Nonprofit studies is a multidisciplinary field of teaching and research that focuses on practices of the nonprofit sector and can date back to the 1920s. This area of inquiry examines the management and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector, and has sub-areas of research including administration, marketing, communication, economics, human resources, philanthropy, ethics, law, information technology, social entrepreneurship, grant writing, policy, fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism, data research, and civic engagement. A variety of higher education institutions and research organizations are dedicated to the teaching and research of issues related to the nonprofit sector. Degrees related to nonprofit studies are offered at undergraduate, graduate and doctorate levels. Additionally, individual courses within related disciplines (e.g. Business, Communication Studies, Sociology, Public Policy) examine nonprofit studies in a variety of contexts. Nonprofit studies may also refer to studies of the voluntary sector, third sector, nongovernmental organizations, or civil society. Methods in the field of nonprofit studies Research Teaching and learning Expert professors with experience in the nonprofit sector provide effective learning material for students in nonprofit studies. These professors have gained credible knowledge from working in, and doing research on nonprofit organizations. Other professors in nonprofit studies tend to also be a part of sociology, psychology, or public administration departments. Curriculum in nonprofit studies programs vary from program to program with a heavy emphasis in management above other content areas mentioned above. Suggestions for curriculum guidelines include the topics of: Understanding the context of the sector History Size and scope; international comparisons Legal and regulatory context Managing external relationships Policy and advocacy Community development Fund development and financial sustainability Marketing and public relations Communications* Managing the Nonprofit Organization General management, both tactical and strategic Human resources and volunteer management Financial management and accounting Organizational behaviour Program planning and evaluation Earned revenue/social enterprise Governance Analytic methods* Being an effective leader Personal leadership Ethics and values Community Organizing In many nonprofit studies programs, experiential learning opportunities complement classroom learning. Students may take part in internships or co-operative education placements where they learn by working alongside staff in a nonprofit workplace. Community-based learning activities such as service-learning, community-based research, volunteering, and participatory action research can enhance the learning process by combining experiential learning and skill building with critical reflection on self and social/environment injustice. Nonprofit management education research For a list of articles, reviews, and other citations on nonprofit management education, click here or here. For a list of