. Participants can attend any of the workshops for a reasonable rate of $89 to gain management and leadership experience in the industry. Or, you can enroll in any of the CNP courses at any time. You can decide to try a course for $300 by attending the workshop and the 4-weeks of online curriculum that follows, or you can enroll in more than one course. If you decide to enroll in the entire program, then you’ll pay the full tuition of $2,525 at the time of registration. Should you decide after taking the first course that you’d like to enroll in the full program, then we’ll deduct the $300 payment from the full tuition. For more information on program requirements, program benefits and fees, please review the information listed below the upcoming courses.
Courses are offered once per year starting in September. If you miss a course and register mid-cycle, you can enroll in any of the missed courses the following year.
Once all 8 modules are complete, you’ll earn the Certified Nonprofit Professional (a national designation) and you will receive a certificate and a digital badge!
How it Works
After completing the core requirements, students are awarded the CNP credential, which gets uploaded to LinkedIn and other digital platforms. Throughout the program, students receive career support and assistance connecting to nonprofit employers.
CNP Course Modules (approximately 12 months to complete)
The following courses makeup the curriculum required for the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP). Each course starts with a one-day workshop at the WCU Biltmore Park Instructional Site, that will be held on a Thursday or Friday, and is followed by 4 weeks of online content with discussion boards, presentations, and weekly assignments. There is approximately one week in between each course and a holiday break after the third course.
Upcoming Schedule of Courses:
Designing Nonprofits for Long-term Sustainability
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full course: 2020 Dates TBD
Nonprofit Trends and Innovation -
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full course: 2020 Dates TBD
Management and Leadership
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full course: 2020 Dates TBD
Marketing and Communications
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full Course: 2020 Dates TBD
Cultural Competencies and Diversity
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full course: 2020 Dates TBD
Governance and Volunteer Management
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full course: 2020 Dates TBD
Nonprofit Budgeting and Financial Management
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full course: 2020 Dates TBD
Fundraising for Nonprofits
Workshop: 2020 Dates TBD
Full course: 2020 Dates TBD
Professionals interested in registering for the one-day workshops as a stand-alone
training, can do so during the registration process.
It's also important to note that each module can be taken independently and does not
have to be taken in order. Once all are completed and the other requirements are met
(see below), then a certificate will be awarded. However, it is recommended that participants
take Management and Leadership of the Nonprofit Sector as an Introductory course to
the program. This programs will be offered in its entirety each year.
Fees
Tuition: $300 per course plus fees / $2,525 full tuition includes enrollment and credentialing fees. The one-day workshop that kicks off each module can be taken without obtaining the credentialing for $89. There is an additional $25 enrollment fee due at the beginning of the program, and a $100 credentialing fee at the end of the program. The conference fee is paid separately.
core requirements
- Eight-course topics critical to successful nonprofit leadership
- Professional experience (employment, service year or internship at a nonprofit)
- Leadership and service activities (volunteer work at a nonprofit)
- National conference (attendance at one Alliance Management Institute – virtual available) or an approved conference through WCU
- Bachelor’s degree (students without a degree must matriculate prior to the completion of the CNP coursework.)
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) is the only National Nonprofit Certificate & Credentialing program preparing students for leadership in the nonprofit sector.
