Request for Proposal ListingsNYU Wagner Capstone: Social Impact, Innovation & Investment (Fall 26'-Spring 27')
NYU Wagner Capstone: Social Impact, Innovation & Investment (Fall 26'-Spring 27')
New York University (NYU)
NYU Wagner Capstone: Social Impact, Innovation & Investment (Fall 26'-Spring 27')
09/14/2026 to 05/07/2027
Tiffany CharbonierCollaboration Overview
About Students
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.
About Program Goals
Through this Capstone engagement, students will:
-
Translate social innovation frameworks into practical strategies to support nonprofit, philanthropic, and mission-aligned private sector partners.
-
Apply systems thinking, stakeholder analysis, and financial modeling to help clients advance their social impact goals.
-
Conduct research and evaluation, including benchmarking, landscape analysis, and market mapping.
-
Develop and present strategic recommendations rooted in evidence, equity, and real-world constraints.
-
Strengthen professional competencies in project management, consulting, and collaborative client engagement.
- Deliver actionable tools, frameworks, or communications strategies that are aligned with the partner’s mission and capacity for implementation.
About the Collaboration Format
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.
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.
Benefits for Industry Partners
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.
Program Details
Students Include: Graduate Degree
Students Enrolled: Students Enrolled
Program Duration: 33 weeks
Program Launch Date: 09/14/26
Program End Date: 05/07/27
Student Commitment: 1-3 Hours hrs/week
Course Format: Capstone, Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Modality: Fully Remote
# of Projects: 5
View All Program DetailsProject Requirements
| Industry Partner Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Project Topics | Corporate Social Responsibility Customer Service & Account Management Economic Development, Work and Occupations Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Innovation Market Research Marketing Operations Organizational Culture Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy Product Design & Development Public Administration Quality Control Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research, Analysis, Evaluation Talent Management Technology Commercialization Training & Development |
| Location Preferences |
Located Anywhere |
| Compensation |
|
| Sponsorship |
Sponsorship Requested (Optional):Pre-Revenue Startup a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Growth Startup a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Small to Medium Business a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Large Enterprise a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Government Organization a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Non-Profit a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 |
| Other Requirements | 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.
|
| Project Management Time Commitment | 2 Hours per week |
| Interested Industries | Consulting & Professional Services Consumer Products & Services Education & Ed-Tech Finance & Investment Government Health Care & Life Sciences Non-Profit & Social Impact Public Works Retail & E-Commerce Software, AI & Data |
Skills & Expertise
Benchmarking Analysis Business Model Development Data Analysis Financial Modeling Impact Investing Impact Measurement Landscape Analysis Market Research Policy Analysis Program Design Program Evaluation Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Social Impact Strategy Social Innovation Stakeholder Analysis Strategic Communications Strategic Planning Survey Design Systems Thinking| Key Program Dates | Due Date |
|---|---|
|
Request for Proposal published
Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.
|
Feb 21 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Interview
Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.
|
Mar 12 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Proposal Application Deadline
Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.
|
Jul 04 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Finalize Project Charter
Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.
|
Aug 02 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Official Program Launch
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.
|
Sep 12 2026 |
|
Official Program End
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.
|
May 01 2027 |
* We’ve got some inspirational project ideas below! These are related project topics that you can mix and match the components for the best cross-functional project experience possible.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Customer Service & Account Management
Economic Development, Work and Occupations
Entrepreneurship
Growth Strategy
Innovation
Market Research
Marketing
Operations
Organizational Culture
Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy
Product Design & Development
Public Administration
Quality Control
Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis
Research, Analysis, Evaluation
Talent Management
Technology Commercialization
Training & Development
| Program Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Program Title | NYU Wagner Capstone: Social Impact, Innovation & Investment (Fall 26'-Spring 27') | |
| Organization | New York University (NYU) | |
| # of Students Enrolled |
0
|
|
| # of Projects Running |
9 Project/s Added (of 5 Projects Expected)
|
|
|
Program Timeline Project Duration |
Start Date: 09/14/26 End Date: 05/07/27 8 months |
|
| Collaboration Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| About Students |
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.
Student Level: Graduate Degree Student Time Commitment: Full Time Team Structure: 4 - 7 |
|
| Program Goals | Through this Capstone engagement, students will:
|
|
| Format Structure |
Multiple Projects Multiple Teams |
|
| Format Title | Capstone | |
| Format Description |
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. |
|
| Benefits For Industry Partners | 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.
|
|
| Project Modality | Fully Remote | |
| Industry Partner Requirements to Participate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Project Topics | Corporate Social Responsibility Customer Service & Account Management Economic Development, Work and Occupations Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Innovation Market Research Marketing Operations Organizational Culture Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy Product Design & Development Public Administration Quality Control Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research, Analysis, Evaluation Talent Management Technology Commercialization Training & Development | |
| Target Industries | Consulting & Professional Services Consumer Products & Services Education & Ed-Tech Finance & Investment Government Health Care & Life Sciences Non-Profit & Social Impact Public Works Retail & E-Commerce Software, AI & Data | |
| Skills & Expertise | Benchmarking Analysis Business Model Development Data Analysis Financial Modeling Impact Investing Impact Measurement Landscape Analysis Market Research Policy Analysis Program Design Program Evaluation Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Social Impact Strategy Social Innovation Stakeholder Analysis Strategic Communications Strategic Planning Survey Design Systems Thinking | |
| Location Information & Preferences |
Located Anywhere |
|
| Sponsorship |
Sponsorship Requested (Optional):Pre-Revenue Startup a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Growth Startup a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Small to Medium Business a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Large Enterprise a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Government Organization a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 Non-Profit a contribution amount between $0.0 to $5000.0 |
|
| Compensation |
No Compensation Required |
|
| Other Requirements | 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.
|
|
| Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers | 2 Hours per week | |
| Key Program Dates | Due Date |
|---|---|
|
Request for Proposal published
Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.
|
Feb 21 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Interview
Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.
|
Mar 12 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Proposal Application Deadline
Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.
|
Jul 04 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Finalize Project Charter
Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.
|
Aug 02 2026, 11:42 PM UTC |
|
Official Program Launch
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.
|
Sep 12 2026 |
|
Official Program End
We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.
|
May 01 2027 |
Tiffany Charbonier
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