Bradley University takes seriously the need to develop nonprofit leadership for the future health and well-being of our communities.
This edition of iBi is filled with the missions, visions and services provided by nonprofit organizations throughout the Tri-County Area, which are doing great work for so many in need. Where will the future volunteers for these wonderful nonprofits come from? Where will the innovative and dynamic administrative leaders come from to guide these organizations to sustainability and increased social impact? Bradley University is doing its part to help develop nonprofit leadership in a number of significant ways.
Instilling a Passion for Volunteerism and Charity
At the undergraduate level, through the Lewis J. Burger Center for Student Leadership and Public Service, Bradley students gain valuable experiences that instill in them a passion for volunteerism and charity that will greatly benefit the future communities they choose to live in. During the 2015-2016 academic year, Bradley students volunteered 64,529 hours and raised $167,078, positively impacting 450 nonprofit organizations! Last year, Bradley students donated over 300 household goods, 2,500 cans of food, and 288 pints of blood.
Additionally, the Center’s director, Jessica Chandler, came up with the great idea of offering “alternative breaks” for Bradley students. During this year’s winter break in January, Jessica took Bradley students to Americus, Georgia to volunteer with the Fuller Center for Housing; over spring break, she took students to Nashville, Tennessee to volunteer with the United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee. Once a month, over 100 Bradley students take part in Service on Saturday, providing valuable volunteer hours for nonprofit projects around the community.
Developing Administrative Nonprofit Leaders
For 24 years at the graduate-school level, Bradley University has offered the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership Program, which helps develop specialized skills for leadership positions with a variety of nonprofits. Through 36 hours of coursework, you can build a toolkit for success in the nonprofit sector with courses in strategic planning, financial leadership, grant writing, organizational leadership and human resources, as well as completion of a 150-hour field experience with a nonprofit organization.
Classes are scheduled with working professionals in mind, and if you currently work full-time for a nonprofit organization, you may be eligible for a 50-percent tuition reduction. Some notable graduates from the program include Janet Glavin, Community Relations Manager for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois; Stephen Petersen, Vice President of Resource Development at the Heart of Illinois United Way; Mark Roberts, CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois; and Julie Siebert, Director of Quality Improvement at Children’s Home Association of Illinois. Bradley University strongly supports the great work of our nonprofit organizations. It will continue to instill the spirit of volunteerism and charity with its students and help to develop a new generation of nonprofit administrative leaders. iBi
Brad McMillan is Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership program at Bradley University. To learn more, go to bradley.edu/lenc.
