Re: Should students do it pro bono?
I agree with Aaron that engaging undergraduate and graduate students in pro bono projects as a part of their curriculum provides both an invaluable learning experience and a method to foster the pro bono ethnic in emerging young professionals. However, I do share Aaron's concern that far too often existing campus led pro bono activities deploy students into the community in a way that while offering a great learning experience, isn't the most effective or efficient way for a resource-strapped nonprofit to utilize innovative minds. That being said, the challenge is to create campus-driven pro bono projects that capitalize on student strengths--as energetic, collaborative, tech-savvy, resourceful researchers and thinkers--and provide them with the tools, resources, and expertise that will enable them to drive tangible solutions for nonprofits.
That core belief--that through proper support and an empowerment-driven model, students can effectively work with nonprofits to strengthen their community--is the underpinning of campusCATALYST (cC), an organization I co-founded with fellow Northwestern alum Molly Day. campusCATALYST seeks to engage undergrads in pro bono, high-impact consulting engagements on behalf of community-based organizations, while providing professional training, business mentorship, and leadership development. Students in the program enroll in a nonprofit management course, providing social sector consulting training, through their university and each team of students is paired with a MBA candidate with prior consulting experience for guidance and support. Prior to each engagement, cC works with each nonprofit to define the scope of the problem being addressing, the timeline for the project, and expected deliverables. Feedback from both nonprofits and students has proven that this strategic and structured approach delivers effective solutions and promotes a collaborative approach to social change. To learn more about the work and impact of campusCATALYST, please visit www.campuscatalyst.org.
We believe that team by team, nonprofit by nonprofit, college students and their neighbors have the opportunity to work together, learn more about the community, and create truly meaningful change.
