An Online MBA Degree Lets You Lend a Helping Hand

Business can often seem very cold and money-driven. A lot of people interested in helping communities can be turned off to business because of this perception. However, an MBA degree specializing in non-profit management can allow you to serve your community and use business for the greater good.

Finding Opportunity

There can be little doubt that the non-profit industry has a lot of opportunity. Warren Buffet made headlines when he committed more than $30 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMG). It came with the caveat that his yearly donations (approximately $1.5 billion annually) would have to be entirely spent each year. This effectively means that the BMG would have to double its spending each year, and the foundation will need to find more quality run non-profits to fund in the coming years.

Who Needs Your Help

With an MBA degree, you can be situated to be an executive director or community service manager for one of 1.4 million 501(c)s (the IRS's official non-profit designation). Non-profits can be found in industry sectors like:

• Human Services
• Environment
• Health
• Education
• Arts

You may already know where your passion lies, but if not, you need to ask yourself what causes or issues matter most to you. Does the AIDS epidemic in Africa touch you? Do you want to help inner city kids go to college and reach their potential? Does global warming really bother you? Whatever non-profit sector you choose should be one about which you truly care.

Finding Your MBA Degree Program

A Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) study found that 82% of 2005 MBA alumni indicated that their management training was critical to getting a job. So the first step is to find the right school. The degree selection tool at the upper left allows you to further investigate online MBA degree programs. You can look for an MBA degree program that has the non-profit management specialization or locate an MBA in leadership to hone your entrepreneurial skills--always a plus when trying to fundraise. An online MBA degree program gives you flexibility to work around your current family or work schedules. You also won't have to worry about commuting or relocation.

The non-profit industry is set to grow by 15% from 2004 to 2014 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so the jobs are out there. And an online MBA degree may just be your way to a rewarding career using your business knowledge to better your community.

Sources
Advocacy, Grantmaking, and Civic Organizations
Warren Buffet Gives Nearly $30 Billion To Gates Foundation
The United States Nonprofit Sector, National Council of Nonprofit Associations

About the Author
James Tolles is a freelance writer and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.