Online learning We offer a variety of online learning options. Visit our learning formats page for more information.

 

Required courses

We strongly recommend completion of Introduction to Non-profit Management prior to registering in any other courses in the program.

Introduction to Non-profit Management
non-profit organizations make a significant contribution to our communities and to our economy. Explore the history, magnitude, issues, trends and challenges that affect the sector, with emphasis on leadership and management skills.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20008	15 Hours. Fee: $399
CRN 50074	Online	May 2 - 30

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Keys to Managing Non-profit Organizations I: Strategic Management
Examine the fundamentals of strategic management and explore various approaches to strategic planning. Analyze the impact of your organization's mission and vision when developing and meeting long-term objectives. Gain an understanding of the role of organizational leadership, culture, complexity and mobilizing resources for change.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20009	15 Hours. Fee: $399
CRN 70050	Online	July 25 - Aug. 22

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Program Planning and Evaluation for the Non-profit Sector
Explore program planning and assessment principles currently used in the non-profit sector. Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to create new programs and initiatives in a non-profit organization by creating a plan for a new program from the research stage through evaluation.

Textbook (recommended): Field Guide to non-profit Program Design, Marketing and Evaluation, available at the Cougar Store.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20012	15 Hours. Fee $399	Not offered this semester

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Introduction to Voluntarism in the Non-profit Sector
Volunteers donate over one billion hours to charities each year, a value of over $14 billion to Canada's economy. It is imperative for non-profit organizations to manage this valuable resource effectively. Find out how to plan an effective volunteer program, motivate volunteers, provide meaningful volunteer job development, and recruit, select and train volunteers.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code XNPC 20011

15 Hours. Fee $399

Not offered this semester

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Board Governance in the Non-profit Sector
To govern well, boards must understand their work and develop effective, well-thought-out processes that keep the board focused on its work while respecting the roles and responsibilities of the organization's staff. Examine these issues and investigate various board models and structures, roles of external stakeholders and board fiduciary responsibilities.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code XNPC 20010

15 Hours. Fee $399

CRN 50029

Online

May 23 - June 20

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Fund Development and Corporate Philanthropy
Look at fundraising from both a non-profit and a private sector perspective. From the non-profit perspective, discuss how to raise funds. On the corporate side, discuss how to create programs that provide funding.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20015

15 Hours. Fee $399

CRN 30063

Online

March 21 - April 19

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Ethical Issues in the Non-profit Sector
Ethics-based decision making is critical to the long-term success of a non-profit organization. Explore various ways to approach ethical issues and different ethical decision-making tactics that can be applied to a non-profit organization, helping to ensure its success.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20013	15 Hours. Fee $399	Not offered this semester

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Law for the Non-profit Sector
It is vital that non-profit managers understand the legal responsibilities of the organization. Examine a broad range of legal issues, including the laws of trust, contract law, tax law, and human resource laws. Explore a risk management process that has direct application to non-profit organizations.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20014	15 Hours. Fee: $399
CRN 30137	Online	March 28 - April 25

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Optional Courses

Choose 2

Marketing and Public Relations in the Non-profit Sector
Gain insight into marketing and public relations as they relate to the goals and objectives of non-profit organizations. This course provides opportunities for networking and small group discussion, and you are expected to develop a marketing and public relations plan for a non-profit organization.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20007	15 Hours. Fee: $399
CRN 70175	Online	July 4 - Aug. 2

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Keys to Managing Non-profit Organizations II: Roles and Relationships
Examine the management functions in non-profit organizations and identify different strategies for managing them. Learn to recognize the importance of major stakeholders and how to maintain relationships with them and discover the role of transaction and exchange when managing stakeholders.

Recommended: Keys to Managing non-profit Organizations I

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject code: XNPC 20016	15 Hours. Fee: $399
CRN 30039	Online	March 28 - April 25

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Financial Basics: Keeping it Simple for Non-profit Managers
Examine non-profit financial management including the accounting cycle, budgeting process and financial management tools. Use case studies to examine the financial relationship between non-profit organizations and government.

Note: This instructor-facilitated online course begins and ends on set dates with specific deadlines for assignments. Courses may include optional live video-conferencing sessions.

Subject (for registration): Non-Profit Management

Subject Code: XNPC 20018	15 Hours Fee: $399
CRN 50047	Online	May 30 - June 27

 

Tentative course schedule
	Fall (Sept. - Dec.)	Winter (Jan. - April)	Spring/Summer  (May - Aug.)
Introduction to Non-profit Management	•	•	•
Keys to Managing Non-profit Organizations I: Strategic Management	•	•	•
Program Planning and Evaluation for the Non-profit Sector	•	•
Board Governance in the Non-profit sector	•	•	•
Fund Development and Corporate Philanthropy	•	•
Ethical Issues in the Non-profit Sector	•	•
Law for the Non-profit Sector	•	•
Introduction to Volunteerism	•	•
Optional Courses
Marketing and Public Relations in the Non-profit Sector	•	•	•
Keys to Managing Non-profit Organizations II: Roles and Relationships	•	•
Financial Basics: Keeping it Simple for Non-profit Managers	•	•	•

 

Each course may be offered in a variety of formats. Check the “Courses and fees” tab for more information.

The schedule above is subject to change. Courses start on various dates within each semester. Fall schedule and registration available in June. Winter schedule and registration available in November. Spring/Summer schedule and registration available in March.

 

 

Michele Fugiel Gartner MA, CAP®
Michele Fugiel Gartner, MA, CAP®, has over a decade of experience within the non-profit and philanthropic sectors, specializing in private foundations and social entrepreneurship. She is Ph.D. candidate at the University of St. Andrews, School of Management focusing on professionalism and family foundations. Michele instructs non-profit management and social entrepreneurship courses, provides advisory services for charitable organizations, and in 2016, she received the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation.

Her prior philanthropic experience was with the Trico Charitable Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Social Venture Partners Calgary and as a participant in Rotary International's Group Study Exchange to Saitama, Japan, where she studied the role of philanthropy in Japanese civil society. She received her MA in International Studies and Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and is an alumna of the Asia Pacific Leadership Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu.

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Amanda Jensen MA 

For the majority of her career, Amanda has worked in the non-profit sector, including Volunteer Lethbridge, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Community Futures Lethbridge Region, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Victoria.  She rounds her experience with forays into municipal governance and as an entrepreneur.  She has been an instructor for Mount Royal University intermittently for more than a decade.  Amanda holds an M.A. in Leadership from the University of Guelph, as well as a Business Management Degree from the University of Lethbridge.

Outside of formal employment, Amanda is a founding member of her community's Social Health Equity Network, and the Diversity and Inclusion Alliance, and enjoys participating in conversations that matter to the community.  

She has four kids, a big fluffy dog named Rolo, and can't wait to travel again!

 

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Judy McMillan-Evans MEd 

Judy is a community developer, project manager, adult educator, and entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience leading business development projects and developing the capacity of business and non-profit leaders. In this realm, Judy also advises non-profit boards and business management teams on all aspects of organizational strategies.

Judy has instructed courses at MRU for 30 years on topics of leadership, nonprofit management, strategic management, and entrepreneurship.

In everything she does, Judy offers fun, passion, experience, knowledge, and creativity with a strong focus on quality education.

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D. Bruce Randall Bachelor of Arts (1981, McGill University); Bachelor of Civil Law (1985, McGill Law School);
Bachelor of Laws (1985, McGill Law School) 

Governance; Law for the Non-Profit

Bruce is a community-builder, lawyer, corporate professional and non-profit leader with 40 years of progressive experience across Canada, helping organizations develop and grow, supporting infrastructure and governance alignment with organizational goals; team building; stakeholder engagement; and strategic planning and execution. Currently the Executive Director of the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC), Bruce is a proud member of CRIEC’s founding group. CRIEC designs and delivers highly effective employment-related mentoring programs connecting newcomer professionals with Calgary-region corporate mentors.

Bruce retired as an active lawyer and General Counsel in 2004, having served as the lead in-house legal advisor for several large Canadian public companies, namely The Forzani Group Ltd. in Calgary and CCM, The Hockey Company in Montreal. Previously, Bruce was in private legal private with law firms in Toronto and Montreal. 

Bruce’s community leadership includes serving as the Board Chairperson of Miskanawah Community Services Association (an Indigenous social services organization serving Indigenous children, youth and families); co-founder and Board Director of Influence Mentoring Society (providing mentoring support for Indigenous students in post-secondary schools); Board Director with Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (providing support to Alberta’s settlement and integration sector); and committee member of BlackNorth Initiative, Alberta Chapter (providing support for the removal of anti-Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians).

Raised in northern New Brunswick, Bruce’s life has been influenced, informed and inspired by that special place.

 

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Allan B. Serafino PhD
Allan is a 28-year veteran of the non-profit sector and has taught several courses in MRU's non-profit Management program. He is semi-retired, spending his time consulting, publishing and teaching.

Allan recently completed a PhD at the University of Calgary with a focus on workplace learning in the non-profit sector. His thesis was on "non-profit Leaders' Experiences in Learning at their Workplace".

Allan earned his BA (English Literature) at Laurentian University and his MCE (Continuing Education) at the University of Calgary. His teaching focus is on non-profit management: program planning and introduction to volunteerism at MRU, and continuing education and adult learning at UofC. His career expertise was in program planning, volunteerism, board development and adult learning.

Allan's most recent publications include Operational Planning and Management in Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice, 2nd Ed, 2013, as well as various articles in non-profit and educational journals. He has a forthcoming article with Dr. J. Willment, "Know Oneself First: A Study of Individual Learning Experiences for Executive Directors Working within non-profit Agencies" for the Human Resources Development Quarterly.

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Ron Strand BA (Adv), BA (Psych), MA, Ed.D, CFRE 
Ron's experience with the non-profit sector encompasses being Executive Director of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, a board member for provincial and national non-profits, and a consultant for numerous organizations, health care districts and universities across Canada.

Working in the non-profit field followed a successful career in business as a marketing manager. Ron continues his consulting practice and teaches with the Faculty of Communication, Public Relations program, at Mount Royal University. He has developed online courses in fund development, marketing and public relations.

Other interests include taking cartoon drawing at the Alberta College of Art, studying visual recording and facilitation, and incorporating cartoons and comics into many of his courses. Ron is a recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award from MRU.