Best Free MOOCs In Business For June

Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofit Organizations, Nonprofit Leadership and Governance

School: State University of New York

Platform: Coursera

Registration Link: CLICK HERE

Start Date: June 6, 2016

Workload: Not Specified

Instructors:  Yvonne Harrison and Vic Murray

Credentials: Harrison is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Albany, where she teaches courses in the foundations of public management and nonprofit governance. Murray is an adjunct professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria.

Graded: Students can choose to explore course videos, discussions, and ungraded assignments for free, but they won’t be able to submit graded assignments, earn a certificate, or complete a specialization without paying a $49 per course fee.

Description: Not-for-profit organizations are run far different than their for-profit counterparts. Forget profits. Mission is the driving force here. At the same time, they often possess fewer revenue streams, relying instead on goodwill to fund their efforts. As a result, they must be governed in a different fashion. In this course, students will learn the best practices for operating a non-profit. In particular, the course will focus on the following areas:

• Unique characteristics of nonprofits
• Leadership and governance
• Roles of board members
• Developing a BEAR (Board Effectiveness Readiness Assessment

The course includes video lectures and practitioner interviews, case studies and discussion forums, with students evaluated on quizzes and a class project.

Review: “Very thorough and practical. Great insights into the governance and leadership required in the nonprofit sector.” For additional reviews, click here.

Additional Background: This is the first of a four course specialization from the State University of New York called “Improving Leadership and Governance in Nonprofit Organizations.” It includes courses on managing nonprofit boards. To learn more about this specialization and register for it, click here.