This program aims to strengthen local nonprofits and encourage students to continue their involvement with nonprofits in the communities in which they will live as Tuck alumni. Students work in pairs and use their business knowledge to act as nonvoting members of boards of participating organizations. They attend board meetings and may be assigned to board committees and asked to complete project work. Organizations will appoint a board member to act as a mentor to the student. Students benefit by gaining experience applying their business skills, while nonprofits benefit from the addition of newer members with business acumen.

The Allwin Initiative facilitates development of the program by providing the venue for sourcing MBA applicants, developing an education session for students and organizational representatives prior to active work, and talking with students and executive directors to learn about the progress of the program. It is also a resource for any issues that may arise.

Nonprofit Board Fellows Program Manual for MBAs

The Allwin Initiative has collaborated with five top business schools to produce a manual designed to increase the number of MBA students on nonprofit boards. Board Fellows programs provide nonprofits with access to the expertise and enthusiasm of MBA students. The manual describes established successful programs, analyzes current models, identifies best practices, and offers guidance for matching strategies to an individual school’s needs and circumstances. It was designed to be used in a number of ways, for example, by a business school with an existing Board Fellows program, by a school that is considering starting a program, or by students as they develop a proposal for a new program. The manual might be used by nonprofit boards of directors or executive directors so they can propose this idea to business schools in their areas. A pdf of the manual is available for free download.