Non-profit Management
Bachelor of Arts
Earn Your BA in Non-profit Management at Xavier University.
Do you believe in making a difference? In leading with heart, and turning your values into action? At Xavier, you’ll gain the skills to support non-profit organizations and create lasting social change through mission-driven service.
Fall
- NPMA 100: Mission-Driven Service............ 3cr.
- ENGL 101: English Composition or ENGL 115: Rhetoric............ 3cr.
- CORE 100: First Year Seminar or THEO 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- CORE 101: Transition to Xavier............ 0cr.
- Second Language I............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- CORE 100: First Year Seminar or THEO 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- HIST 199: Historical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- Second Language II............ 3cr.
- CORE 102: Beyond Your First Year............ 0cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- NPMA 200: Intro to Non-Profit Management............ 3cr.
- GDST 206: Intro to Gender & Diversity or SOCW 206: Intro to Diversity & Intersectionality............ 3cr.
- ENGL 205: Literature & Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- PHIL 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- POLI 225: Intro to Non-Profit Sector ............ 3cr.
- SOCW 316: Social Welfare Policy & Contemporary Issues............ 3cr.
- PHIL 200: Philosophical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- THEO 200+: Theological Perspectives............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- NPMA 300: Funding the Mission ............ 3cr.
- MKTG 300: Principles of Marketing............ 3cr.
- E/RS Flag............ 3cr.
- Social Science Flag............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Flag............ 3cr.
Spring
- NPMA 310: Intro to Grant Writing............ 3cr.
- SHRM 300: Human Resource Management............ 3cr.
- Math Perspective Elective............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- NPMA 320: Non-Profit Finance & Compliance............ 3cr.
- CORE 499: Core Capstone............ 0cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- NPMA 400: NPMA Internship............ 3cr.
- Scientific Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- Writing Intensive Flag............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
NPMA 200: Introduction to Nonprofit Management (3 credits)
This course introduces you to the essential theories, legal frameworks, and best practices that drive successful mission-driven organizations. You'll explore key areas like board governance, financial management and budgeting, making mission-aligned decisions, and effective annual reporting.
NPMA 300: Funding the Mission (3 credits)
Learn how to secure the resources that fuel impactful work. This course equips you with foundational knowledge and practical skills for fundraising and development planning within mission-driven organizations. You'll discover strategies to effectively garner support for vital causes.
NPMA 310: Introduction to Grant Writing (3 credits)
In this course, you'll learn to develop, write and submit compelling grant proposals. This includes crafting persuasive narratives, creating accurate project budgets and preparing all necessary supporting materials to maximize your chances of success.
NPMA 400: NPMA Internship (3 credits)
This course allows you to work within a local foundation or nonprofit organization in a support staff position, providing a hands-on opportunity to apply your learning and reflect on your professional development. Employment with an approved organization is required, and students must complete a minimum of 180 internship hours for credit.
Through NPMA, students develop compassion for others in need and gain the knowledge and hands-on experience to support mission-driven organizations. They learn how to fundraise, write and develop grant proposals, manage finances, and apply best practices in marketing and human resources. They also explore policy issues in humanitarianism and mutual aid—while completing a real-world internship with a local nonprofit or foundation.
High Student Success Rate
98% of Xavier students are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduating (Class of 2023).
Explore Xavier Alumni Outcomes
Preparing Leaders in the Jesuit Tradition
Beyond professional skills, our Jesuit foundation cultivates compassionate, ethical non-profit leaders driven by service and justice.
Professional Development
Our Career Development Office enriches your professional development and advances your long-term goals. From individual career counseling sessions to professional development workshops to an employer database, you have access to valuable resources to help you flourish.
In addition to the BA in Non-Profit Management program, we also offer an Arts Management & Administration minor. This interdisciplinary minor equips you with vital skills in marketing, grant writing and nonprofit leadership to support artists and advance cultural missions. Learn more.
Dr. Jason C. White is an Associate Professor at Xavier University, where he serves as the founding director of the BA in Non-Profit Management and the Arts Management & Administration minor. His teaching and research focus on identifying innovative strategies for nonprofit leadership, program development and financial sustainability—particularly for organizations led by and serving communities of color.
Program Features
You won't just learn in the classroom; you'll gain invaluable hands-on experience directly within local non-profit organizations and initiatives through internship opportunities and community engaged learning.
Rooted in Jesuit Catholic values, this program prepares you to lead with your heart—equipping you not only with skills, but with a deep sense of purpose, commitment and responsibility to the communities you serve.
Through collaborative courses—especially in marketing and human resources—you’ll develop essential organizational and communication skills tailored to the unique needs and values of mission-driven organizations.
The NPMA program’s flexible curriculum makes it easy to pair your passion for mission-driven service with another field of study—whether that’s healthcare, education, social work, history, or arts and culture.
Dr. White's students gain firsthand experience through partnerships with local nonprofit arts organizations like the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Ballet.
Our Community Engaged Fellowship program offers a unique opportunity for students passionate about service to receive significant scholarship support while actively transforming local communities.
FAQ
Xavier University's Bachelor of Arts in Non-Profit Management (NPMA) program is designed to equip you with the essential skills to lead and thrive in the dynamic non-profit sector. Learn more.An NPMA degree opens doors to a wide range of fulfilling careers in the rapidly growing non-profit sector. Graduates are prepared for roles such as:
- Development Director (Fundraising)
- Program Manager/Director
- Grant Writer
- Community Engagement Coordinator
- Volunteer Manager
- Communications Director
- Advocacy Specialist
- Non-profit Finance and Compliance Officer
- Human Resources Manager (in non-profits)
You will develop a comprehensive skill set, including:
- Strategic planning and organizational leadership
- Fundraising, development and grant writing
- Non-profit finance and compliance
- Human resource management within non-profits
- Program design and evaluation
- Understanding of social diversity and welfare policy
- Marketing and communication for mission-driven organizations
- Critical thinking, ethical reasoning and problem-solving
Yes, hands-on experience is central to the NPMA program. We have a robust internship requirement that provides structured pathways for students to gain real-world experience. You'll apply your knowledge, develop practical skills and make a tangible impact by working directly with local non-profit organizations and initiatives.
Non-profit Management Program at Xavier University
Xavier University's College of Professional Sciences prepares undergraduate and graduate students intellectually, morally and spiritually for careers and professions of service. CPS challenges students to strive for academic excellence and life-long learning through promoting collaboration and community partnerships, and incorporating research, scholarship and innovation.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."