“Social service organizations tend to be set in their ways. We’re really good at the four hour meeting. Well, that’s not the world we live in anymore. We need to understand the velocity of change and be nimble. I tell my employees that standing still is not an option.” -Father John Estrem is an MNA student and CEO of Catholic Charities of Saint Paul/ Minneapolis. He oversees more than 500 employees, a $34 million budget and services including teen shelters, emergency housing and advocacy.

Three MNA Fellows Selected

Through the support of the Arthur Foundation, the MNA program has launched a fellows program to increase research efforts in the field of nonprofit leadership and to assist well-qualified students with fellowship funding. In 2007, the inaugural year of the program, three fellows were selected: Jennifer Gorman (’98), Stephen Ponzillo and Andrew Noethe (both ND ’98). In addition to program activities, these MNA fellows are participating in field projects coordinated by Marketing Professor Connie Porter for Volunteers of America, Catholic Charities USA and the children’s hospital of Memorial Hospital.

Executive Offerings Promote Nonprofit Business Excellence

In spring 2006 and 2007, MNA offered week-long institutes for nonprofit leaders and new CEOs addressing such topics as human resources, legal issues, funding and board development. “Nonprofit leaders face a fast-changing and competitive world,” said participant Alan Garner, president and CEO of Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania. “I could take home and implement immediately the material presented.” Director Thomas Harvey anticipates that more non-degree seminars, distance learning and custom programming will be offered in the future to meet growing demand in the nonprofit sector.

MNA Expands Course Offerings

Through new partnerships, distance learning courses and connections with innovative nonprofit leaders, the program offered several new electives during the past two years.

Fund Development: A new collaboration between the College and Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy gives MNA students access to six fund development distance learning courses offered by Indiana University. The arrangement also enables Indiana University students to benefit from four distance learning business courses offered by Mendoza.

Negotiating the Issues and Opportunities of the Nonprofit Sector: Director Thomas Harvey developed a distance learning course incorporating the insights of 11 national nonprofit leaders in fall 2006. The guest lecturers shared their experiences and recommended best practices in research, fund development, advocacy and media relations, among other timely topics.

Nonprofit Management and Organizational Behavior: Dom Betro, President/CEO of the Family Service Association of Riverside, California and former successful dot-com executive, challenged students to incorporate entrepreneurial approaches and market opportunities to strengthen nonprofit agencies in this course offered in summer 2007.

Learning Through Field Projects

To encourage integration of classroom work with nonprofit practice, students take part in intensive field projects. Among the recent projects were:

• Business Plan for Red Cloud Indian School: Donor Database Research
• Marketing Strategic Plan for American Red Cross/St. Joseph County Chapter
• Southold Dance Theater—Education and Outreach Programs
• A Strategic Plan for JustFaith Ministries
• Miracle Place—A Fund Development Study