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A unique program in Canada
The Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL) program is the only graduate curriculum in Canada that offers specialized skills for leadership positions in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. Housed in Canada’s oldest and largest School of Public Policy and Administration, the MPNL program and its sister program, the Graduate Diploma in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (DPNL) program, are designed for both experienced and aspiring professionals. The programs benefit from innovative research by faculty, fellows, and post-doctoral and doctoral students.
What both programs offer:
- A versatile set of skills, including leadership, strategy, financial management, and fundraising, all of which prepare graduates for leadership positions in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector.
- A blend of executive-style, online and in-class courses, allowing students to study while working and to remain in home communities during the program (and come to Ottawa for two-week, intensive courses in the summer).
- An opportunity to engage with research and sector professionals to think critically about how to advance social and organizational change.
- Experiential, professional learning opportunities that prepare students to attain leadership-track positions.
- Networks of graduates and experienced professionals to support career development.
News
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3 min read
Why Rich People Give
The Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL) program, at Carleton University, hosted a PhilanthroThink webinar, “Why Rich People Give,” on Nov. 28, 2025. Below is a…
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3 min read
Job Post: Instructor for “Foundations of Philanthropy” Course
Applications invited: Contract instructor to teach an executive-style, two-week course, with an online component, in June 2026. Applications should be sent by Dec 19, 2025.…
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2 min read
S2, E1: Cherry Chan
In Episode 1 of Season 2 of the PhilanthroThink Podcast, “Money, Mission and Change: Rethinking Nonprofit Finance,” Cherry Chan, founder of OTUS Nonprofit CFOs, CEO…
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3 min read
A New Book About Lessons in Philanthropy
Barb McInnes, co-founder and leader of the Ottawa Community Foundation for decades, was at the forefront of transformative work, creating new avenues for individuals to…
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4 min read
Students Win Prestigious ANSER Award
Anna Hamilton, Jing Jia, Michelle Murphy and Tara Russell receive the ANSER 2025 Master’s Thesis/Capstone Project Award for their report, Mind Blowing, Powerful, Deficient: Scoping…
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2 min read
Four Students Receive “2024 MPNL Social Innovation Fellowship Award”
The “Dr. Tessa Hebb Graduate Award in Social Innovation” is awarded to students involved with a project in the not-for-profit sector through the Carleton Centre…
Carleton University is situated on unceded Algonquin territory beside the Rideau Canal, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.