Photo Gallery

Community Action Partners

Harvard Business School and Kennedy School Alumni Partnering with Boston Area Nonprofits on Critical Business Challenges

Program Updates

2022-2023 Consulting Projects

Brainstorming Sessions
ONGOING

Nonprofit Partners

Alumni Volunteers

Recent Events

CAP announces 15 pro bono consulting projects for 2022-23

Resources/Opportunities

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Main Street Lending Program for Nonprofit Organizations

COVID Resources

Curated by CAP

How to Get Involved with CAP

Alumni Volunteers

Are you a graduate of HBS or HKS who wants to transfer your skills into community service?

Volunteer Info

Nonprofit Partners

Are you a Boston nonprofit or social enterprise looking for pro bono business consulting help?

Nonprofit Partners

Support CAP

We do not receive funding from Harvard. We rely on the support of alumni and sponsors.

Donate Now

CAP Consulting

Pro Bono Consulting Projects with 4-8 Alumni Volunteers Focused on Specific Business Challenges with Clearly Defined Goals

Consulting Overview

Typical project team consists of four or eight alumni working between two and four hours per week for four to eight months
We leverage each team’s unique intellectual capital and business talent, customizing every project to meet client needs
The result is a mutually rewarding experience — for alumni who want to impact the social good, and for our nonprofit clients who need professional help

Application Process

Applications for Pro Bono Business Consulting Services are accepted from until June 11, 2021 for work beginning in October 2021
CAP matches selected Boston area nonprofits with an alumni team tailored to the client and project focus

Consulting Client Criteria

Charitable nonprofit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status or other officially designated social enterprise
Headquartered in Greater Boston
A mission which provides the Greater Boston/New England community with a social benefit
Stable leadership in the organization (ED tenure exceeds one year)
Administrative capacity and commitment to oversee and support the consulting work
For Classic Consulting projects:
- A minimum of five paid full-time staff, as well as a board of directors
- Not currently in a crisis situation which would require more urgent assistance
For Focused Consulting projects:
- A minimum of 3 paid full-time staff and demonstrated active board participation
- Sufficient financial stability and no imminent financial crisis.

Consulting Project Criteria

Deal with business or management-related issues in the organization, such as strategic planning, organizational development, finance, or marketinG
Not focused primarily on development / fundraising strategy or implementation
Have goals which are well-defined and achievable by a volunteer team of about six consultants working two to four hours per week each for approximately six months
Have the sponsorship of the organization's leadership, including both staff and the board

Project Implementation Guidelines

Each project is defined and agreed upon with the client organization in a written project commitment letter
A project team leader is designated prior to start-up with responsibility for guiding the project to completion
Each project has a liaison to the CAP board to track progress and provide assistance when necessary
A final report (oral and/or written) is made to client management and/or the board of directors

About Our Volunteers

CAP volunteers spend about four hours per week between January and June on each engagement, working in teams of approximately six alumni per client (Classic projects) and three to four alumni (Short projects)
Volunteers range in age from their late twenties to their seventies and have experience in many different industries and functional areas
HBS and HKS alumni volunteers derive personal satisfaction from making an impact on an area nonprofit
They also benefit from interacting with other alumni from diverse backgrounds
The positive experience of CAP teams contributes to a high repeat rate of volunteers — typically, more than 50 percent of the volunteers have experience with prior CAP projects

Alumni Volunteers

Nonprofit Partners

Alumni Volunteers

Nonprofit Partners

Recent Consulting Clients

CAP Brainstorming

A 2-3 Hour, Facilitated Meeting with 5-7 Alumni Focused on Solving a Clearly Defined Business Challenge

Brainstorming Overview

Brainstorming allows CAP to serve a wide variety of nonprofit clients, especially those who are small or whose issues don’t fit with the CAP Consulting eight-month pro bono consulting engagements
Brainstorming allows alumni to put their skills to use in service of local nonprofits with a limited time commitment
Examples of recent brainstorming session topics include: succession planning; board governance; impact measurement and reporting; ways to increase an organization’s visibility and reach; and staffing structures for continued growth

Application Process

Client applications are accepted on a rolling basis
A phone interview will be conducted if nonprofit applicant is selected to move to the next step in the process
Visit Nonprofit Partners page for more info.

Brainstorming Client Criteria

Charitable nonprofit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status or other officially designated social enterprise
Located in Greater Boston
A mission which benefits the community
An engaged board of directors
Stable leadership in the organization
Capacity/resources to act on ideas generated during Brainstorming Session

Brainstorming Project Criteria

Deal with business or management-related issues in the organization, such as strategic planning, organizational development, finance, or marketing
Not focus on development / fundraising strategy or implementation
Have goals which are well defined and achievable by a volunteer team of five to seven consultants during a three-hour brainstorming session
Have the sponsorship of the organization's leadership

Procedural Guidelines

A mutually agreeable brainstorming session date and location will be determined by CAP and client Executive Director if the application is accepted
The client provides some brief background materials at least 2 weeks in advance to help prepare the participants to engage in a discussion focused on the brainstorming topic
The client provides refreshments for the participants

Alumni Volunteers

Nonprofit Partners

Alumni Volunteers

Nonprofit Partners

Recent Brainstorming Projects

Over 1,000 HBS and HKS Alumni have Volunteered Their Time and Expertise

More than 350 Pro Bono Consulting Projects with Boston Area Nonprofits

26 Years of Supporting our Community through Pro Bono Consulting Service

Why CAP?

Let Our Nonprofit Partners Tell You

We greatly benefitted from the contributions of our CAP team.

The CAP team provided invaluable recommendations that we have been able to implement.

We are very grateful to CAP for their outstanding service to our organization.

~ Lynn Margherio, Founder/CEO

Cradles To Crayons

Completing this project with our CAP team was a turning point in our organization.

We have already seen positive results by following their plan.

It was an amazing experience for our board and staff.

Thank you for everything!

~ Erica Young, Executive Director

Waltham Boys and Girls Club

We greatly benefitted from the business skills of our CAP team.

The CAP team jumped in with enthusiasm, energy, focus, and invaluable skills to deliver practical recommendations that have moved our programs forward.

We truly value CAP's outstanding work.

~ Diane Viera, EVP and COO

Historic New England

Our work with CAP was invaluable.

The quantity and quality of the data analysis was extraordinary.

The deep dives into each benchmark organization provided lessons and insights that will help us shape our organization for years to come.

It was a great experience!

~Susan Randazzo, Executive Director

Indian Hill Music

Our evening with the CAP volunteers has been the gift that keeps on giving.

We still talk about it often, and it has truly catalyzed our work over the past six months.

Certainly it will have a big impact on our ability to grow and realize our strategic goals for 2018 and beyond!

~ Blair Demers, Executive Director

Education for All Children

We greatly benefitted from the contributions of our CAP team.

The CAP team provided invaluable recommendations that we have been able to implement.

We are very grateful to CAP for their outstanding service to our organization.

~ Lynn Margherio, Founder/CEO

Cradles To Crayons

Completing this project with our CAP team was a turning point in our organization.

We have already seen positive results by following their plan.

It was an amazing experience for our board and staff.

Thank you for everything!

~ Erica Young, Executive Director

Waltham Boys and Girls Club

We greatly benefitted from the business skills of our CAP team.

The CAP team jumped in with enthusiasm, energy, focus, and invaluable skills to deliver practical recommendations that have moved our programs forward.

We truly value CAP's outstanding work.

~ Diane Viera, EVP and COO

Historic New England

Our work with CAP was invaluable.

The quantity and quality of the data analysis was extraordinary.

The deep dives into each benchmark organization provided lessons and insights that will help us shape our organization for years to come.

It was a great experience!

~Susan Randazzo, Executive Director

Indian Hill Music

Our evening with the CAP volunteers has been the gift that keeps on giving.

We still talk about it often, and it has truly catalyzed our work over the past six months.

Certainly it will have a big impact on our ability to grow and realize our strategic goals for 2018 and beyond!

2nd Annual Nonprofit Board Summit, May 9, 2020

Supporting Boston Area Nonprofits with Pro Bono Consulting and Brainstorming

Supporting Boston Area Nonprofits with Pro Bono Consulting and Brainstorming

Community Action Partners

Harvard Business School and Kennedy School Alumni Partnering with Boston Area Nonprofits on Critical Business Challenges

Program Updates

2022-2023 Consulting Projects

Brainstorming SessionsONGOING

Recent Events

CAP announces 15 pro bono consulting projects for 2022-23

Resources/Opportunities

COVID Resources

How to Get Involved with CAP

Alumni Volunteers

Nonprofit Partners

Support CAP

CAP Consulting

Pro Bono Consulting Projects with 4-8 Alumni Volunteers Focused on Specific Business Challenges with Clearly Defined Goals

Consulting Overview

Application Process

Consulting Client Criteria

Consulting Project Criteria

Project Implementation Guidelines

About Our Volunteers

Recent Consulting Clients

CAP Brainstorming

A 2-3 Hour, Facilitated Meeting with 5-7 Alumni Focused on Solving a Clearly Defined Business Challenge

Brainstorming Overview

Application Process

Brainstorming Client Criteria

Brainstorming Project Criteria

Procedural Guidelines

Recent Brainstorming Projects

Over 1,000 HBS and HKS Alumni have Volunteered Their Time and Expertise

More than 350 Pro Bono Consulting Projects with Boston Area Nonprofits

26 Years of Supporting our Community through Pro Bono Consulting Service

Why CAP?

Let Our Nonprofit Partners Tell You

~ Lynn Margherio, Founder/CEO

Cradles To Crayons

~ Erica Young, Executive Director

Waltham Boys and Girls Club

~ Diane Viera, EVP and COO

Historic New England

~Susan Randazzo, Executive Director

Indian Hill Music

~ Blair Demers, Executive Director

Education for All Children

~ Lynn Margherio, Founder/CEO

Cradles To Crayons

~ Erica Young, Executive Director

Waltham Boys and Girls Club

~ Diane Viera, EVP and COO

Historic New England

~Susan Randazzo, Executive Director

Indian Hill Music

~ Blair Demers, Executive Director

Education for All Children

Contact Us

CAP Sponsors

Contact Form

Jim Ruetenik

Owner/Physical Therapist, DPT

Brainstorming Sessions
ONGOING