Every spring, Dr. Norma Raiff teaches BUS 452/552, a cross-listed course entitled, “Managing Nonprofit Organizations,” which familiarizes undergraduate and graduate students with the distinct challenges and benefits of managing non-profit organizations. While some management practices are standard across the for-profit, government, and non-profit sectors, the focus on fulfilling an organization’s mission sets the non-profit world apart.
Dr. Raiff brings extensive real world experience to the classroom, having spent over 40 years working in a wide variety of non-profit organizations in the Pittsburgh area and beyond. She has been the Executive Director of Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS, assisting addicted women and their children in a residence-based program. Prior to her employment with Sojourner House, she worked at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and has been a nation-wide consultant to design and deliver management training. For more details on Dr. Raiff’s professional background, read our Faculty Spotlight
The course relies on a series of case study assignments related to the course themes. Often, but not always, the case studies focus on the failures of the non-profit organization, and then asks the students what went wrong and how they would have either prevented the failure or how they would have fixed it. Dr. Raiff’s professional experience also shines in her lectures and the examples she provides often reflect the difficult or unexpected choices she faced. “Managing Non-Profit Organizations is a great class for anyone interested in learning more about the inner-workings behind successful nonprofits, or simply studying some great nonprofit cases,” says MBA student Sarah Valore. “Dr. Raiff has a fascinating and extensive background in nonprofit management and has a wealth of knowledge about the subject. Her stories help to liven up the course content and illustrate the concepts in action. This is my favorite course I am taking this semester, it doesn’t even feel like a course (other than the assignments), it just feels like a lively discussion!”
Liza Craddock, a Management and International Business Interdisciplinary major, states “I found this course to be rigorous and very informative. I have learned how to critically look at NPOs and asses how efficient and effective they are. The most valuable thing I have gained is the ability to quickly and concisely produce a report about an NPO.”
Additionally, Dr. Raiff supplements lectures and assignments with speakers from different segments of the Pittsburgh non-profit community. On March 13th, the focus was Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying, with Chatham alumna Jessica Ruffin, the inaugural Director of the Social Justice Institutes at Carlow University and Jamillia Kamara, Community Education Consultant and Chief Smart Finder of Internationally Smart is Cool. Later in the semester, Maelene Myers, Executive Director of the East Liberty Development, Inc., talked with the class about “Reversing the Impact of Failed Urban Renewal through Innovation and Outreach”. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra‘ s Jodi Weisfield, Sr VP of Donor Relations, presented on “Fundraising During a Crisis”. Members of PSO’s board and the orchestra also supported that discussion. For more details on previous speakers, check out our blog post from last year, where the guests discussed the use of data analytics in substance abuse prevention.
Managing Nonprofit Organizations is a required course for undergraduate majors in Arts Management and Social Services Administration, and an elective for Business Management undergraduate majors, but it is also useful for Chatham MBA students with a desire to work in the nonprofit realm. By providing students with this course, Chatham recognizes the broad employment opportunities available and prepares its students accordingly. Even more, the Business and Entrepreneurship Department, through its efforts to pair professional networking opportunities with courses, provides students with more opportunities to gain practical experience and professional contacts.
For example, in February, in coordination with Chatham’s Career Development, the Business and Entrepreneurship Department hosted a Nonprofit Networking Mixer. Thirty-five organizations across Pittsburgh and interests attended, including the Peace Corps, City of Pittsburgh, 412 Food Rescue, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, and Gateway Hospice. It was a successful event, with 45 students attending. MBA ’17 alumna Gwyndolyn Kay who now works at PNC Bank stated, “The Non-Profit mixer was extremely helpful for students looking for internships. The employers were very friendly and followed up with me in the days following the mixer! I would highly recommend this mixer for students looking to network and gain internship connections within the Pittsburgh area.”
The Business and Entrepreneurship Department regularly hosts and co-hosts networking opportunities for students, alumni, faculty, and industry professionals. These career-themed mixers frequently result in business card- and resume-exchanging as well as internship and job leads for students and alumni. Visit the main page of the Business Insight blog to find links to on-campus and off-campus networking and career development opportunities.
