DOCTORATE INNONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION
STRENGTHEN YOUR LEADERSHIP TO SHAPE
THE FUTURE OF NONPROFITS – WITHOUT
INTERRUPTING YOUR CAREER
The Doctorate in Nonprofit Administration (DNPA) Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) equips nonprofit professionals with the knowledge and skills to translate research into practice, implement research informed strategies, manage projects, and further develop as leaders. The program nurtures the potential of nonprofit executives to drive meaningful changes both within their organizations and in the broader community, achieving positive outcomes at individual, organizational, and societal levels.
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Director’s Welcome
Ram A. Cnaan, PhD
Director, Doctorate in Nonprofit Administration
“The DNPA will challenge and inspire you, and my hope is that, three years from now, you will look back on it as a truly transformative experience that enriched both your leadership and our field.”
Flexible Hybrid Format
The Penn Doctorate in Nonprofit Administration (DNPA) program offers working professionals an Ivy League education—wherever they are. Each cohort, limited to approximately 20 students, advances through the program together from start to finish, fostering a close-knit learning community.
Courses are delivered through a blend of synchronous, real-time online interactive video sessions and periodic on-campus immersion experiences. Students may also take up to two courses at Penn outside the DNPA program to broaden their expertise.
The DNPA degree can be completed in as little as two years; however, most students finish in three years, with the third year typically devoted to dissertation research and writing.
The SP2 Difference
The nation’s first doctorate dedicated to the study of nonprofit administration
A hybrid format designed for busy working professionals
Courses taught by Penn’s world-class standing faculty as well as by CEO’s who are practicing in the field, to provide multiple perspectives on the challenges facing the nonprofit sector
The opportunity to conduct dissertation research
A diverse global alumni network from the SP2 and Penn community
The Dissertation
The Process
The DNPA dissertation is a cornerstone of the program, designed to advance scholarly understanding of the nonprofit sector. In the first year, students meet bi-weekly with a designated professor to explore potential research topics and gain a clear understanding of the dissertation process. Following this initial phase, each student is matched with a mentor who will serve as their dissertation chair.
Through close mentorship and a structured research plan, students produce an original work of scholarship that makes a meaningful contribution to the literature and knowledge base in nonprofit studies. This rigorous process engages students in in-depth inquiry and positions them as subject-matter experts in their chosen area.
The Method
Students have flexibility in selecting the research approach best suited to their questions. Options include systematic or scoping reviews, quantitative designs (such as intervention studies and surveys), qualitative studies, and program evaluations. Detailed guidelines are available in the DNPA Handbook.
The Finished Product
The completed dissertation may take the form of a traditional, multi-chapter manuscript or two publishable articles. All DNPA dissertations are published in Scholarly Commons, the University of Pennsylvania’s open-access repository, ensuring that the knowledge generated is accessible to nonprofit practitioners and scholars worldwide. While not mandatory, students are strongly encouraged to submit their work to leading academic journals focused on the nonprofit sector, further extending the impact of their research.
World-Class Faculty
Doctorate in Nonprofit Administration program faculty are here to help you shape your specific area of expertise, drawing on their own decades of scholarship, teaching, and industry experience. Our DNPA Faculty includes:
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The DNPA degree program is offered by the University of Pennsylvania, an institution of higher education authorized to confer degrees and certificates conferring academic credit under applicable laws of the United States. Students who are interested in participating in the program from countries other than the United States are advised that each jurisdiction may have its own laws and regulations governing online educational programs, and some jurisdictions may not recognize course credit or an online degree awarded by the University as satisfying local requirements for professional licensure, employment qualification, or other purposes. Before enrolling in this program, prospective students should investigate their jurisdiction’s treatment of foreign online programs to ensure that participation in this program will meet their objectives.
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