Nonprofit Focus - Leadership Studies Minor
The nonprofit focus provides students with the knowledge, skills and experience that will prepare them for leadership in today’s rapidly growing nonprofit sector. Students will complete a 150-hour internship, attend a professional conference, and have the opportunity to participate in the Nonprofit Leadership Student Association. At the completion of the minor, students will receive a nonprofit leadership designation on their transcript.
Click here for a full PDF about the minor.
Required Elective Courses
Other Requirements:
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What is Nonprofit Leadership Student Association?
Nonprofit Leadership Student Association (NLSA) is a group that educates and prepares the next generation of nonprofit leaders. While participation in NLSA is not required for the focus, it is highly encouraged as it provides professional development, social and networking opportunities, and will give students the chance to develop efficacy with the nonprofit program competencies, personal traits, and deep sector-specific knowledge.
Why nonprofit Leadership/Nonprofit LeadershipStudent Association?
- Get one-to-one support, career development, and mentoring by faculty and community nonprofit professionals.
- Network with and gain special access to prospective employers at local, regional, and national levels.
- Receive opportunities to practice nonprofit roles through internships, co-curricular activities, community service, and professional development events.
- Acquire references and referrals from organization and agency executive directors, advisory board members, and community leaders.
For more information on completing the nonprofit focus, contact:
Lori Kniffin
Academic Advisor, lkniffin@k-state.edu
Academic Requirements
Students will complete the four core classes for the Leadership Studies minor (see Course Requirements) and the following electives:
LEAD 502: Ethical Dimensions of Leadership (3 credit hours)
This course will explore the ethical and moral responsibilities of leadership. Students will study the moral obligations of leaders and followers and how leaders shape the moral environment of institutions and other formal and informal organizations. This course will also address the public and private morality of leaders as well as how leaders convey values through language, symbolic actions, and as role models. In order to prepare students for their various career paths, ethical issues related to leadership with a variety of contexts will be examined. (Prerequisite: LEAD 212)
LEAD 420: Theories of Nonprofit Leadership (3 credit hours)
This course provides an overview of nonprofit organization leadership by integrating concepts and theories with applied practice. Students will demonstrate an understanding and application of competencies (knowledge and skills) necessary for professional success as a nonprofit organization leader. (Prerequisites: LEAD 212, 350)
LEAD 499: Nonprofit Organization Internship Seminar (3 credit hours) 
This course provides a capstone opportunity for students in the nonprofit leadership focus to analyze, discuss, document and present their achievement of the competencies, personal traits, and deep sector-specific knowledge, and to critically reflect upon their nonprofit organization internships required for successful completion of the nonprofit focus. (Prerequisites: LEAD 212, 350, 405, 420, and 502 - Ethical Dimensions of Leadership)
150–Hour Internship
Internship Experiences
The underlying principle of an internship is “shared value.” Students in the nonprofit focus should work closely with program advisors for the internship selection process. Prior to finalizing your internship selection, please schedule a meeting with our nonprofit staff. When evaluating a possible internship, consider the following information:
- Does the opportunity provided through the internship experience align with your professional goals and with the competencies outlined through the nonprofit focus?
- Does the nonprofit organization provide proper preparation through an orientation or training relevant to your internship work?
- Will the organization offer you additional opportunities to further your education and development throughout your time as an intern?
- Do the mission, vision and values of the organization align with your personal values and passion? Is your personal passion for work in the nonprofit sector aligned with the work of this organization?
Nonprofit Leadership Association Internship Opportunity
This is a short-term work experience emphasizing hands-on learning that enriches the academic content studied in the classroom. Internships provide you with the opportunity to translate your academic preparation into career goals. Internships allow you to:
- Pursue a professional career or other leadership role in a nonprofit organization.
- Experience a learning laboratory in the working world.
- Apply nonprofit focus competencies to important projects and initiatives.
How to Complete the Required 150 Hours
- We recommend you spend one full semester (fall, spring, or summer) at a single organization for a total of 150 hours.
- You can take your LEAD 499, Internship Seminar concurrently or directly after your internship experience. Please work alongside your advisor to map out this process.
Example Internships
K-State nonprofit leadership students have interned with many different organizations. Internships should not be limited by geographic location but should instead focus on aligning your personal passion and values with an organization representative of those things in the nonprofit sector. Here are a few examples of past internships:
- Nonprofit Leadership Alliance National Headquarters, Kansas City
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Kansas City
- Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - World Mission
- United Nations Foundation, Washington, DC
- Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri
- Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community
- Banderas de Esperanza, Bucerias, Mexico
- KVC Behavioral Healthcare, Kansas City
- Share Our Strength, Washington, DC
- Manhattan Community Foundation
- UFM Community Learning Center
- HandsOn K-State of Manhattan
- Flint Hills Community Clinic
- K-State Alumini Association
- First Book, Washington,DC
- SunFlower CASA Project
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Boys and Girls Club
- Fare Start, Seattle
- Girls Inc
Nonprofit Leadership Student Association
NLSA focuses on providing professional development, community service, and fundraising opportunities for students. Participation in NLSA is not required for the non-profit focus but is highly encouraged as it provides professional development, social and networking opportunities and will give students a chance to work on the competencies, personal traits and deep sector-specific knowledge.
All students interested in community service are invited to participate!
For more information about getting involved with NLSA, contact:
Morgan Peelen
President, NLSA
Chance Lee
Instructor, Advisor for NLSA
Nidhi Bhandari
Instructor, Nonprofit Advisor