Master's in Philanthropy and Development

• Applicants may apply for admission to master’s degree programs at any time during the year; however, the Philanthropy and Development program course cycle starts in the summer only. 
• Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
• Preferred applicants are practicing and emerging leaders in a relevant field within a nonprofit or grantmaking organization.

Students with transcripts from universities located outside of the United States, unless from a waiver country listed here, are required to take and pass English Proficiency testing.

Saint Mary’s accepts:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 4 (formerly 72)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0
• Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 74%
• International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
• Duolingo with a minimum score of 105.

Your application must include the following items:

1. A completed application form
2. An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.)
   • Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, One Earth International Credential Evaluators or any approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards.
   • Saint Mary’s can order and cover the cost of transcripts from institutions that allow third-party requests for eligible degree-seeking applicants. Contact your enrollment counselor for more information.
   • Official Transcripts should be sent to Office of Admission
     • Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
       2500 Park Avenue
       Minneapolis, MN 55404
     • Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu
3. All applicants must submit a personal statement that includes:
   • brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
   • statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and their reasons for seeking admission to this program.
4. Two recommendations from current or former colleagues who can verify the applicant’s experience and address the applicant’s skills in nonprofit volunteer or professional work and their academic ability. References may submit either a letter of recommendation or arrange a phone call with the Program Director.
5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

• Scholarship-May 1
• Application-May 30

You can expect to be notified about your acceptance approximately two weeks following your application completion date.