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October 27, 2004
Non-Profits as Entrepreneurial Ventures
Universities across the country, as told in this story in the Chronicle of Higher Education, are beginning to train non-profit managers in business skills, particularly entrepreneurial management skills.
"Around the country, business schools are creating and expanding programs that help nonprofit managers...apply bottom-line business skills to mission-driven projects. Courses in nonprofit management and related fields like social entrepreneurship are booming."
There are several trends behind the growth in these programs.
"Several factors account for the surge of interest from students. First, turned off by stories of corporate greed, students are eager to find ways to make a contribution to a post-9/11 world. Second, with 1.4 million nonprofit organizations in the United States competing for government and philanthropic funds, charities need skilled fund raisers and administrators. In addition, their leaders are worried that scandals like those at United Way and other charities have shaken public confidence. They want to reaffirm it."
I am seeing growing interest in our programs here at Belmont among both MBA students and undergraduate business students. Many of these students are also strong advocates that the private sector is the best answer to many of society's problems, rather than relying on government programs.
Posted October 27, 2004 05:21 AM
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Comments
Given the countless government sponsored programs to "help" social problems and issues, I COMPLETELY agree that the private sector is the answer to many of societies ills. As a passionate volunteer, I have worked with several non-profit organizations. Unfortunately, each one has been long on compassion and short on business skills. It is frustrating to work in these organizations and not see basic business skills being applied. I think if more organizations applied practical business skills and operated with a for-profit mentality, non-profits could enhance their service to society. Actually, this is the main reason I've entered the MBA program at Belmont. Hopefully the business skills I learn can be applied in the non-profit world. I would also love to see a non-profit class offered at Belmont in the future.
Posted by: Rebecca Burcham at October 27, 2004 05:37 PM
at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He consults with a variety of businesses on start-up and growth related issues, and with larger corporations on re-establishing entrepreneurial cultures within their organizations. Dr. Cornwall's current research interests include entrepreneurial finance and entrepreneurial ethics. He has authored or co-authored four books.
