How a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration can lead to a successful non-profit career
Last year, Americans donated $358 billion to charities. It was the best year of giving ever in fact, ever since the Giving USA Foundation began tracking donations 60 years ago.
There are more than 1.5 million tax-exempt non-profit organizations in the United States, and 1.05 million of these are considered public charities. The others include private foundations and other types, such as chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues. In 2014, the non-profit share of the U.S. GDP was 5.3 percent, which is a pretty big chunk of change.
There is no question non-profit organizations need business-thinking professionals, even if it isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we think of a business degree. A non-profit organization is one that utilizes all revenue available after normal operating expenses in service to the public interest.
While the goal of non-profits is not to return value to investors, there are still people needed to work in areas such as management, operations, marketing, research, analysis, fundraising, organization and more.
A business education provides flexibility and versatility. William Woods University bachelor’s degree in business administration courses like corporate finance, marketing, productivity tools, business communications, principles of management, and economics can easily fit into the needs of nearly every organization.
There are more than 15,000 nonprofits registered in the state of Missouri. (And William Woods University is one of them!) Some great local and national ones you may have heard of and some you may not have considered as non-profits include:
- United Way of Callaway County
- Habitat for Humanity, St. Louis, MO
- Missouri School for the Deaf
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Saint Louis Zoo and other zoos
- The American Red Cross, Jefferson City, MO
Non-profits are among the top great places to work lists every year. And it is always rewarding to use your business degree to better a cause close to your heart.
Know anybody using his or her business degree in the world of non-profits? Let us know in the comments below.