Yale's Social Impact Consulting Club pairs teams of graduate student consultants with local nonprofits, government agencies, and social enterprises to solve business challenges identified by the organizations.
Just some of the types of projects we collaborate with clients on...
Evaluating clients’ financial state, including cash flows, asset values, spending, and more, to develop plans to meet financial goals.
Helping clients create new products or services using the design thinking process, which includes observation of customer needs, ideation, and prototyping, and ends with iteration.
Helping clients communicate the value of programs and services to external stakeholders and manage the spread of information to the public.
Supporting effective employee management, policies, and systems, using tools such as employee recruitment, performance appraisals, and training.
Each student team is paired with a client organization ands spend one academic year collaborating with them on a time-limited project to solve a key business challenge.
Here's a timeline of how it all happens:
Summer
Organizations that are interested in working with SIC submit proposals in July and August before students arrive on campus.
SIC's leadership team begins evaluating these proposals and may reach out to applicants for more details.
Mid-September
Students learn more about SIC at SOM's club fair, at the club kickoff event, and by talking to SIC leadership. Applications are typically due in mid-September.
Late September
SIC releases decisions about the client proposals they received during the summer.
October
Clients and student consultants meet for the first time over a meal on SOM's campus. Clients pitch their projects to student consultants.
November
Teams of student consultants are matched with client projects.
Introductory meetings between the student team and the client team take place.
The consulting projects begin!
November - May
Student consultants meet regularly with clients as they collaborate on carrying out the project.
The SIC leadership team and faculty advisors offer hands-on support, coaching, and a full curriculum to train students on how to be effective social sector consultants throughout the year.
Students complete the projects by late April or the first week of May and present their findings to their clients.
Late April or early May
A final celebration takes place. All clients and student consultants are invited!
