Alumni perspectives on nonprofit studies programs: The relationship between curriculum, networks, and career trajectories

• In Event: Third Sector Teaching and Learning Strategies

Abstract

In a follow-up study to research conducted in 2017, this paper utilizes the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC) curricular guidelines as a benchmark to address four questions: (a) What knowledge is perceived as necessary for success within the nonprofit workforce, and does it change over time? (b) Did the nonprofit curriculum within the department’s graduate programs provide alumni with career-appropriate knowledge? (c) What impact did the graduate experience have on their career trajectory? and (d) How important are alumni networks in our graduates’ career trajectories? Results highlight the appropriateness of current curricular offerings, as well as the influence of program elements on alumni career trajectories and perceived success.

The field of nonprofit studies has grown tremendously in the last few decades, with 111 percent growth in the number of nonprofit studies programs between 1996 and 2011 alone (Mirabella & McDonald, 2012). O’Neill (2007) suggests this growth is attributed, in part, to the increased interest in professional and management education. NACC is one of the leaders in establishing nonprofit management as a field of study and has continued to support the growth and development of the field through its undergraduate and graduate curricular guidelines (Ashcraft, 2015). These guidelines help increase the legitimacy of the field of study and evolve as the body of knowledge surrounding nonprofit and voluntary organizations develops.

Fletcher (2005) and Herman and Renz (2007) both found alumni were satisfied with the curricular elements of their graduate education, but neither directly compared the knowledge perceived to be necessary for success (as defined by the NACC guidelines) with actual knowledge received. In addition, alumni from both studies show mixed levels of satisfaction with program outcomes on career trajectories. This research examines the various alumni perceptions of both nonprofit curricular needs, as well as knowledge gained from a graduate nonprofit studies program. Following prior research on nonprofit management education, this study builds on earlier work in uncovering ties between curriculum and career outcomes.

An online survey was sent to graduate nonprofit program alumni in October 2017 and again in 2023. The survey asked participants to rank the relative importance of the domains listed on the NACC Curricular Guidelines (Ashcraft, 2015), in terms of locally needed knowledge for effective nonprofit management and whether the graduate program provided them with knowledge from the various NACC domains, to determine whether expectations were met. Finally, alumni were asked whether elements of their graduate education were effective in assisting with developing their career trajectory.

Contribution to the field
This research will have program-specific implications, as it will continue to inform decisions about curriculum. More broadly, this research will help identify the knowledge that is perceived to be necessary among program alumni, identify gaps in demand and provision, and outline whether those perceptions and priorities have changed over time. Finally, this research will assess in which ways nonprofit alumni felt their graduate experience influenced their overall career trajectory. Results will help those developing nonprofit curricula determine perceived gaps and current and emerging needs for their various programs.

References

Ashcraft, R. F. (Ed). (2015) NACC curricular guidelines: Graduate and undergraduate study in nonprofit leadership, the nonprofit sector and philanthropy (3rd ed). Cleveland, OH: NACC.

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Herman, R. D. and Renz, D. O. (2007). Nonprofit management alumni knowledge, skills, and career satisfaction in relation to Nonprofit Academic Centers Council Curricular Guidelines: The case of one university’s master’s of public administration alumni. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. 36(S). 98S-109S.

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Mirabella, R. M. (2007). University-based educational programs in nonprofit management and philanthropic studies: A 10-year review and projections of future trends. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 36(4 suppl), 11S-27S.

Mirabella, R. M., & McDonald, M. (2012). University-based education programs in nonprofit management and philanthropic studies: Current state of the field and future. In R. J. Burke & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Human resource management in the nonprofit sector: Passion, purpose, and professionalism (pp. 243-258). Northampton MA: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.

O'Neill, M. (2007). The future of nonprofit management education. Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Q., 36, 169S.

Stewart, A., Walk, M., & Kuenzi, K. (2021). Competencies and reputation: What appeals to nonprofit graduate alumni?. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 27(1), 16-33.

Author

• Erin Nelson, University of Memphis