Good Afternoon Pittsburgh Community!
You are invited to submit project proposals for this year's Nonprofit Clinic. Each spring (January through April), the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at the University of Pittsburgh offers a capstone seminar entitled "Nonprofit Clinic: Consulting in Nonprofit Organizations." The course offers Pittsburgh-area nonprofits 11 weeks of pro bono consulting services from advanced masters students. The Clinic's collaborative approach brings together GSPIA faculty, nonprofit professional coaches, masters students, and organizational leadership to provide professional-quality consulting to solve pressing challenges. The course and projects are managed by GSPIA faculty.
We are seeking 10 nonprofit organizations that need management consulting assistance (free of charge) on topics related to management and governance. Topics might include:
| Logic models | Program evaluation |
| Business planning | Human resource management and policies |
| Market analysis | Financial analysis |
| Program development | Board governance and development |
| Social enterprise | Resource development |
| Strategic communications | Marketing planning |
The consulting team will consist of advanced graduate students who will be working under the supervision of GSPIA faculty and your guidance as the client. These students are not only bright and dedicated but also highly motivated individuals with the potential to make substantial contributions to your organization. They will be graduating with their master's degrees in April, each equipped with a comprehensive skillset and unique background that can be put to immediate use on your projects. They will have approximately 11 weeks to complete the project, either individually or in teams of two. Therefore, the projects should be relatively modest in scope. Over the past 12 years, the Nonprofit Clinic has served over 150 nonprofit clients, with over $1 million in pro bono consulting conducted. Here are a few reactions from past clients:
The student consultants approached the project much the same as any other paid consultant that I have worked with. I was extremely impressed by how successful they were in extracting information from other [organizations] in such a short amount of time… the comparative analysis they provided will be a very useful reference for us moving forward.
This exceeded my expectations on every front. The student consultant's work was truly original and extensive in research, in hands on engagement and in thought process that was reflected not just in suggestions, but in actual deliverables designed to provoke response and reaction.
The research and the professionalism with which [the student] conducted herself and the materials she presented were far above what I had expected. This was my first project working with a graduate student from Pitt and it was a great experience.
[The student consultants] did a fantastic job! They were extremely thoughtful, attentive to detail, and professional throughout their entire process.
The student consultants were exceptional. They were able to actively listen to our needs, identify priorities, and research solutions.
We want to thank the student consultants and the Nonprofit Clinic at The University of Pittsburgh. This is an amazing way to give back to the community and give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a real-world setting. I would have recommended this to other local nonprofits. Thank you!
[The student consultant] was wonderful. He was a great fit with our organization and his work ethic and products were top notch. Thank you so much for allowing him to serve as our consultant.
If you would like to participate in the Clinic, please apply online at: https://tinyurl.com/Nonprofit-Clinic-Application
*Note: We've attached the online application questions as a preview. Please submit your application online at the above link. Thank you.
Important Dates
- October 3, 2023: Online Application Opens
- November 3, 2023: Application Deadline
- November 20, 2023: Selected Nonprofits Notified
- January – April 2024: Nonprofit Clinic Cycle
- Mid-Late April 2024: Final Deliverables Sent
If you know of other organizations who would benefit from this opportunity, we encourage you to refer them to this announcement.
Thank you for considering this opportunity. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Doreen Hernández
On behalf of the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership and Frances Hesselbein Leadership Forum
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
University of Pittsburgh
johnsoninstitute.pitt.edu | hesselbeinforum.pitt.edu | [email protected]
This post first appeared on Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates Ponder Current Even, please read the originial post: here
