Students participating in NYU Wagner’s Advocacy & Political Action Capstone course are highly motivated graduate students pursuing their Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management & Policy. They are emerging leaders who are trained to advance equity, justice, and systemic change across a wide range of policy domains. These students bring strong analytical, research, and communication skills, and have experience in policy analysis, coalition building, legislative research, stakeholder engagement, and campaign strategy. 

Capstone projects in this course focus on supporting mission-driven organizations—such as nonprofits, advocacy coalitions, or public agencies—by helping them address complex, real-world challenges through strategic, equity-centered policy and advocacy work. Students are eager to apply their academic training and professional experience to create meaningful change and tangible deliverables that support your organization's long-term impact.

Through their Capstone collaboration, students will: 

CAPSTONE: LEARNING IN ACTION
NYU Wagner’s Capstone program pairs small teams of students with clients in the public and private sectors who are tackling a public service issue—whether in health, education, international development, urban planning, or any other programmatic field—to tackle a project.

Partnering with NYU Wagner’s Capstone program gives your organization access to top-tier, passionate public service students who bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and skills to address complex issues and create meaningful change for your organization.

Our talented public service students provide in-depth analysis and actionable insights to help your organization optimize funding opportunities and strengthen financial sustainability.

What are the benefits for participating industry organizations? 

Partnering with a Capstone team provides mission-driven organizations with: 

✅ Fresh perspectives and high-quality deliverables — including research, strategy, and communications tools that can directly support policy and advocacy goals.
✅ Hands-on consulting support from a team of trained graduate students, guided by experienced NYU Wagner faculty.
✅ A low-cost, high-value engagement that offers tangible, professional outputs with minimal time investment.
✅ Opportunities to build your future workforce pipeline by mentoring and connecting with talented, equity-minded public service professionals.
✅ A chance to reflect on your organization’s strategic goals, campaigns, or policy approaches through structured engagement and external input.