Nonprofit Organizations

Overview and Contact Information

The Nonprofit Organizations Nexus focuses on the study of organizational settings in the nonprofit sector. The word “nonprofit” refers to a type of business—one which is organized under rules that forbid the distribution of profits to owners. The Internal Revenue Service describes nonprofit organizations as serving charitable, religious, scientific, or educational purposes. Nonprofit organizations include global nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Oxfam and Greenpeace as well as local community organizations such as the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Historic Northampton Museum. Students may pursue internships with nonprofit organizations to complete the experiential requirement for this Nexus.

See Also

• Entrepreneurship, Organizations, and Society

Faculty

This area of study is administered by the following Nexus track chairs:

Michael Robinson, Professor of Economics

Steven Schmeiser, Associate Professor of Economics

Requirements for the Nexus

A minimum of 18 credits:

Additional Specifications

• In selecting courses from the approved list for the track, students will complete at least one course particular to nonprofit organizations and will generally also select one of the approved EOS (Entrepreneurship, Organizations, and Society) courses
• The sequence of a Nexus is part of what makes it unique. UAF application stages 1 and 2 must be completed before the internship or research project. COLL-211 is taken after the internship or research project and culminates in a presentation at LEAP Symposium.

Courses Counting toward the Nexus

Courses other than those listed below may count toward the Nexus. Students should consult the Nexus track chair for consideration of courses not on the list.