By Paul Connolly, SOM’91

The Winter 2007 issue of the PSE Newsletter has two feature articles from alumni who are in the field of nonprofit consulting, a popular next step for SOM graduates. Paul Connolly gives us the perspective of a seasoned professional, while Kate Greene talks about the experience of staffing a project as a senior associate. –Eds.

My role in consulting to philanthropies and nonprofits has been an experience of great learning and continuous growth. In addition to recounting the unique experiences that led me to my current position, I would like to share some of the insights I have gained from working in this dynamic field, and some notable developments I have observed in the nonprofit arena.

At college, I studied city and regional planning and provided direct services to nonprofit organizations on a voluntary basis. After graduation, I worked for the New York City government in the department that designed and constructed public facilities such as jails, libraries and courthouses. After three years, my role had expanded greatly, but I desired a greater challenge.

Yale SOM attracted me due to its multi-sector approach to management. In the process of completing my MPPM, my interest in nonprofit management developed, especially after taking the course in “Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organizations” taught by Sharon Oster and Stan Garstka. After graduating from SOM in 1991, I worked as an independent consultant to nonprofit organizations for a few years until one of my clients offered me a position. I spent the next three and a half years at the Nonprofit Facilities Fund (now called Nonprofit Finance Fund), a community development financial institution that provides facility-related loans and management assistance to nonprofits.

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By Kate Greene, SOM’06

Earlier this year, Community Servings, a Boston-based nonprofit serving meals to the critically ill, contacted my nonprofit consulting firm, TDC, for help with a prospective earned income venture. In the midst of building a new facility that would double its capacity to make meals, the senior staff wanted to know if there was a viable market for selling meals wholesale to other nonprofits, such as charter schools and senior centers.

This was an exciting project for me to take on—the chance to work with an entrepreneurial human services organization to develop a business plan. At SOM, I had worked on similar projects through the Yale-Goldman Sachs business planning competition and learned about earned income ventures through Sharon Oster’s Strategic Management of Nonprofits course, but I could now apply these skills as a professional, post-MBA consultant.

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I spent this past summer with Wellspring Consulting, a management consulting firm serving non-profit organizations along the Northeast Corridor. Wellspring employs a strategic approach to help non-profit organizations achieve their mission. In my internship I had the opportunity to work with a case team to develop strategic recommendations and action steps for a planning and development firm interested in improving profitability and maximizing its social impact. I found the internship through the firm’s on-campus recruiting. Wellspring has a strong connection to SOM, as its founder and a number of other members of the firm are SOM graduates.

More about Wellspring »
More 2007 Summer Internships »

This summer I worked on a non profit consulting engagement with New Sector Alliance in Boston. I was lucky to have one client all through the summer for whom I worked on two interrelated projects developing a communications strategy. My client was a small college that focuses on adult education. Geographically spread out, it’s headquartered in Cambridge with sites all over the US and plans for international expansion (mainly in China). Its fast growth over the last decade has created a strain on internal communication. I had an undergraduate student from Wharton working along with me for the engagement.

The first project was to expand communications capacity using information technology. I designed a staff survey on communication needs and challenges, analyzed quantitative and qualitative data and presented an organizational snapshot to the client. From the findings, we developed a prototype intranet (and internal internet) for the client, built a process to maintain it and worked with the IT department on an implementation plan.

In our second project we framed a process for the client to deliberate upon and build a set of communication guidelines. In addition, I created a communications training program, including a basic toolkit with a training module and templates. Lessons from the Employee perspective from the new core curriculum were immensely helpful in guiding our work.

I enjoyed a wonderful Cambridge summer with a great team both in New Sector as well as on the client site. New Sector, in cooperation with the Boston Consulting Group, provided training and support. Each summer consultant was paired with a mentor from BCG or another consulting firm. As the “summer class of 2007” we shared our insights and learnings with each other in a series of breakfast presentations. And I had the satisfaction of knowing that we provided a valuable service to a non profit in a structured and efficient manner.

Finally, I will draw upon my summer experience while leading SOM’s Outreach Consulting Club, especially in providing a framework for SOM students to effectively provide consulting advice to local non profits.

More about New Sector Alliance »
More 2007 Summer Internships »

This summer I worked at TDC, a nonprofit consulting firm in Boston. TDC provides strategy, management, and financial consulting to many nonprofits in the United States. During my internship, I worked with eight clients, including foundations, city agencies, a social service nonprofit, and arts and culture organizations. Some of my projects included creating a business plan for an earned income venture, feasibility studies, and benchmarking studies. I loved the fast paced nature of consulting work, and that I could really use the skills that I have learned at SOM to help my nonprofit clients.

More about TDC »
Read Kate Greene’s article about working at TDC »
More 2007 Summer Internships »

This summer I will be working with Wellspring Consulting, a management consulting firm serving non-profit organizations along the Northeast Corridor. Wellspring employs a strategic approach to help non-profits achieve their mission. I found the internship through the firm’s on-campus recruiting. Wellspring has a strong connection to SOM, as its founder and a number of other members of the firm are SOM graduates.