By Annie Reilly
Assistant News Editor
St. Bonaventure University will offer eight courses which focus on building management skills to help professionals working in or entering the nonprofit sector. Students who participate in these courses will receive a certificate in nonprofit management, according to a Jan. 4, university press release.
The classes will cover strategic planning, volunteer recruitment, grant research, and strategies for reducing rural poverty.
“This program is part of a new effort to offer noncredit programming in specific areas of interest to the general community.” Larry Sorokes, executive director of Grants Administration. “This is the first such offering. We are also hoping to utilize the campus facilities on a year-round basis by offering summer programs, such as academic camps (for middle- and high-school students) and conferences.”
Students will pay $85 per four-hour course, $165 per eight-hour course, and $800 for the full 40-hour program. All classes will be available from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., starting Feb. 26, according to the official program flier.
“I started planning for this early last fall, and the success of the recent Nonprofit Networking Day, co-sponsored by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (held on campus in November) confirmed that there is strong interest in this kind of programming.” Sorokes said. “I’ve had inquiries from students from Education, Business, and the social sciences.”
All the courses will be held on campus, according to the press release.
“The nonprofit sector is a growing segment of the American economy. Many students have expressed interest in working in, or perhaps starting their own, nonprofit organization. This series of courses presents an overview of the key components of nonprofit management, including planning and organization, fundraising and grant-writing, and accounting/finance,” Sorokes said. “However, we expect a good number of participants will come from the community; people currently working in the field or transitioning into nonprofit employment, board leadership, or volunteering are expressing interest in the program.”
The program will be offered to any major and anyone interested in the field, according to Sorokes.
“The community will definitely benefit the community as nonprofit leaders from the Western New York and Northwestern Pennslyvania will have access to the certification program. These seminar-style programs will allow participants to concentrate on areas of nonprofit operations that will enhance their management capabilities,” according to Professor Michael D. Kasperski.
To register for these courses contact Larry Sorokes, at lsorokes@sbu.edu.
