Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Centers
About Us
The Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy (CNP) supports a vibrant nonprofit and philanthropic sector in Texas and beyond, through high quality research, professional outreach, and engaged learning. Nonprofit and philanthropic organizations are the backbone of healthy and vibrant communities. Echoing President Bush’s “thousand points of light,” local communities are strengthened by a voluntary sector that facilitates community engagement, supports giving and volunteering, and fosters social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Nonprofit Management Degree & Certificates
The Bush School of Government and Public Service prepares individuals for leadership positions in the public and nonprofit sectors through relevant and challenging courses, leadership development opportunities, and distinguished faculty who support a collaborative learning environment enriched by advanced technologies. Graduates of the Bush School who specialize in the nonprofit sector work to address the most pressing challenges of our time. Nonprofit organizations need dedicated and professionally trained individuals who can achieve and measure outcomes, raise funds, manage staff and volunteers, and monitor finances and governance for ethical accountability.
Which nonprofit program is right for you?
The Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy (CNP) supports nonprofit organizations through our partnership with the Bush School, providing students with opportunities to learn through community engagement, interactions with nonprofit leaders, relevant research, and practical experience. Our goal is to empower individuals with the dedication and skills needed to pursue impactful careers that strengthen societies and democracies.
Online & On-Campus Nonprofit Management Certificate
Offered online, on-campus, or a combination of both, the Certificate in Nonprofit Management is an outstanding addition to the resume of anyone working with nonprofits or interested in a career in the nonprofit sector, nonprofit organizational structures, and management practices appropriate to the sector. Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to offer effective leadership in the management of nonprofit organizations. Courses are taught by nationally and internationally acclaimed faculty members, oftentimes accompanied with a student presence of full time working professionals who bring unique experiences and expertise to the classroom.
These areas of study are available for a choice of certificate emphasis:
- Fundraising and Philanthropy
- Fiscal & Performance Management
- Leadership & Management
- Health and Human Service Policy
- International Nongovernmental Organizations
Executive Master of Public Service & Administration
Nonprofit management is a rewarding field that is experiencing continued growth. Nonprofit management affords professionals the opportunity to positively impact the world around them and leave a lasting contribution to individuals, society, and world. In the nonprofit track, along with gaining an understanding of the historical and theoretical perspectives on the sector and discovering the role and function of nonprofits in society today, you will also develop the advanced expertise and skills to
- compare and apply management, leadership, and governance principles to lead organizational activities;
- integrate legal, economic, and political perspectives in the management of nonprofits;
- develop human resource systems that attend to human capital concerns with paid employees and unpaid volunteers;
- employ inter-organizational principles to support collaborative relationships; and
- utilize evaluation principles to create programs that produce public benefits.
Master of Public Service & Administration
The Nonprofit Management Track (NPM) provides an understanding of the role of the nonprofit sector as it has evolved and the distinctive character of nonprofit management and the challenges it must address. Discussions include the variation of structures and activities of assorted nonprofits. It also examines development, political activities, and other dimensions of the relationship between nonprofit organizations and their environments.
Center for Nonprofits News
Unveiling the Art of Nonprofit Leadership: Strategies for Success and Impact
May 7, 2025 • 2 min. readThe Bush School’s Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy recently hosted the “Igniting Success: The Collaborative Power of Nonprofit Leaders” webinar, moderated by Dr. Will Brown, featuring insights from Jennifer Bartkowski (Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas), Roxanne Saldaña Jones (United Ways of Texas), and Dr. Kelly Zúñiga. The panel emphasized advocacy, authentic communication, and succession planning as keys to nonprofit impact.
Leading Through Uncertainty: Insights from CNP’s March Webinar
March 21, 2025 • 2 min. readMeet The Team
The Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy is supported by faculty and staff who contribute to its outreach, education and research. Faculty Fellows from across Texas A&M collaborate with the center, offering interdisciplinary perspectives on nonprofit and philanthropic issues.
William A Brown
Professor & Director of the Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Public Service and Administration
Frank B Ashley III
Senior Professor, Public Service and Administration
Angela Seaworth
Instructional Associate Professor, Public Service and Administration
Nicole Collier
Program Manager of Operations, Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy and Nonprofit Academic Centers Council, Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy
Dr. Deborah Kerr
Professor of the Practice Emerita, Public Service and Administration
Robbie Robichau
Associate Professor & Director of the Graduate Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management, Public Service and Administration
Charles Little
Visiting Lecturer, Public Service and Administration
Tosha Cantrell-Bruce
Visiting Lecturer, Public Service and Administration
Jenny Morrison
Visiting Lecturer, Public Service and Administration
Kelly J. Zuniga
Lecturer, Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy
CNP Alumni Spotlight
The Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy is proud of Bush School alumni who are living their lives through public service, striving to make the world a better place through their daily work.
THE CENTER CELEBRATES ALUMNI GOOD WORKS
Our Research
The Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy produces research that informs and strengthens the nonprofit sector. This work helps Texas leaders better understand the scope, structure and capacity of nonprofits and philanthropy, and includes collaboration with scholars across the field. Research from the center has been published in leading journals on governance, strategic management, grant making and philanthropy.
Contact Us | Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy
The Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy is located on the third floor of the Robert H. and Judy Ley Allen Building at the Bush School of Government & Public Service.
Phone: (979) 862-3195
Fax: (979) 845-4155
Email: bushschool.nonprofitmanagement@tamu.edu