Student Consultants Present Final Deliverables to New Haven Nonprofits at Creative Arts Workshop
On April 25, 2025, student teams and their nonprofit partners came together at the studios of Creative Arts Workshop—one of this year’s nonprofit clients—to present final deliverables and celebrate the close of the collaborations kicked off at the annual Meet the Clients night last fall.
Since the fall of 2024, Yale SOM students in the Social Impact Consulting Club (SICC) have partnered with local nonprofits on seven-month consulting projects. Working in teams of three, students applied their business training to challenges raised by the fourteen nonprofit partners, helping the organizations strengthen operations, improve strategy, and advance their missions. On April 25, 2025, the student teams and their nonprofit partners came together at the studios of Creative Arts Workshop—one of this year’s nonprofit clients—to present final deliverables and celebrate the close of the collaborations kicked off at the annual Meet the Clients night last fall. The event also offered nonprofit leaders a chance to reconnect, share insights, and reflect on common challenges across the sector.
In addition to informal discussion and networking, a select number of student teams were invited to present their final deliverables to the full group of students and nonprofit leaders. Drawing on months of interviews, data analysis, and iteration, these teams shared insights and tools—from stakeholder maps and pricing models to dashboard prototypes—designed to be both strategic and immediately actionable. The presentations sparked lively conversation and cross-pollination of ideas among the nonprofit leaders in attendance.
“The final event felt like a perfect way to celebrate all the hard work that the student teams had put into their projects over the past few months,” reflected first-year student Sharon Chen ’26, who will step into a leadership role with the club next year. “It was awesome to see three teams showcase their impressive work and innovative ideas for their clients. The executive director of the nonprofit I worked with shared how inspired she was by the presentations and left with ideas she hopes to explore further with our team.”
Between presentations, the energy in the room reflected the spirit of the program. Students and clients exchanged ideas over refreshments, discussed next steps, and explored ways to stay connected. Don Wilson, Executive Director of Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse shared with his student team, “I'm genuinely excited to delve into these tools and am hopeful they will indeed prove invaluable in our fundraising endeavors, allowing us to reach even more students and clearly articulate our roadmap for continued success. Thank you for your dedication and insightful work; it feels like we've gained true partners in our mission.”
While the consulting engagements deliver immediate value to partner organizations, the program also fosters long-term impact by cultivating a network of current and aspiring nonprofit leaders who are united in their commitment to build resilient and inclusive communities. “The Social Impact Consulting program gives our students the chance to grapple with real-world challenges in partnership with the organizations that shape New Haven. This work requires listening, co-creating, and showing up with humility.” said Sooah Rho ’23, Associate Director of SOM’s Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact. “I also want to recognize our graduating student leaders—Claire Kelly ‘25, who recently received the Dean’s Mission & Impact Award for her work, along with Edward Chiu ‘25, Chris Dowdy ‘25, and Ramil Ibrahim ‘25—whose dedication and vision have sustained and grown this program.”
The Social Impact Consulting club remains a cornerstone of Yale SOM’s mission to educate leaders for business and society. With each project, students deepen their capacity to lead with empathy and insight, while strengthening the ties between SOM and Greater New Haven’s mission-driven organizations.
