The ChangeTheWorld.org Consulting Program pairs talented MBA students with Grassroots.org Member Organizations in semester-long project-based consulting partnerships. The program is designed to help entrepreneurial nonprofit startup organizations to increase their organizational capacity by providing them with direct access to free business consulting. Since 2006, the program – led by the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business – has served more than 75 organizations and involved nearly 300 students. Starting in 2011, the program expanded to include additional university partners, with the goal of bringing in more and more under the ChangeTheWorld.org umbrella.

  • Client-Consultant pairings last one school semester (three months)
  • Applications are accepted in October (for spring program), and July (for fall programs)
  • Each nonprofit is paired with two or four business and/or public policy students
  • Pairings include biweekly meetings (phone or in-person, depending on nonprofit location) and 60-80 hours of consulting work (per project)
  • Program is open to all registered US or Canadian nonprofits

Client Handbooks are provided to all organizations that will be working with students.

 

Selection Criteria

MBA students from top-ranked universities are selected for participation based on a variety of factors including professional experience, dedication to social value creation, subject matter expertise, and . Non-profit participants are Grassroots.org members selected for the project’s capacity-building potential and the organization’s demonstrated need for external support. We accept our clients before selecting our student consultants to ensure that the appropriate skill sets are matched to the needs of the non-profit organization.

See examples of past projects here.

Read past client testimonials here.

Advantages for organizations include a pro bono experienced business perspective, a structured environment to complete a particular project,  and 60-80 hours of in-kind consulting (valued at $150/hr.)

Apply to the social venture consulting program now!

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