Nonprofit administration concepts and practices

Master's Public Administration

My interest in nonprofit administration is has sprung from my extensive experience in the field, and my conviction that fund management can be one of the most important aspects of successfully managing a nonprofit organization. In the past ten years, I have played an important role in assuring the fiscal health of a number of important nonprofit organizations. Attending graduate school in Master in Public Affairs, with a specialization in Nonprofit Administration, would greatly enhance my work experience and allow me to develop a new level of professionalism and competence in the field of nonprofit fund management.

One of the most important challenges in nonprofit administrations is fund management. A nonprofit organization is in an important and unique position of trust, as it often manages large amounts of money that are earmarked for specific charities. As such, all financial dealings within a nonprofit organization must be dealt with in a professional and ethical manner in order to preserve the mandate of the nonprofit organization. The recent accounting and financial mismanagement scandals in the business world, including Enron and WorldCom have only underscored the importance of preserving the fiscal accountability of nonprofit organizations. This accountability, based in effective fund management, is absolutely crucial to maintaining the public's impression of nonprofit organizations as trustworthy, and ensuring that nonprofit organizations meet their mandates to help.

My ten years' of practical work experience has taught me a great deal about how to meet the challenges of fund management. In my current position as the Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Medical Health Research Association of New York City, I am responsible for ensuring that the work of 360 subcontractors meets with guidelines established by the Association. Given that this federal fund earmarks 125 million dollars that provide HIV and AIDs services, my work in fund management plays an important role in ensuring that funds are used appropriately and meet the needs of the Association's clients.

As a Staff Accountant at Narco Freedom, New York for over three years, I ensured that the organization met government reporting standards, and that the organization adhered to budgets and deadlines. Narco Freedom provides case management services, housing for people living with HIV / AIDS, and a mental health service and substance abuse rehab program. As such, my responsibilities in fund management at this organization highlighted the crucial role that professional and ethical fund management can take in ensuring that a non-profit organization adheres to its mandate and maintains public trust.

Master's degree in Business Administration would allow me to further my understanding of fund management beyond the knowledge that my extensive work experience has provided in this field. Further, while my Bachelor of Business Administration at Lehman College, New York has given me with a strong basic understanding of accounting principles, I feel that A Master's degree in Public Affairs would allow me to take my management of funds for nonprofit companies to a new level of professionalism and competence.