Mission-Driven Operations and Management
Program operations and organizational management work together to accomplish a nonprofit organization’s mission, vision, and impact. From staffing to performance evaluation, impact measurement to human and financial resourcing, it takes effective structures to manage programs successfully. In this graduate certificate program in Mission-Driven Operations and Management, you’ll examine nonprofit and/or nongovernmental organizational operations, finances, and programming to help further mission impact. You’ll examine community organizing and program evaluation strategies from a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens that demonstrate community impact and mission accomplishment.
Summmer 2023 Course Offering
Check out our experiential learning course Development in Action: An Immersive Leadership Experience offered this summer at the Kennedy Mountain Campus.
Note: This course is not applicable to the four-course certificate curriculum.

At a Glance


Free Application
University College is committed to educational access, and given the difficult circumstances currently impacting millions of people, we are waiving application fees.
Skills You'll Learn
Plan, resource, and manage program development for nonprofit and/or nongovernmental
Assess programming design, funding structures, resource allocation, and measured impact
Use evaluation and planning skills to accomplish mission and align operations
Curriculum
Specialized Graduate Certificate in Certificate of Advanced Study in Mission-Driven Operations and Management requires completion of 16 credit hours (4 courses).
All students are required to complete a zero-credit Student Success Course.
Sample Schedule
Finish a graduate certificate in as few as six months or take up to a year. Choose your time to completion to get a better sense of what your schedule will look like during your certificate program.
Year 1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
4-Course Certificate Classes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
6-Course Certificate Classes | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Interested in a master's degree?
Explore our Master of Science in Strategic Human Resources with a concentration in Mission-Driven Operations and Management.
Take a Course Before You Apply
We know how important it is to get started when you're ready and that's why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.
Career Outcomes
Predicted outcomes for graduates of Mission-Driven Operations and Management
The Bureau of Labor Statistics found there were nearly 12.3 million jobs in the nonprofit sector, which amounts to 10.2% of employment in the United States. The Colorado Nonprofit Economic Impact study found that nonprofits make 11.3% of the state’s GDP and accounts for over 333,000 jobs.
The nonprofit industry is a diverse industry with employers based in large cities to rural areas. Nonprofit professionals can seek employment in healthcare, education, social services, arts and culture, and more.
Job Titles
Non Profit Services Director of Operations Salary: National Average
Get Ahead with Career Services
One-on-one career coaching and mock interviews
Job database dedicated to DU students and alumni
Résumé and cover letter guidance
Hear from Our Students
Hear from Our Students Carousel
These times are tumultuous, yet nonprofit organizations still need to move forward to make the world a better place. How are we navigating our organizations and fundraising programs through this time of uncertainty? Let's come together and discuss how we all can survive and even thrive in these times. In this session, seasoned nonprofit professionals who are Nonprofit Leadership faculty, will address the challenges of creating a fundraising strategy in the age of COVID-19 and practical tips to make your fundraising program work in times of crisis.

Flexible Online Classes
We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.
Featured Instructors
Featured instructors carousel
Accreditation & Associations

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.
The University of Denver's Nonprofit Leadership program through University College is proud to be a sponsor of the Colorado Nonprofit Association, a valued community partnership for more than a decade.

The Nonprofit Leadership program at DU's University College is a proud member of several leading nonprofit associations, including the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC).