Apply Now!
About the Program
The Grassroots.org Social Venture Consulting Program pairs talented MBA students from the University of Maryland Smith School of Business 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.
Selection Criteria
MBA students from the top-ranked Smith School at UMD are selected for participation based on a variety of factors including professional experience and dedication to community service.
Nonprofit participants are Grassroots.org members selected for the project's capacity-building potential and the organization's demonstrated need for external support. Geographic distribution is varied, depending on the semester, however the split tends to be about 50/50 (with 50% of organizations located in the DC metro area, and 50% spread around the U.S.
Program Details
- Pairings last one school semester (three months)
- Applications are accepted in December (for spring program), and July (for fall programs)
- Three nonprofits are selected each round
- Each nonprofit is paired with one or two students
- Pairings include 3-5 meetings (phone or in-person, depending on nonprofit location) and 60-90 hours of consulting work (per project)
- Program is open to all registered US or Canadian nonprofits
Examples of past Social Venture Consulting Projects include:
- development of a strategic plan for an after school program
- creation a strategic marketing plan & refinement of financial statements for a clothing resale shop
- design of a financial management/donor tracking program for a human rights agency
Advantages for Students
- practical consulting experience
- the opportunity to give back
Advantages for Nonprofits:
- experienced business perspective
- a structured environment to complete a particular project
- 60-90 hours of in-kind consulting (valued at $150/hr)
If you'd like to be added to our Social Ventures Consulting Alert List, let us know
Have a question about Free Project-based Consulting? Contact Grassroots.org
Thanks to our Partners:
