The Leadership Practicum is an integral part of the experiential learning for all full-time NPL students, which builds upon core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom. It consists of:

• a supervised mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior level leader at a Philly-area nonprofit organization or foundation;
• a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization and providing student support on various levels that can include strategic planning, succession planning, branding or marketing, development and philanthropy, or other targeted projects; and
• a commitment of 180-225 hours of practicum time with the sponsoring organization during the academic year beginning in early October and ending in mid-April

A modified Leadership Practicum is an option for part-time on-campus students as part of the experiential learning which builds upon core competencies and principles of leadership developed in the classroom. Part-time students’ current jobs within social impact and nonprofit organizations fulfill the requirement to support an organization on topics learned in the classroom including strategic planning, program development and evaluation, philanthropy, etc.

Part-time students have the opportunity to work with a mentor assigned in consultation with their advisor to bolster the mentorship portion of the practicum. This option facilitates:

• a mentoring and leadership development experience with either an executive director or senior level leader at a Philly-area nonprofit organization or foundation;
• a partnership with the goal of learning about the organization