Students in NYU Wagner’s Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment Capstone program are graduate students pursuing their Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, or related degrees. These students bring diverse professional and academic backgrounds spanning public service, finance, consulting, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and nonprofit management. 

They are trained to approach complex social challenges with a systems-thinking mindset and have developed core competencies in social impact strategy, policy evaluation, financial modeling, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement. These students are prepared to work across sectors—nonprofit, public, philanthropic, and private—to drive innovation and equitable outcomes. They are eager to partner with mission-driven organizations to develop actionable strategies and insights that lead to sustainable social change.

Through this Capstone engagement, 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.

Partnering with an NYU Wagner Social Impact, Innovation & Investment Capstone team provides organizations with: 

✅ Strategic insights and research-driven recommendations to help advance social impact initiatives, programs, or organizational strategy. 

✅ Professional-grade deliverables such as market analyses, financial models, impact frameworks, strategic roadmaps, or program evaluation tools. 

✅ Hands-on consulting support from graduate students trained in social impact strategy, finance, policy, and organizational innovation. 

✅ Fresh perspectives grounded in systems thinking and equity-centered approaches, helping organizations explore new opportunities for impact and growth. 

✅ A structured, low-cost, high-value engagement supported by experienced NYU Wagner faculty. 

✅ Access to emerging leaders in social innovation, impact investing, nonprofit management, and public service.  

Industry partners participating in the NYU Wagner Capstone program are expected to actively support the student consulting experience by providing a well-defined project and consistent engagement throughout the academic year.

Participating organizations should be prepared to:

• Identify a clearly defined project challenge aligned with the program’s topic areas and suitable for a small graduate student consulting team.
 • Designate a project manager who will serve as the primary point of contact for the student team throughout the engagement.
 • Participate in key project milestones, including the project kickoff, periodic check-ins, and the final presentation of recommendations.
 • Provide relevant background information, documentation, and context that will help students understand the organization, its operations, and the project challenge.
 • Offer timely feedback on student questions, research findings, and draft deliverables to help guide the team’s work.
 • Maintain regular communication with the student team and faculty advisor as needed during the project.

Projects should be scoped so they are feasible for a small team of graduate students to complete within the academic term while still providing meaningful value to the partner organization.