Students in NYU Wagner’s Finance Capstone Program are graduate students pursuing their Master of Public Administration in Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy with a specialization in finance, budgeting, and public financial management. These students are highly analytical and passionate about leveraging data and financial strategy to drive sustainable social and economic outcomes. 

They have academic and professional experience in public budgeting, financial modeling, capital planning, investment analysis, risk management, and performance measurement. Many bring backgrounds in consulting, government finance, impact investing, or nonprofit fiscal strategy. Through the Capstone experience, students apply their quantitative, strategic, and systems thinking skills to help organizations build financial resilience, optimize resource allocation, and evaluate funding models.

Over the course of the engagement, student teams 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.

Partner organizations receive: 

✅ Custom consulting support focused on financial planning, sustainability, and performance improvement.
✅ Evidence-based insights and deliverables including financial models, investment strategies, cost-effectiveness analyses, and benchmarking studies.
✅ A structured, low-cost, high-value engagement, guided by experienced NYU Wagner faculty.
✅ Access to highly skilled graduate talent with real-world financial, policy, and operational expertise.
✅ Tangible deliverables that can inform long-term budgeting, program growth, funding diversification, or strategic investment.