Dan Prater (MA Communication), Senior Managing Consultant at FORVIS
Interested in nonprofit leadership? Meet one of the professionals who teaches in Drury’s Nonprofit and Civic Leadership master’s program.
As Senior Managing Consultant at FORVIS, Mr. Prater provides training and analysis for nonprofit boards, develops strategic plans, helps organizations develop program metrics, and conducts nonprofit industry research. He also works with foundations and private philanthropists to establish giving guidelines. What motivates Mr. Prater to work with and serve nonprofits?
“Nonprofits are the lifeblood of thriving communities. They are the quiet, unsung heroes of the underserved and forgotten segments of society. Our communities would be less desirable places without nonprofits.”
Mr. Prater has been sharing his expertise and teaching talents with Drury’s Department of Communication since 2007. He served as co-creator of the Master of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership (MNCL) curriculum and launched the Nonprofit Leadership Conference, an annual event that serves nonprofit leaders, board members, staff, and volunteers.
Students in the MNCL program get two opportunities to work with Mr. Prater:
MNCL 601 “Foundations of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership”
MNCL 602 “Governance and Executive Leadership.”
As an experienced teacher and nonprofit leader, he views himself as a “Pracademic.”
“I’m a practitioner who believes in an academic approach. I love the technical aspect of our work, digging deep and exploring ideas. In this program, I push students to think about nonprofit and charitable work in way they may have never considered before. I challenge them to rethink the best approach to helping others.”
Mr. Prater believes that Drury’s MNCL degree and the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate can help students at all levels, whether they are just entering the sector, are transitioning from the corporate world, or have been with an organization for years. The classes combine hands-on work with nonprofits and proven practices from leading experts on relevant topics.
The Master of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership is a 10-course program (30 credit hours) that can be completed in approximately two years. Courses are offered in online and blended (synchronous) formats which makes it possible for Drury to serve nonprofit leaders from across the U.S.
The Nonprofit Leadership Certificate features four of the core courses in the master’s program making it a pathway toward the master’s degree. Both programs build essential knowledge and skills for those who aim to lead in the nonprofit and civic sectors.
“People who work in the nonprofit sector are fueled by passion. And while passion is an essential component, success requires an understanding of business, leadership, and communication,” says Mr. Prater.
Drury is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Financial aid representatives are available to explain FAFSA and federal loan eligibility.
Contact us to learn more about the MNCL degree or the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate. Multiple start dates are available.
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