Full course description
Nonprofit Governance Course Overview
What You'll Learn
Leadership and Advocacy
This section focuses on leadership and advocacy for nonprofit organizations, covering the purpose, structure, and functions of leadership and governance for nonprofit organizations. Participants will also examine what advocacy means and looks like for non-profit organizations, as well as practice the skills to engage in hands-on advocacy.
Your instructor, Dr. Youngaah Koh, is an Assistant Professor of Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship. As an educator and mentor, she is passionate about cultivating arts managers and advocates who are empathetic critical thinkers. Dr. Koh is a scholar who engages in collaborations with the community and internationally through her research. Her research encompasses cultural policy and advocacy; and the intersection of arts management and technology; and arts management education and pedagogy. Dr. Koh serves leadership roles in the field as elected treasurer of the Association of Arts Administration Education (AAAE) and a Director of International Cooperation with the Korean Society of Arts and Cultural Management (KOSACM).
Legal and Finance
Participants will review the essential legal and financial considerations that nonprofit organizations face and delve into the incorporation process at the state level and federal level. In addition, this section covers board governance and the critical aspects of financial budgeting and transparency. all of which are vital for ensuring the fiscal health and accountability of nonprofit entities.
Your instructor, Dr. Sarah E. Larson, is an Associate Professor of Political Science in the Department of Political Science at Miami University. She earned her joint Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Department of Political Science and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. Dr. Larson also possesses Masters of Science in Statistical Science and a Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University. Dr. Larson is a proud alumni of the Department of Political Science at Miami University; she earned her Bachelors of Arts with departmental honors. Her research, published in leading journals, focuses on issues in advancements in public administration and policy. Her award-winning research includes the first identification of the exact magnitude of the property tax exemption upon nonprofits’ cost structure and service provision.
Grant Writing
Participants will discover the grant lifecycle by exploring how to locate and analyze funding opportunities, identify key components and strategies for effective grant proposal writing, and critically evaluate sample grant materials, while considering the affordances and limitations of artificial intelligence in the writing and editing process
Your instructor, Dr. Heidi A. McKee, is a Professor of Professional Writing in the Department of English at Miami University. She has authored/edited 5 books and 35+ chapters and articles. Her teaching and research focus on writing in professional, academic, and civic contexts with an emphasis on writing with and for local communities. For the past 18 years at Miami, in addition to teaching courses in business communication, social media and web writing, healthcare writing, and writing with artificial intelligence, Dr. McKee has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in grant writing, focusing on seeking and securing funding for local non-profits.
Program Development and Evaluation
This section covers the vital role of nonprofits within America's third sector, highlighting how they address social needs and foster community well-being. By examining the intricacies of program design, implementation, and evaluation, this topic aims to equip participants with the skills and confidence to create meaningful impact while celebrating the connections formed through nonprofit work.
Your instructor, Dr. Erin J. Hoppe, is passionate about enhancing well-being for the creative industries and their stakeholders. She teaches in the arts management and arts entrepreneurship program at Miami University. Her pedagogy focuses on bridging theory and practice with attention to equity and accessibility. Hoppe has two decades of practitioner experience, including as executive director of VSA Ohio, a statewide arts and disability nonprofit, and support positions at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Smithsonian Institution. She served long time governing roles with Columbus Arts Marketing Association, Ohio Citizens for the Arts, and VSA International.
Marketing
Participants will explore how to develop effective marketing strategies tailored to the unique aspects of nonprofits, utilize audience segmentation for targeted outreach, craft compelling messaging and storytelling techniques, and leverage data and analytics to drive informed marketing decisions.
Your instructor, Willie Caldwell, M.F.A., is an interdisciplinary arts leader and educator with a focus in music business and management, songwriting, arts marketing, and creative non-profit management. He has worked as a professional actor, musician, and arts administrator in six major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Nashville, Cincinnati, and Portland Oregon. He has appeared in film and television, toured nationally, and self-produced four solo EPs. Willie is a co-recipient of the Beckman Research Award in Arts Entrepreneurship presented by the Society of Arts Entrepreneurship Educators (SAEE) for his work in connecting artists and entrepreneurs to the Creative Economy. This is the highest research award in the discipline of arts entrepreneurship. He was named an Emerging Creative by the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) for his work in interdisciplinary arts integration in higher education. As a progressive educator, Willie has received numerous teaching commendations by the Associated Student Government and Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami University of Ohio and the Student Government Association at Virginia Tech.
Why Miami?
Miami University is recognized as one of the top schools for tomorrow's leaders, ranking 14th among public schools on TIME magazine's Best Colleges for Future Leaders (2023). Thanks to our teacher-scholars and the value of a Miami education, our students are empowered to become successful national and global leaders. The Leadership Essentials course is led by Miamians who are successful industry experts.
Computer and Browser Requirements
A computer or laptop is recommended for an optimal learning experience. Miami University hosts this course in its learning management system, Canvas. Most browsers should work fine, but Canvas provides a list of minimum browser and computer requirements and a tool to check whether the browser you are using is up to date.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
No refunds will be issued for active courses that begin immediately upon registration. Please reach out to professionaled@MiamiOH.edu with any questions.
Enrollment Guidelines
This course is currently open to those in the United States. Our payment gateway does not accept international credit cards at this time.