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Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship
About Franke’s nonprofit center
About us
The Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship equips aspiring business professionals with the skills, tools, and knowledge to affect positive change in the nonprofit sector.
Mission
To advance the philanthropic and nonprofit practices of our community through support, resources, and passionate individuals driven to lead and manage positive initiatives in the social sector.
Vision
A Center that has seen, nurtured, and empowered future changemakers to embrace their fullest potential, leading them to efficiently collaborate on, lead, and manage nonprofit organizations and projects of their choosing.
What does the nonprofit center do?
The Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship informs, empowers, and assists those involved in any area of a nonprofit organization through research, education, outreach, and community involvement.
Who does the nonprofit center serve?
- Individuals involved in, or hoping to become involved in, any element of a nonprofit organization.
- Nonprofit organizations seeking aid and assistance in their development programs.
- University students pursuing education in nonprofit entrepreneurship.
History of Franke’s nonprofit programs
In 2016, the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation awarded a grant to NAU’s W. A. Franke College of Business to create a five-course certificate in nonprofit management. Their goal was to better prepare college students for the unique challenges in nonprofit organizations. The five courses were developed, and each academic year, around 150 students enroll in the program.
In 2017, local nonprofit organizations expressed interest in participating in the program. Later that year, the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation was approached again to consider funding a center to help nonprofit organizations in northern Arizona. The center would offer business assistance, mentoring, and networking opportunities using students from the nonprofit management program.
By 2019, the center launched its first annual nonprofit management conference, which brought together local nonprofit organizations and subject matter experts. The center, now located at NACET, began offering training, workshops, and mentoring in the summer of 2019.
Meet the faculty and staff
The dedicated faculty and staff at the Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the nonprofit sector. They are committed to empowering both students and nonprofit organizations to create a lasting impact.
Faculty and staff bios
Director, Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship
T Paul Thomas is the Director of the Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship. He also serves as an Executive in Residence and Assistant Professor of Practice at NAU’s W. A. Franke College of Business, where he teaches Management and Entrepreneurship with a focus on nonprofit and social enterprises. Paul is also the CEO of Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance and the Executive in Residence for NACET (Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology). With over 30 years of experience as a serial CEO across Asia, Europe, India, and the U.S., Paul brings a wealth of leadership experience. He holds a BBA in Finance and a Master of Education in Education Leadership from NAU.
Associate Director, Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship
Amanda Black is the Associate Director of the Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship (NACNE). With over seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Amanda is dedicated to supporting and empowering nonprofit leaders. Originally from San Diego, Amanda moved to Flagstaff to pursue a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Northern Arizona University (NAU), after earning her Master’s in Applied Linguistics from San Diego State University. In addition to her work at NACNE, Amanda has taught ESL, Adult Education, and College Composition across Arizona, California, Thailand, and Georgia. She is passionate about lifelong learning, literacy, and the transformative power of community-driven efforts to create positive change.
Financial Consultant and Adjunct University Professor
Joe Wagner works full-time with Your Part-Time Controller, an accounting firm specializing in outsourced and fractional financial management for nonprofit organizations. With over a decade of nonprofit accounting experience, Joe has built a career starting as an independent auditor of governmental, nonprofit, and federally funded entities. He transitioned to financial consulting services and eventually to finance leadership positions in healthcare, foundation fundraising, higher education, and federally funded entities. Joe also serves as an adjunct university professor, specializing in financial management for nonprofit and social enterprises.
Marketing and PR Expert
Jamey Hasapis has spent over 20 years in the Nonprofit Industry in management roles – including community engagement and marketing and PR and serving on various nonprofit boards of directors and Flagstaff commissions. Prior to moving to Flagstaff and entering the nonprofit world, he spent over 20 years in the corporate world leading and facilitating teams in the areas of leadership, talent management, and organizational development, as well as designing curriculum and marketing those programs internally. Jamey currently serves on the boards of Creative Flagstaff and Northern Arizona Victim Witness Services. He has a BA in Music (Liberal Arts) from Californian State University, Fullerton.
When not volunteering with nonprofits or teaching, Jamey enjoys spending time hiking with his dogs, Gus and Jax, creating art, providing Flagstaff haunted history tours, and performing with various local theater and performance groups.
Attorney & Partner, Mangum, Wall, Stoops & Warden, PLLC
Brandon J. Kavanagh is a practicing attorney and Partner at Mangum, Wall, Stoops & Warden, PLLC. Admitted to practice law in Arizona in 1999, Brandon has over two decades of experience in business law, real estate, and public law. He has served as Chair of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona and is involved with various nonprofits, including the Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff and the Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance. Brandon is also an adjunct professor in nonprofit governance at The W. A. Franke College of Business.
Meet the board
The advisory board members of the Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship bring diverse expertise from the nonprofit, business, and philanthropic sectors. They are dedicated to supporting our mission of equipping aspiring nonprofit leaders and organizations.
Advisory board bios
Principal at Franke & Company
David Franke is the principal at Franke & Company, a private investment firm based in Phoenix, Arizona, specializing in a diverse set of private, alternative investment opportunities. He has been with the firm since 1991, underwriting thousands of investment offerings, leading negotiations, and providing oversight for portfolio companies. David is also heavily involved in philanthropy, focusing on higher education and supporting numerous nonprofit organizations. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington and an MBA from Arizona State University.
Founder and CEO of Your Part-Time Controller, LLC
Eric Fraint is a Certified Public Accountant with a degree from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. With extensive experience in nonprofit financial management, Eric has served on various nonprofit boards and committees, including the Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. He has taught nonprofit financial management at several universities and is passionate about helping nonprofits make a difference in their communities.
Executive Director of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
Chris Bavasi brings decades of leadership experience to the board, having served on many nonprofit boards and public service organizations in Flagstaff. He has held key roles such as the chair of the Flagstaff Medical Center and Northern Arizona Healthcare boards and was a former mayor of Flagstaff. Chris has a long history of involvement in nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club, United Way, and St. Mary’s School Board, and he remains committed to supporting the communities of Northern Arizona. He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and has lived in Flagstaff for more than 50 years.
Regional Director, Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff
Pats Shriver oversees the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff, working with donors, community partners, and fund holders to grow charitable assets and enhance community impact. Pats has over 20 years of senior management experience and has been instrumental in overseeing educational and consulting services in the Silicon Valley software industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and joined the Arizona Community Foundation in 2011.
Richard B. West, III (Rick) is the cofounder of Westcor Land Company, President of Carefree Partners Investments, L.L.C. and has been involved in the investment and real estate business for over five decades. Rick has a strong sense of giving back to the community, is active in community affairs and has served on numerous boards and non-profit groups including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the Heard Museum, Social Venture Partners of Arizona, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, Urban Land Institute, Phoenix Zoo, Notre Dame Prep and Stanford University.
Over the years, Rick has held numerous positions in the real estate, management consulting and investment community in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. These assignments were with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CIGNA), Shuman, Agnew and Company (now part of Morgan Stanley), Lepercq Capital Company, Pacific Real Estate Investment Trust, SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute), Great American Savings Bank, and AEW Investment Advisors. Since 1989, Rick has been involved with Carefree Partners Investments, L.L.C. and its affiliated businesses developing major urban centers, master planned communities, business parks and employment centers, resorts, senior housing and golf courses. Additionally, he invests in startup and private businesses including golf management.
Rick holds degrees from Stanford University (AB) and Columbia University (MBA). He served for six years in the National Guard and the US Army Reserves. Today Rick is an active hiker, swimmer and bibliophile and for years was a triathlete, master’s swimmer and runner. Rick and his wife, Pamela, live in Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona and have four children and three grandchildren.
For NAU students
Nonprofit and social entrepreneurship undergraduate certificate
This program will help you build the business skills needed to create and manage social ventures, assess the social impact of business practices, and develop strategies to address societal issues. The Nonprofit and Social Entrepreneurship certificate equips students with a solid foundation in business principles, preparing them to start a nonprofit or social enterprise, or contribute to existing organizations. Available to both business and non-business majors, the certificate consists of fifteen credit hours of coursework (outlined below). Business majors and minors must complete an additional nine credit hours beyond their standard business curriculum.
Certificate requirements
Take the following 15 units with a minimum GPA of 2.0:
This certificate may only be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program. This certificate is not available as a stand-alone certificate.
Student testimonials
Our exemplary students
“Like most students, I didn’t have an exact plan for my life when I started college. I knew I loved working with nonprofits, but at the time, NAU wasn’t offering any program to study it. After several business classes my first semester, I knew that I loved every area of business – but what I craved more than anything was to apply it in the nonprofit sector. I was passionate about helping people, and there, I knew I could use my skills and knowledge to make an impact. That is when I heard that the nonprofit certificate was launching, and I had the opportunity to be part of NAU’s inaugural class. I’ve never signed up for anything quicker.”
“The program was personal and had a lot of the same people in the classes. Having professionals come and speak to us gave a great perspective on real-world scenarios and sparked more of a passion for the non-profit world. I chose to start the certificate because I took a summer working with a non-profit in Louisville, Kentucky called Love Thy Neighborhood and it changed my life! I learned so much about how non-profits work and felt extremely supported by the people I was working with. I came back and wanted to change my whole academic plan around so I could receive the certificate. It has impacted the way I look at the non-profit world as a whole. My heart has changed, and I want to serve the community and people that I care about. I have chosen to work with a non-profit after graduating. Because of the certificate, I feel more prepared for working with non-profits as a career.”
“I am super grateful for the knowledge I gained from taking this certificate because it led to my dream job. I am now a college graduate managing an international nonprofit because of my educational background. I am now working on my master’s degree so that I can further my professional career even further. I am the founder and former president of the Student United Way of NAU. Sat on the board of United Way of Flagstaff. Currently managing the Flagstaff International Relief Effort and hope to become the Program Manager of our volunteer project in Nepal within the next year! I love working with nonprofits, and I knew that I wanted to enter that sector when I graduated. Pursuing this certificate not only gave me the knowledge to do so but helped me build professional relationships as well!”
Amber Dalgleish graduated in May of 2020 from NAU and is now a Graduate Assistant at Boise State Athletics Marketing Department. During her time at NAU, she worked at NAU Athletics Marketing Department, interned with Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance, worked for The College for International Education as a Peer TA, and is a member of the professional business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi. She hopes to eventually work in the sports philanthropy or community engagement departments of sports organizations to create positive impacts in the surrounding communities and internationally.
“Non-profits have always been an interest of mine and when I was a freshman, this certificate became available and I knew that I had to be a part of this program. I love this program because we are exposed to real-life problems that non-profits face and get to work with and help local non-profits. Each class offered us a chance to work in a team setting, practice problem solving, and learn skills like grant writing, financial management, and how to legally run a non-profit. I really enjoyed all of my classes and professors. The professors have real experience with working with non-profits and that helped me gain better insights into what working in this industry is like. This program has helped me focus and gain better understandings of non-profits and now I hope to work in the sports philanthropy industry one day.”
Serving nonprofits in Arizona
Do you belong to one of over 21,000 nonprofit organizations in Arizona?
Learn from some of Arizona’s top nonprofit leaders! In addition to offering an undergraduate certificate for NAU students, Franke’s Nonprofit Center is dedicated to supporting local nonprofits in various ways. We provide mentorship services, host an annual conference, offer workshops, and will soon introduce certificate programs for the broader community. Through our education programs, research, community involvement, and philanthropic efforts, we empower nonprofit leaders to go beyond traditional learning and create a meaningful impact in their communities.
“Nonprofit management curriculum is vital to building strong leaders in the future. Typically, agencies are great at creating compelling missions driving community impact. Where they often struggle is in securing effective managers to lead the agency and maintain the long term health, viability and effectiveness of the agency. This certificate program will develop qualified leaders of the future.”
Community impact
Currently, the Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship is helping the below organizations with a variety of nonprofit organizational needs:
To add your nonprofit to this list, contact us today! We’d be happy to work with you.
How can we help
While we can’t take on labor, we provide resources and guidance for nonprofits in the Flagstaff area.
- Workshops: Quarterly workshops tailored to meet the needs of small nonprofits. Please visit Naznonprofitcenter.org for the newest schedule.
- Mentorship: One-on-one help with areas such as strategic planning, budgeting, grant proposals, compliance, and more. If we can’t assist directly, we’ll connect you with someone who can.
- Review Services: Feedback on documents like grant proposals and strategic plans.
- Resource Guidance: Access valuable tools and materials.
Annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference
In addition to the services mentioned above, we also host the Annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference takes place every April. This event brings together nonprofit organizations from across the region to gain invaluable insights from subject matter experts. The conference features intensive workshops on nonprofit leadership, marketing, fundraising, and strategic planning. This is an excellent opportunity for nonprofit leaders to develop the skills needed to lead their organizations successfully.
Research: recent publications
The need for nonprofit entrepreneurship education
Despite the growth of entrepreneurship education over the last 20 years, there remains an unserved need for entrepreneurship educational programs designed for those interested in starting nonprofit organizations. In this article, our program director Paul Thomas discusses the need for such programs, and how business educators are well equipped to satisfy this need. He also offers this early-stage nonprofit entrepreneurship program as support for his claims.
Let’s connect!
Interested in mentorship or have workshop topics in mind? Please reach out to us. Together, we can strengthen our nonprofit community!