LEADERSHIP PRACTICUM
Learning to lead by example
Through the Leadership Practicum, SP2 students in the MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program experience strong direction and stewardship in action while benefiting from individual mentoring and leadership development. The practicum also fosters a commitment by local nonprofit leaders to cultivate the next generation of transformative leaders.
Students may choose to participate in a mutual matching process the summer prior to the start of the academic year or they may identify their own mentor/placement organization. Practicum experiences can be in-person, hybrid, or virtual.
Practicum Statistics (Academic Year 2023-2024)
Most students worked with community organizations, consulting firms, and research centers.
Most commonly served populations include students who worked with organizations that supported families, adults, children 0-12, and LGBTQ+ adults.
Through hands-on projects and strategic initiatives, practicum students have made significant contributions to education, social impact, and philanthropy, driving real-world change.
36% completed their placement experience with a national organization.
32% completed their placement experience with an international NGO.
32% completed their placement experience with a local organization.
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41% completed a placement experience; 59% completed a mentorship experience.
56% of mentor-only students paired with a mentor through the mutual matching process. 44% of mentor-only students identified their own mentor.
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40% of mentor-only mentors were Penn alumni.
MEET Our Practicum Partners
Where do SP2 Students Work?
This is not an exhaustive list of partner organizations.
Practicum Dates & Details
The practicum process begins the summer prior to the start of the academic year. Students will receive updates in May about virtual practicum events held in June and July. The Leadership Practicum is a year-long experience; practicum start dates depend on the student’s anticipated graduation date.
- Students taking classes on a part-time basis will consult with the Practicum Coordinator and their Academic Advisor to determine the best time to complete their practicum.
- Students taking classes on a full-time basis will complete their practicum in their first year.
- Students who are working while enrolled at Penn and taking classes on a full-time or part-time basis will complete a “mentorship only” experience.
- Dual degree students may have highly individualized practicum experiences to fulfill requirements for both programs. Students are encouraged to review dual degree specific websites and consult with their Academic Advisors for more information.
- Accelerated students taking classes on a part-time basis and planning to complete the program in the summer following fall and spring semesters will begin their practicum at the start of their first year.
Placement
The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning process. It builds on the core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom and encompasses:
- a supervised mentoring and leadership development experience with an executive director or senior level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
- a partnership with the goal of understanding the organization and providing student support on various levels. These can include strategic planning, succession planning, branding or marketing, development and philanthropy, or other targeted projects; and
- a commitment of a minimum of 250 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization (virtually, hybrid, or fully in-person) during the academic year beginning in September and ending in April.
Many full-time on-campus and full-time online students complete a placement experience, but those who are working while enrolled in the NPL program are eligible to complete a mentor-only experience.
Mentor-Only
A modified Leadership Practicum is an opportunity for students to build on core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom.
Students have the opportunity to work with a mentor to bolster the mentorship portion of the practicum. This option facilitates:
- a mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior-level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
- a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization.
Students who are currently working while enrolled at Penn are eligible to complete a mentor-only experience; most part-time online and part-time on-campus students complete a mentor-only experience.
Placement for Submatriculation Students
The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning for all submatriculation NPL students. It builds on core competencies and leadership principles developed in the classroom and encompasses:
- a supervised mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior level leader at a local, national, or international social impact organization;
- a partnership with the goal of understanding the organization and providing student support on various levels. These can include strategic planning, succession planning, branding or marketing, development and philanthropy, or other targeted projects; and
- a commitment of a minimum of 250 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization (virtually, hybrid, or fully in-person). This typically takes place during the summer between earning an undergraduate degree and the fall semester of the master’s degree, or during the academic year of senior year, as long as at least two NPL Core Courses have been taken prior to the practicum.
Interested in Hosting a Practicum Student?
The Leadership Practicum is a mutually rewarding partnership that provides organizations with bright, motivated graduate students eager to assist in completing projects. It allows our students to apply classroom principles to real-world settings, and to build important skills related to teamwork, accountability, and finding solutions to ongoing problems. Mentors at host organizations meet with students regularly to provide advice, coaching, and encouragement, playing a critical role in guiding the development of the mentee.
If you are interested in hosting a practicum student, please contact Sue Perls, MS, Associate Director, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program, at sueperls@upenn.edu.
Practicum Student Spotlight
Discover how Leaf Ye drove change at Maternity Care Coalition through her impactful work in donor research. To learn more about Leaf’s achievements, follow this link.
Events
05/24
MSW Licensure Seminar
Overthinking and its Relationship to Imposter Syndrome and Inequity
News
Alumni
05/21
SP2 honors five accomplished alumni at 2025 hall of fame ceremony
Five distinguished alumni of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) were celebrated at the 2025 SP2 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, May 16. The evening event marked the seventh year that the School has honored alumni through the SP2 Hall of Fame. The event began with remarks from SP2 Dean Sara S. Bachman.
Contact Us
Sue Perls, MSEd
Associate Director, MS in Nonprofit Leadership Program
215 573 2390