Current Projects
Brainstorming Sessions
Brainstorming sessions are 90-min meetings focused on solving a specific issue or generating ideas involving 4-8 HBS alumni with targeted skills and interests who can help the nonprofit organization.
Thursday, Nov. 14 - Virtual
11:00am - 12:30pm Pacific
Children’s Creativity Museum
Children’s Creativity Museum (CCM) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit focused on nurturing creativity and collaboration in children ages 2-12 through hands-on art and technology programs. Established in 1998, CCM offers various interactive experiences, including a LEGO Animation Studio, Artlab, and immersive digital exhibits. The museum also collaborates with other institutions to expand creative programming and make it accessible to all families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
Focus Question: What is the value proposition for "creativity" for different audiences (such as parents with young children, parents with tweens/teens, young adults)? Which channels and platforms could be used to reach these different audiences and can they be monetized?
Thursday, Nov. 21 - Virtual
11:00am - 12:30pm Pacific
Presidio Historical Association
Presidio Historical Association is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the Presidio of San Francisco, focusing on its historic structures, sites, and stories. Established initially as the Fort Point Historical Association in 1959, the organization has since been instrumental in advocacy and educational efforts to protect the Presidio’s historic character and make it accessible to the public. PHA collaborates with the National Park Service on docent recruitment, training, and public programs, and actively opposes developments that threaten the site's historical integrity.
Focus Question: PHA seeks assistance in building and sustaining its membership and board to ensure long-term organizational impact. The focus question is: “How can we increase our active Board and public membership to achieve the goals we have for impact in the Presidio?” Insights will help PHA strengthen its foundation and broaden its reach within the community.
Thursday, Dec. 5 - Virtual
1:00pm - 2:30pm Pacific
Farm Studio
Farm Studio is a nonprofit organization established in 2024 in Sonoma County, California, focused on ecological education through regenerative farming and plant-based artisanship. Its mission is to restore ecological wisdom and heal the human-nature relationship. Farm Studio offers immersive learning experiences where participants engage with the natural environment, using soil, water, and plants as artistic and educational mediums.
Focus Question: Farm Studio seeks guidance on identifying key questions to answer through their pilot (test) apprenticeship programs. Essential areas of inquiry are pricing structure, length of program, frequency of meetings, size of cohort and target audience.
Thursday, Dec. 12 - Virtual
11:00am - 12:30pm Pacific
Breakthrough T1D
Breakthrough T1D is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, advocacy, and access to care. Originally founded as JDRF in 1970, the organization aims to improve lives by funding promising research, advocating for policy changes, and enhancing awareness and support within the T1D community. The Northern California Chapter raises approximately $10.5-$11 million annually through donations, events, and sponsorships to support these goals.
Focus Question: Breakthrough T1D seeks guidance on revitalizing its annual Walk events, which have seen a decline in participation and donations since the pandemic, with revenue still down by about 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Specifically, they want to explore strategies to increase corporate involvement in Walks through both employee participation and sponsorships.
Wednesday, Dec. 18 - Virtual
1:00pm - 2:30pm Pacific
LITA (Love is the Answer)
LITA (Love is the Answer) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for older adults in long-term care facilities or those isolated in their homes. Founded in 1975, LITA offers a variety of programs to foster meaningful relationships, including one-to-one visits, intergenerational projects, musical engagement, and outings to parks. The organization focuses on creating lasting connections that benefit both the older adults and volunteers, addressing the loneliness epidemic with impactful companionship.
Focus Question: LITA seeks assistance in identifying key questions to guide their strategic planning as they navigate a surge in programs and funding. What are key questions that LITA should be asking as they head into strategic planning? What are different revenue sources LITA should think about pursuing?
Consulting Projects
Consulting Projects are three-four month strategic consulting engagements with a group of 3-5 alumni who conducts a deep dive to tackle a broad challenge or opportunity. Meeting dates and formats are decided by the team throughout the engagement.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: remote
Applied Epi
Applied Epi is a nonprofit organization focused on improving global public health by providing high-quality training, tools, and support for applied epidemiologists, with a particular emphasis on low-resource settings. Since its founding, Applied Epi has become a leading provider of epidemiological training, including expertise in the widely-used open-source software "R." Their programs include free online materials, paid synchronous courses, a multilingual support desk, and community forums, serving over 850,000 individuals globally.
Project with Community Partners: Applied Epi seeks help with long term financial planning, more specifically with two deliverables: 1) co-create a financial strategy addressing revenue diversification, fund allocation, and a pricing model for global markets 2) a detailed plan to budget for an expanded scholarship program that accommodates participants from low-resource settings.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: Remote
Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN)
Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN) is a nonprofit organization that helps other nonprofits through professional development and organizational consulting. CEN offers workshops, training programs, and customized consulting services focused on leadership development, board diversity, and inclusion. Each year, it serves thousands of nonprofit leaders across 18 states, helping to build a more effective and representative nonprofit sector.
Project with Community Partners: CEN seeks assistance in evaluating and refining its programming to better align with the needs of the nonprofit community. Despite high participant satisfaction, there is a gap in retention and repeat attendance. The proposed project includes identifying the most impactful aspects of CEN’s offerings, gathering insights into unmet needs, and developing strategies to enhance participant engagement and create lasting connections. The goal is to produce a report with key findings and recommendations to strengthen CEN’s programs and expand its impact regionally and nationally.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: hybrid; client located in Oakland, team decision on meeting format
Centro Community Partners
Centro Community Partners, based in Oakland, CA, is dedicated to advancing equity, economic justice, and financial empowerment for underserved communities. Centro offers entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, and access to capital for low-income individuals, particularly women, BIPOC, and immigrants. Their bilingual programs include business coaching, mentorship, and technology-based tools such as the Centro CEO App, designed to provide culturally relevant resources to support microenterprise growth.
Project with Community Partners: Centro seeks assistance with two deliverables: 1) Business Model Optimization: Identify opportunities to diversify revenue streams, including potential earned income models 2) Scalable Growth Strategy: Develop a roadmap for sustainable expansion that balances program delivery with cost-effective resource allocation
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: hybrid; client located in Mill Valley; team decision on team meeting format
City of Mill Valley’s Digital Services and Open Gvernance project
The City of Mill Valley is embarking on an exciting initiative to transform its digital services, reimagining how residents, businesses, and City staff connect with local government. Currently, the City faces inefficiencies and limitations due to fragmented and outdated digital systems that hinder operational workflows, public engagement, and service accessibility. Modernizing these systems through integrated platforms, automation, centralization, and smart technologies will significantly enhance efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity for both city staff and community members.
Project with Community Partners: The Digital Services and Open Governance Project encompasses both public-facing services and internal operations. It includes technology upgrades, process improvements, policy development, and community engagement strategies to position Mill Valley as a leader in modern municipal governance. The City seeks expert assistance to conduct discovery, analyze findings, and provide recommendations along with a strategic work plan to address these challenges effectively.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: hybrid; client located in San Francisco; team decision on team meeting format
Immigrant Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA)
Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) is the largest nonprofit provider of immigration legal services in Northern California, with seven offices across six counties. Founded in 1918, IIBA serves approximately 10,000 clients annually, offering low-cost or free legal support to immigrants, refugees, and their families. Their services help individuals gain legal status, work authorization, protection from deportation, and family reunification, with a strong focus on client-centered support and equity.
Project with Community Partners: IIBA seeks assistance in strategically incorporating advanced technology and AI tools to enhance its capacity and streamline processes. This initiative aims to address the growing demand for immigration legal services by improving efficiency and expanding their impact. Additionally, IIBA would benefit from a staffing analysis to develop an optimal model that supports its goals.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: remote with client; team decision on team meeting format
MAVEN
MAVEN Project is a national nonprofit organization addressing healthcare inequities by connecting safety net clinic providers with expert physician volunteers for medical advice, mentorship, and education. Founded in 2014, MAVEN leverages telehealth to provide specialty care expertise, offering services like clinical mentoring, accredited medical education, and consultations across 64+ specialties. In 2023, MAVEN facilitated over 14,700 provider touchpoints, saving the healthcare system an estimated $13.8 million annually.
Project with Community Partners: MAVEN seeks assistance in expanding its market to mission-aligned sectors such as prisons, university health systems, and rural for-profit clinics. The goal is to assess product-market fit of those sectors, determine the total addressable market, understand competitive dynamics, and prioritize opportunities for growth.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: remote with client; team decision on team meeting format
National Foundation for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and elevating family child care providers nationwide. Since 1982, NAFCC has worked to strengthen the profession for nearly one million home-based early learning programs, serving approximately 40% of children receiving nonrelative care. The organization offers accreditation, professional development, and advocacy to improve quality and recognition for family child care educators, ensuring that families have access to affordable, high-quality child care.
Project with Community Partners: NAFCC seeks support in redesigning its membership structure to better serve family child care providers and enhance organizational sustainability. Goals include analyzing membership data, assessing competitive models, and developing recommendations for optimized membership tiers, pricing strategies, and leadership development pathways.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: remote; team decision on meeting format
Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation
Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation (FWF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Napa Valley’s vineyard workers through education and professional development. Since its founding in 2011, FWF has reached nearly 29,000 farmworkers, offering programs in viticulture, literacy, leadership, mentorship, and family support. By fostering personal and professional growth, FWF creates a more inclusive and equitable Napa Valley community.
Project with Community Partners: FWF seeks assistance in developing a comprehensive strategic plan to scale its programs and expand its reach to all 8,000 vineyard workers in Napa Valley. Goals include conducting a SWOT analysis, defining core values, and creating action plans with measurable KPIs.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: client located in San Carlos; team decision on meeting format
One Life Counseling Center
One Life Counseling Center is dedicated to providing accessible, culturally competent mental health services. Serving over 7,500 individuals annually, One Life supports economically disadvantaged, uninsured, and underinsured populations through therapy, education, and community programs. Key initiatives include the Una Vida program for Spanish-speaking families, a food market for food-insecure clients, and school-based mental health services at 29 local schools.
Project with Community Partners: One Life seeks assistance in developing a robust framework for collecting and analyzing program impact data. The project involves designing a system to gather meaningful feedback, track progress through metrics, and assess community needs. Additionally, the organization aims to evaluate the feasibility of hiring a business operations manager to sustain long-term impact measurement and operational efficiency.
Kickoff: March
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: team to decide
The Jewish Contemporary Museum
The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) is a unique cultural institution (located in an ideal SF location and stunning building) dedicated to exploring and celebrating contemporary Jewish life, art, and ideas. Through exhibitions, public programs, and educational outreach, CJM provides a platform for diverse expressions of Jewish identity while fostering understanding and combating intolerance. The museum has played a crucial role in engaging the broader community and educating audiences about Jewish history and culture.
Project with Community Partners: CJM is undergoing a strategic transformation during a temporary closure that began in December 2024. The organization seeks expert guidance in re-envisioning its future purpose and model (e.g. possibly a mix of permanent, on-loan & CJM-curated exhibits), its financial needs, and community engagement. Key areas of focus include attracting new major donor support, substantially increasing visitor traffic, and refining core messaging to align with its new vision. Additionally, the project will explore collaboration modalities with peer institutions to inform CJM’s revitalization and long-term sustainability.
Kickoff: February
Duration: 4 month consulting project
Format: remote
Vickery Trading Company
Vickery Trading Company (VTC) empowers refugee women through vocational training, personal development, and fair-wage employment. VTC offers comprehensive support, including English language classes, trauma-informed care, career readiness training, and social services. Its programs are designed to help refugee women overcome barriers, achieve financial independence, and build stronger families and communities.
Project with Community Partners: VTC is in the midst of a strategic transition, from serving a small population of refugees in the Dallas area with a comprehensive and intensive 21 month vocational training and employment program, to a suite of services and programs that allows VTC to offer more help to more women. Through this transition, VTC hopes to serve more refugees, better prepare them for full time employment and better address their critical needs: ESL; life skills, career support and cultural competency; and therapeutic services. HBS CP will review the operating model and develop a sustainable financial model to increase revenue, improve cost management, and maximize resources.