The Network for Social Work Management

What The Network for Social Work Management does

The Network for Social Work Management (NSWM), legally the Institute for Social Work Managers and registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in California, is a 40-year-old professional membership organization founded in 1985 to professionalize and credential social work management. It currently operates as an international body hosted by Loyola University Chicago under CEO Dr. Goutham M. Menon (Professor & Former Dean at Loyola), with a small staff of 1–10 and a board of deans, county executives, and senior nonprofit leaders. NSWM serves social work executives, directors, and managers in health, social, and human-services organizations, as well as MSW/DSW students and academic institutions, addressing leadership isolation, succession planning, and the absence of formal management training in the social work profession.

Its core offerings span credentialing (the Certified Social Work Manager / CSWM credential requiring a social work degree, two years of supervisory experience, and ongoing CE hours), graduate certification (a Human Services Certificate mapped to MSW curriculum at 17 partner universities and issued digitally via Accredible), annual events (the Forward Thinking Summit in its 5th annual cycle, the Doctoral Scholars Institute, and the Emerging Leaders Institute), an Executive Circle peer coaching program for senior executives, an 8-week Social Work Entrepreneurship Certificate at $750, and content channels including the Monday Morning Manager newsletter (4,300+ subscribers), webinars, and the peer-reviewed journal Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance published with Taylor & Francis.

NSWM runs a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining recurring donations (membership tiers at $10/$20/$50 per month), event registration and conference sponsorship (Platinum $15,000 down to Friends $1,500, plus $5,000 track sponsorships), credential and program fees, journal subscriptions, and licensing-style partnership revenue from academic institutions. Its technology stack is entirely third-party and non-proprietary — Kajabi for website, online courses and community; Whova for the virtual summit; Zoom for live sessions; and Accredible for digital credentials — meaning the organization competes on community, content, and credentials rather than on technology.

Name

The Network for Social Work Management

Legal name

Institute for Social Work Managers

Website

https://socialworkmanager.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Network for Social Work Management is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that professionalizes and credentials social work management through the CSWM credential, graduate certificate partnerships with 17 schools of social work, an annual Forward Thinking Summit, and a membership community serving executives, directors, and macro-practice professionals in health and human services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Learning & Community-Enabled LMS (EDAFAAAH)

Keywords

• Social work management
• Professional credentialing
• Leadership development
• Human services education
• Nonprofit certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Donations: Recurring monthly donations ($10, $20, $50/month tiers) and one-time donations from members, donors, and supporters, including social workers, nonprofit leaders, and corporations with CSR programs.
2. Event Registration: Revenue from the annual Forward Thinking Summit (virtual), including general registration ($250), marketplace presentations ($750-$1,150), and CEU processing fees.
3. CSWM Credentialing: The Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) credential requires a $50 initiation fee for members, annual 12 CE hours, and renewal fees. CSWM holders must maintain credentials through NSWM programs.
4. Graduate Certification Partnerships: NSWM partners with MSW programs (17 academic institutions including UT Knoxville, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, etc.) to issue Human Services Management Certificates via Accredible digital credentials, generating partnership revenue.
5. Social Work Entrepreneurship Certificate: 8-week live virtual program at $750 USD, led by René Castro and Dr. Victor Manalo, covering earned-income strategies, consulting, and social enterprise development for social workers.
6. Conference Sponsorship: Sponsorship tiers for the Forward Thinking Summit range from $1,500 (Friends) to $15,000 (Platinum), plus premium sponsorships for tracks, countdown campaigns, and exhibitor booths.
7. Journal Subscription: Members receive the official journal 'Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance' (formerly Administration in Social Work) at a special society member rate of $20/year. Libraries and institutions subscribe at standard rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Network for Social Work Management (NSWM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association that delivers credentialing, graduate certificates, executive development institutes, an annual virtual summit, and a peer-reviewed journal for social work managers, directors, and macro-practice professionals. Its core sellable offerings include the Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) credential, the Graduate Human Services Certificate, the Social Work Entrepreneurship Certificate, the Emerging Leaders Institute, the Executive Circle, the Doctoral Scholars Institute, and the annual Forward Thinking Summit.

Product overview

NSWM operates as a membership-based professional organization offering a portfolio of programs, credentials, events, and publications for social work managers and macro social work professionals. The core offerings include: the Graduate Human Services Certificate (mapped to MSW programs at 17 partner universities and issued via Accredible); the Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) Credential (a professional certification requiring social work degree, 2 years supervisory experience, supervisor reference, and ongoing CE requirements); the Social Work Entrepreneurship Certificate (an 8-week live virtual program at $750); the Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI); the Executive Circle Program; the Doctoral Scholars Institute (DSI) for doctoral students; and the annual Forward Thinking Summit virtual conference (5th annual in 2026). Supporting offerings include the NSWM Online Community (free membership), the Monday Morning Manager weekly newsletter (4,300+ subscribers), NSWM Featured Webinars, and the organization's official journal Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance. The platform runs on Kajabi; events use Whova and Zoom; and certificates are issued digitally through Accredible.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduate Human Services Certificate A nationally recognized digital certificate issued by NSWM via Accredible for MSW/DSW students completing macro, advanced generalist, or leadership & administration specializations. Partner schools map their curriculum to NSWM's Human Service Management Competencies.
• Doctoral Scholars Institute (DSI) A virtual institute for doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows conducting research in management and organizations. Includes faculty mentorship, dissertation discussions, academic networking, and complimentary registration to the Forward Thinking Summit.
• Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) Credential A professional credential marking excellence in social work management. Requires a social work degree (BSW/MSW/PhD/DSW), at least 2 years of supervisory/leadership experience, a supervisor reference, and a $50 initiation fee. Holders must complete 12 CE hours every 1.5 years to maintain the credential.
• Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) A leadership development institute for mid-career professionals and aspiring leaders in human service and nonprofit organizations. Features interactive workshops, case studies, group projects, personalized coaching, mentorship, and national peer networking.
• Executive Circle Program A peer learning and networking program for senior-level managers and executives in human service and nonprofit organizations. Combines executive coaching, peer learning, and expert-led workshops to address fundraising, regulatory navigation, and organizational impact. Re-launched in 2025.
• Social Work Entrepreneurship Certificate An 8-week live virtual certificate program ($750 USD) for social workers, nonprofit leaders, consultants, and community change-makers. Covers consulting, earned-income strategies, social enterprise, and mission-driven entrepreneurship. Participants build an Entrepreneurial Action Plan and 90-Day Implementation Roadmap.
• Forward Thinking Summit NSWM's premier annual virtual convening for macro social work professionals, directors, and researchers. Features three strategic pillars (Integrated Leadership, Policy Impact, Emerging Innovations) plus specialized Health Leadership and AI & Technology tracks. General registration $250; Marketplace presentations $750.
• NSWM Online Community A free online community platform providing members exclusive access to upcoming events, industry expert insights, and the latest trends in social work management.
• Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance Journal The official peer-reviewed journal of NSWM (formerly Administration in Social Work), published by Taylor & Francis. Available by subscription; NSWM members receive an annual online subscription at $20.

Quantifiable outcome

• NSWM has graduate certification partnerships with 17 schools of social work including University of Tennessee, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, UIC, and others.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Preferra Insurance Company RRGminorOthersPreferra Insurance Company RRG is a sponsor of the Network for Social Work Management, appearing on the website as a special thanks sponsor.
• Rutgers University School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRutgers University School of Social Work sponsors the Doctoral Scholars Institute (DSI) and hosts the institute. Dr. Allison Zippay (Rutgers) serves as DSI Chair. Rutgers is also a Graduate Human Services Certificate partner institution.
• KajabicoreTechnology or IntegrationNSWM's website and programs are built and hosted on the Kajabi platform. Kajabi powers the NSWM website, online courses, certificates, community membership, and event registration. NSWM is explicitly 'Powered by Kajabi.'
• WhovacoreTechnology or IntegrationWhova provides the virtual event platform for the Forward Thinking Summit, including registration, session streaming, networking, exhibitor booths, and on-demand content. Whova is credited as the conference registration system.
• AccrediblecoreTechnology or IntegrationAccredible provides the digital credential platform for NSWM's Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) certification and Graduate Human Services Certificates. Digital credentials are issued through Accredible and can be shared on social media or printed.
• Taylor & FrancisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaylor & Francis publishes the journal 'Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance' (formerly Administration in Social Work), NSWM's official peer-reviewed journal. NSWM members receive a special subscription rate of $20/year.
• Loyola University ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSWM is currently hosted by Loyola University Chicago. CEO Dr. Goutham Menon serves as Professor & Former Dean at Loyola University Chicago. This hosting arrangement provides institutional support and infrastructure for NSWM's operations.
• NASW (National Association of Social Workers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSWM's CSWM credential offers a discounted $50 initiation fee for members of social work national organizations including NASW. NSWM programs provide CE hours applicable toward NASW licensure renewal.
• Social Work Schools (17 Academic Partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor17 MSW programs (University of Tennessee Knoxville, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, UIC, TCU, Rhode Island College, University of Maryland, Augsburg, Arizona State, Michigan State, Kutztown, Azusa Pacific, Indiana University, Southern Connecticut State, Salisbury, Hunter College) partner with NSWM to offer the Graduate Human Services Certificate to their students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR): A professional society for social work researchers and practitioners that hosts an annual conference and disseminates research. Comparable peer because SSWR and NSWM both serve advanced social work professionals, publish research-adjacent content, and run annual conferences with CEU programming — though SSWR is research-focused while NSWM is leadership/management-focused.
• American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW): An honorific society of distinguished social work scholars and practitioners focused on Grand Challenges for Social Work. Comparable peer because both organizations serve senior leaders in the social work profession and have board overlap (NSWM President Nancy Smyth serves on the Grand Challenges Leadership Board); AASWSW is more scholarly/honorific, while NSWM is operational credentialing.
• National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work (NADD): A professional association for deans and directors of social work programs. NSWM's CEO and President have held leadership roles in NADD, and its board includes NADD past-presidents. Closely aligned peer — both organizations serve senior social work leaders, though NADD focuses on academic leadership while NSWM spans academic, nonprofit, and government social work managers.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Nonprofits: A national network of state and regional nonprofit associations serving nonprofit leaders broadly. Comparable peer because NSWM's Executive Circle and Entrepreneurship Certificate serve the same end-user (nonprofit executives, including social work leaders), though Council of Nonprofits covers all sectors while NSWM is sector-specific.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): A premier global provider of executive leadership development with research, publications, and credentialing. Comparable in delivering credentialed leadership development to executives, though CCL operates across all sectors while NSWM specializes in social work/human services managers and offers a profession-specific credential (CSWM).
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW): The largest professional membership organization for social workers in the US. NASW is a broad incumbent serving all social workers (not just managers), offering the LCSW credential and CE programs — directly comparable membership and credentialing model, but at a much larger scope that overlaps with NSWM's CSWM credential and member benefits.
• International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW): The global federation of national social work associations. Comparable in being a membership and professional development organization for social workers, with international scope (NSWM explicitly serves US and Canada). IFSW is broader and policy-focused globally; NSWM specializes in management and leadership within the US/Canada market.
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): The national accrediting body for social work education programs. CSWE accredits the MSW programs (including many of NSWM's 17 graduate certificate partners) and sets educational policy — comparable in its role as a national infrastructure organization for social work, but with a broader educational and accreditation mandate versus NSWM's management and leadership focus.

Others

• Association of Community Human Service Organizations (not a real entity I can confirm): Comparable regional and community-based social service membership associations (e.g., state-level associations like the Illinois Chapter of NASW). NSWM board member Joel Rubin serves as Executive Director of Illinois NASW — a direct structural parallel showing how state NASW chapters and similar associations represent the same end-user (social service leaders) but with regional scope.

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America - Professional Development (nonprofit leadership training division): Large youth-serving nonprofit that runs leadership and management development programs for its executives. Comparable as a sector-specific nonprofit leadership development organization with credentialing and training programs, though BGCA is mission/program-specific versus NSWM's profession-specific focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheNSWM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/network-for-social-work-management
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_nswm
• Xx.com/thenswm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Network for Social Work Management