CRAFTING THE LANGUAGE OF NONPROFIT LEADE

Whether through a speech to key donors, a published op-ed column, an annual report or media interview, leaders of nonprofit organizations must be compelling storytellers. Although other courses in the Nonprofit Management M.S. program helpfully concentrate on the strategy and tactics of communications outreach and social media engagement, the intensive focus of this elective will be on developing students’ capacity for literate writing and speaking across a range of public forums and institutional challenges that face nonprofit organizations. Through a combination of readings, discussion and, most importantly, a diverse range of writing assignments and creative exercises, students will emerge with a new level of editorial proficiency in creating the kind of written and spoken communications that support a nonprofit’s development, promote its public service mission, and manage difficult political, legal and institutional issues that distract organizations from achieving their mission-driven goals. Students will learn best practices for crafting persuasive communications in an increasingly complex and time-sensitive media environment.