MSc/PgDip/PgCert Charity Resource Management
Attendance
Part-time
Part-time typically two and a half years
It is also possible to take the course full-time over one year.
The PgCert and PgDip stages each have four modules. The taught classes for each module are in blocks, usually lasting four days from Tuesday to Friday. Each stage takes around nine months.
Starts January
At a glance
About this course
This course is for people working for UK charities or organisations with charitable status such as local voluntary organisations community organisations partnership bodies major fundraising charities faith-based organisations grant-making foundations service-providing agencies. The issues you explore are relevant to charities large and small.
You may be responsible for managing the full range of resource issues in your organisation. Or, you may be working in areas such as fundraising development finance and accounting managing people strategic management but want to develop your expertise more widely.
This course is also relevant to those advising other organisations on charitable issues, whether you are based in a voluntary organisation or working as an independent consultant.
Sustainability in the sector is becoming more important with many charities placing greater emphasis on trading and social enterprise activities.
You study eight modules, each taught as a four-day block, with preparation and follow up work. Five of the modules are specific to charities and three common to our organisational development and change programme studied by students in other organisations. Most of the assessed work will allow you to analyse issues in your own organisation.
You also complete a dissertation on a issue selected by you. This could be in an area such as charity fundraising, charity accounting, governance or strategic change in the charity sector.
Charity resource management information sheet
For more information on attendance dates and fee information download the charity resource management information sheet.
2012 entry visit www.shu.ac.uk/_assets/pdf/MSc_CRM_insert_sheet_2012.pdf
2013 entry visit www.shu.ac.uk/_assets/pdf/MSc_CRM_insert_sheet_2013.pdf
Related course
This course is specifically for those in the charity sector, but if you are based in a non-charitable third sector organisation we offer the MSc Co-operative and Social Enterprise Management.
Associated careers
You are likely to be working towards a senior role in a charity such as
fundraising manager
finance and administration manager
director of finance and human resources
development director
senior advisor (in an infrastructure organisation or an independent consultant)
head of trading activities
chief executive
Professional recognition
If you complete the eight modules to postgraduate diploma stage with an average mark of at least 50% overall and a minimum of 45% for each module, you are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Charity Accounting (DChA). The DChA is awarded by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. All award holders will receive the designatory letters, DChA, to use after their name and a free subscription to the ICAEW Charity and Voluntary Sector Group for up to 12 months (applies to new subscribers only). They will also have the opportunity to appear on the DChA award holders online register.
If you complete the module in charity structures, regulation and accounting (minimum 50 % mark) you gain the Association of Charity Independent Examiners (ACIE) Charity Accounting Certificate. This is an important step towards full membership of the ACIE.
The fundraising modules can also lead to qualifications with the Institute of Fundraising (final details of the IoF qualifications for 2013 are subject to confirmation). Professional membership of the IoF is a vital qualification for those working in charity fundraising.
For ACIE and IoF qualifications you need to be an associate member of the relevant professional body. You have the chance to join at the start of the course.
Course content
Postgraduate certificate
Resourcing charitable organisations
The focus of this module is the range of approaches to fundraising and income generation for charities of all kinds. You explore the case for charitable funding, the constituencies of support, and you investigate a wide range of fundraising methods from statutory contracts to fundraising events to legacies.
Developing strategies for change
You explore the different approaches to organisational strategy, and alternative models by which organisations respond to change. You make a critical assessment of these issues, either in relation to your own charity or the charity sector more generally.
Charity structures, regulation, and accounting
Charitable status, legal structures for charities, and the detailed requirements of charity accounting and financial reporting are at the heart of this module. You learn how charities are formed and the role of the Charity Commission as regulator within the requirements of charity law. You also consider the roles of auditors and independent examiners in the charity sector.
Charity funding strategies and governance
This module focuses on the strategic issues of providing sufficient resources for a charitable organisation, and what that means in terms of management and governance decisions. It includes development of fundraising strategies, and legal and ethical issues related to various kinds of income.
Postgraduate diploma
Consultancy theory and processes
You explore and practice core skills such as listening and observation, making sense of client problems and giving effective feedback. These are key issues whether your work involves advising other charities, or whether you engage external support for your own charity. The module includes a major case study spanning the public, private and voluntary sectors. You also explore the boundaries between consultancy and research in preparation for your dissertation.
Third sector human resource management
You study employment law especially in the context of the issues affecting third sector organisations such as restricted funds and short term projects. You also study broader human resource issues including reward and motivation, volunteer management and supporting the development of staff to achieve their maximum potential.
Research methods
Many decisions on the use of charitable resources are influenced by research, but not all research is equally reliable. In this module you learn critically to evaluate and appraise published research and gain research skills ready for the dissertation.
Charity trading and social enterprise
Funding charitable work through fees, contracts or sale of goods is often suggested as a way to avoid 'grant dependency', but it has many complexities. You consider different understandings of social enterprise and legal structures, including trading by the charity itself, the use of trading subsidiaries, and non-charitable social enterprises. You also explore detailed tax and VAT issues affecting charity trading.
MSc
Dissertation
Your dissertation provides an opportunity to work in-depth on a topic of your own choice in the field of charity resource management, including a significant piece of research.
Assessment
By coursework assignments, apart from one examination. The assignments normally focus on issues in your own organisation, for example development of a fundraising strategy.
Entry requirements
Normally a first degree in any discipline and at least one years full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience working in the charity or voluntary sector. We will consider voluntary roles, for example, a charity trustee or advisory roles, such as accountants in practice or consultants, if substantial charity work is involved.
We also consider applicants without a degree but with extensive suitable management experience.
If English is not your first language you need an IELTS score of at least 6.0.
Fees
Home and EU students
2013/14 academic year
Typically £3,060 a stage for PgCert, PgDip and MSc stages. Scholarships may be available for those in charities with limited resources.
How to apply
Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
Contact details
For more information contact Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Stoddart Building, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 2820, fax +44 (0)114 225 5268, e-mail sbs@shu.ac.uk