Academic courses and programs are available at the University of Iowa for students interested in nonprofit careers or who wish to better prepare themselves for volunteer roles in the nonprofit sector. Also note that the University of Northern Iowa, a fellow Iowa Regent Institution, also offers a program in philanthropy and nonprofit development.  

Enrollment in courses and programs listed may be restricted to upper-level students, those enrolled in specific disciplines, or those accepted to related programs. 

University of Iowa courses taught by LAWINRC staff

LAWINRC Director Paul Thelen has taught in the College of Law since 2015. Currently, he teaches the following two courses.

LAW:8753 Nonprofit Organizations: Structure, Governance and Strategy, 3 s.h. (Restricted to Law students)

Focused examination of internal operations of nonprofit organizations; introduction to historical conditions that generated an incredible expansion of diverse and complex organizations that make up the nonprofit sector in the U.S., as well as a multitude of contemporary, real-world obstacles and opportunities leaders and managers navigate within their organizations; topics include issues of accountability, board governance, budgeting, financial management, leadership, strategic planning, taxation, and more; what is a nonprofit organization and what makes a nonprofit organization effective; development of valuable skills necessary to improve the performance of nonprofit organizations.

LAW:8755 Nonprofit Organizations: Advocacy, Collaboration, & Fundraising, 3 s.h. (Open to graduate and professional students in other programs with consent of instructor)

Concept of cultural property, measures for its protection, impact of these measures on the transfer of cultural items; traditional art and architecture, biological and fossil material, human remains; contexts in which issues have arisen, such as stolen cultural property, property acquired during armed conflict and in colonial settings, and property collected in the field or excavated; international, national, and state law, including UNESCO convention on illicit transfer of cultural property, U.S. Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act; how developing professional ethics codes affect the concept of cultural property.

LAW:8162 Art and Entertainment Law, 3 s.h. (Restricted to Law students)

Issues affecting creative artists, financiers, producers, other participants in the world of theater, print publishing, motion pictures, television, music, and fine arts; emphasis on the doctrine of droit moral, including the federal Visual Artist's Rights Act and American courts' treatment of the moral rights; cases involving artistic control, credit and billing, grant of privacy and publicity rights, and sound-alike performers.

LAW:8164 Art, Law, and Ethics, 3 s.h. (Restricted to Law students)

How law and ethics apply to individuals and institutions concerned with visual arts. Same as MUSM:4045.

Other University of Iowa Courses

Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness (NOE) I and II

The interrelated courses Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness (NOE) I and II are offered in the fall and spring of each academic year and focus on the issues and best practices required to build organizational capacity and assure organizational accountability. NOE I and II are the foundation courses for the Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy.

Offered through the Department of Management and Organizations in the UI’s Tippie College of Business, NOE I and II are also cross-listed in a number of other departments (see below). If you prefer to receive course credit through another department, be sure to enroll using that department’s course number. Each department name is followed by the code that precedes specific course numbers in that department. To enroll or to check course availability, go to the MyUI Courses dashboard. Be sure to choose the appropriate session from the drop-down menu at the upper right of the screen. 

• Management and Organization (MGMT)
• Entrepreneurial Management (ENTR)
• Museum Studies (MUSM)
• Nursing (NURS)
• Religious Studies (RELS)
• Social Work (SSW)
• Sports Studies (SPST)

NOE I

• Offers overview of nonprofits’ roles in building and enhancing communities.
• Compares characteristics of nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
• Identifies management skills needed for the effective operation of nonprofit organizations.
• Examines operational and financial aspects of nonprofits, i.e., board governance, finance, budgeting, income generation, fundraising and information management and technology.
• Students draft a mission statement and strategic plan.

NOE II

• Examines necessary qualities for nonprofit leaders including relationships with staff and volunteers.
• Looks at the nonprofit relationship with the external world, i.e., community constituencies, governmental entities, professional associations and collaboration with other organizations.
• Emphasizes integrated strategic communication involving marketing, public relations, public advocacy and internal relations.

University of Iowa Programs

Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy Certificate (NLP)

The certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy requires 21 semester hours of coursework and prepares undergraduate students of any major for jobs with the more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. Core courses cover basics in nonprofit organizational effectiveness, fundraising, ethics, and governance. Students are required to complete a field experience, which traditionally consists of a paid or unpaid internship with a nonprofit organization. To round out the 21 semester hours, students may choose from a wide range of electives such as grant writing, organizational leadership, event planning, and museum studies. 

Those pursuing the certificate come from a wide range of majors, including art and art history, communication studies, finance, health and human physiology, history, international studies, journalism, leisure studies, management, marketing, political science, sport and recreation management, among others.

Details are available on the University College web page.

Master of Public Affairs

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program trains future leaders to systematically and creatively address the multiple challenges of the coming years. With its interdisciplinary public affairs infrastructure—representing colleges, departments, and centers across campus—the University of Iowa is a leader in public affairs locally and nationally. The program educates public affairs leaders who will creatively and knowledgeably address society’s most critical issues and contribute to addressing the grand challenges of the 21st century.

MPA students select from two areas of concentration--Public and Nonprofit Management or Public Policy. Learn more about the areas of concentration here.  

Programs from Other Institutions

Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development

This program from the University of Northern Iowa is a 30-credit, cohort program offered entirely online. The program is geared for persons currently working in nonprofit organizations. Students may earn the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential.