The Paint Branch Elementary/University of Maryland partnership, which works to integrate the grade school into the community, landed a highly sought-after spot in the Grassroots.org Social Ventures Consulting Program. The project pairs nonprofits with MBA students from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business for semester-long strategic consulting engagements.
Paint Branch Elementary competed with more than 100 nonprofits for one of this semester’s eight slots.
National nonprofit Grassroots.org gives free web and technology tools to more than 2,000 nonprofits nationwide, and the Social Venture Consulting program is one of its most valuable resources.
Since 2006, the program has matched more than 100 MBA students with nearly 45 nonprofit organizations across the country, combining capacity-building consulting services with hands-on learning experiences.
“This program is extremely beneficial for its participants,” Grassroots.org Executive Director Shane Hankins said. “We’ve seen organizations grow and land grants because of the consulting they received. At the same time, the students gain real-world experience with established nonprofits.”
The program is also a key component of the Center for Social Value Creation, launched at the Smith School of Business in 2009 to develop a new generation of leaders with a deep sense of individual responsibility and the knowledge to use business as a vehicle for social change.
"This semester's nonprofits were chosen from an exceptional group of applicants,” said Melissa Carrier, executive director of the Center for Social Value Creation. “Their unique project requests aligned well with our students' skill sets and will provide opportunities for quality learning experiences. We're excited to have such committed organizations on board this semester."
This semester’s rigorous application process required each nonprofit to submit an overview of its mission, services and project goals. MBA students will offer Paint Branch Elementary marketing consulting to strengthen its community relationship.
"Paint Branch Elementary University of Maryland partnership had a critical need for a marketing plan, yet we lacked the necessary expertise to carry out the work,” said Amy Neugbauer, Paint Branch Partnership project manager. “This opportunity helps us fill a capacity gap that we wouldn't have the money or experience to fill."
About the Social Value Creation Center at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business:
The Center for Social Value Creation at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is proud to partner with Grassroots.org for the Social Venture Consulting Program. Since 2006, the program has matched more than 100 MBA students with nearly 45 nonprofit organizations across the country, combining capacity-building consulting services with hands-on learning experiences. The program is a key component in the newly launched Center for Social Value Creation, which aims to develop a new generation of leaders with a deep sense of individual responsibility and the knowledge to use business as a vehicle for social change. For more information on the center and its programs, visit www.rhsmith.umd.edu/svc.
About the Paint Branch Elementary/University of Maryland partnership:
The University of Maryland/Paint Branch Elementary Partnership is developing a community engagement model that harnesses the resources and expertise of the University of Maryland and the community of College Park to make Paint Branch a premier school within Prince George’s County.
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