• Accredited Program: The Nonprofit and NGO Studies program is the only accredited undergraduate program in the Midwest, and only the second in the country to be accredited by the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council
• Experiential Learning: most of our courses have an experiential learning component. In our Philanthropy and Fundraising class students walk through the process of giving, and give actual dollars to local nonprofit organizations! Your support makes these hands-on experiences possible.  
• Internships: the majority of our major, minor, and certificate students complete at least one internship with a nonprofit in DeKalb County or in the region.  These internships are a gateway to well-paying jobs post graduation. Your support helps enhance stipends so students are able to afford to complete an internship.  
• Huskie Closet: student-initiated project that is run like a nonprofit start-up!  The Huskie Closet had over 900 visits last year and welcomed nearly 100 volunteers to distribute clothing.  Run by two student interns each semester who are paid through the generous donations of our supporters – YOU! 

Partner with us to #MakeADifference

Main Fund::Our most flexible fund, allowing us to provide support where it is most needed including for life-changing and equitable student experiences inside and outside the classroom, service trips, internships, S.T.A.R.T. student consulting team and more!  

Huskie Closet Fund: support for two interns each semester to run the Huskie Closet, a free clothing closet open to all NIU students.

Scholarship Fund: Support our recruitment of students who want to make a difference in their communities, and assist students to get across the finish line to graduation. 

Challenge: Sustain our work with Monthly Donations

$750 unlocked when 25 people make a monthly contribution

Community is what we’re all about… We are stronger together. Being part of a community of sustaining donors the collective impact is enormous! Sustaining gifts provides a monthly income that allows us to plan. If one in four alumni contribute even $5 per month this amounts to $6000 per year! In other words we can:

• add four more paid internship opportunities
• fund 12 people to attend conferences like ARNOVA or
• fully fund transportation and lodging for a group of 15 people for an alternative spring break

Click here to make a monthly donation – on the “click here to view available designations” page, type in “Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies” and then click the next link to make the monthly donation.

Challenge: Support Us Supporting the Community 

$500 unlocked when $1500 is raised through our general fund

 Inspired by the legacy established by Doris Buffett's Learning By Giving Foundation, the NNGO 301: Philanthropy & Fundraising course promotes the study of experiential philanthropy. Students are given real money that has been generously donated to the Center for Nonprofit & NGO Studies to grant to local nonprofits in our community. They operate as a collective grant committee, and over the course of the semester students wrestle with the question, "How do we choose the ‘right’ organization?" Through the development of the application, crafting an evaluation rubric, reviewing applications, plus multiple discussions and ultimate selection of winning applicants, the students gain a perspective of grants and nonprofit funding cycles that is not typically available to them

Scholarship Recipient: "Since arriving at NIU, I have been passionate about one day being able to contribute to the nonprofit sector, and that would not have been possible without your gift to the Center. Thank you for enabling me to reach my fullest professional potential." Alum 2019