Nonprofit Social Service Directors

High School

If you're interested in nonprofit social services work, you'll want to concentrate on humanities and social science courses such as English, history, government, sociology, and psychology. Such courses will give you perspective on the issues confronting the people that a nonprofit organization will be trying to help. Communication skills are critical, so in addition to English, take public speaking courses to hone your skills. The ability to speak a foreign language will be a big plus in many organizations; consider taking Spanish, as it is the second most common language spoken in this country. At the director level of a nonprofit agency, you will be responsible for budget expenditures; therefore, you should have mathematics and accounting knowledge, so be sure to include these classes in your schedule. Finally, take computer science courses so that you will be able to use the computer for activities such as creating budgets, writing grant proposals, and keeping a database of information on clients.

Postsecondary Training

Most nonprofit social service organizations will require that you have a degree in social work from a college or university program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The undergraduate degree is the bachelor of social work (B.S.W.). Graduate degrees include the master of social work (M.S.W.) and the doctorate in social work (D.S.W.) or Ph.D. The CSWE accredits hundreds of bachelor's programs and master's programs. A number of schools also offer doctoral programs in social work (D.S.W. or Ph.D.) in the United States. Visit https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/about/directory for a list of accredited programs.

The undergraduate degree will allow you to find entry-level positions at many agencies. Typical courses of study for the B.S.W. include classes in social welfare policies, human behavior and the social environment, research methods, and ethics. In addition, accredited programs require you to complete at least 400 hours of supervised field experience. To advance to the level of director, you will need to have a master's or doctorate degree. Obtaining an M.S.W. degree usually requires two years of courses along with a minimum of 900 hours of supervised fieldwork. You may be able to enter a master's program without having a B.S.W.; however, you should have a background that includes psychology, sociology, biology, economics, and social work courses.

Certification

Certificate programs are available in social work (including specialties), fund-raising, nonprofit leadership, and related fields. They are offered in online, in-person, and hybrid formats, and they typically last six months to a year. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

The National Association of Social Workers offers webinars and other continuing education opportunities. Topics include everyday practice issues, leadership, career planning, and ethics. The National Organization for Human Services, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, Council on Social Work Education, and the Canadian Association of Social Workers also provide professional development courses. Contact these organizations for more information.