Curriculum innovation takes many exciting forms, but few are as transformative as the new Social Impact Consulting Practicum. Born from the ambition of EMBA students determined to harness their MBA skills for greater societal impact, this initiative represents a powerful blend of education and purpose, paving the way for future business leaders to drive meaningful change.
To spearhead the course, Wharton tapped David Rhode, WG’11, a seasoned nonprofit leader and author of Passion Isn’t Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. After earning his MBA from Wharton, David spent nearly a decade scaling Pitch in for Baseball and Softball, a nonprofit organization, before transitioning into nonprofit consulting and teaching a course on Nonprofit Branding at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice.
“I said ‘yes’ right away because this was an incredible opportunity to support Wharton’s EMBA program in an area I’m truly passionate about,” says David.
Launched in the winter of 2025, the practicum brings together students from all three EMBA cohorts—East, West, and Global—and offers them a chance to dive deep into the nonprofit sector. Topics covered include board development, fundraising strategies, and nonprofit founding principles, with guest speakers from the sector enriching the learning experience by sharing their own stories.
In this course, students collaborate in teams to offer pro bono consulting to nonprofits. Each team tackles a live project, such as helping a Philadelphia school increase revenue by renting event space, assisting a youth soccer club expand their after-school programs, or conducting a fundraising assessment for a West Coast nonprofit. These projects allow students to apply classroom lessons to real-world situations, sharpening both their consulting and social impact skills.
While experience in the nonprofit sector isn’t a prerequisite for the course, many students come with considerable backgrounds in social impact work. Some lead charitable foundations, others serve on nonprofit boards, and some aspire to found their own organizations. According to David, this diversity of experiences significantly enriches classroom discussions. “The level of dialogue is elevated by the wide variety of backgrounds my students bring,” he says. “I’m learning just as much from them as they are from me.”
Alexandria Moffitt, WG’25, is a great example. As cofounder and CEO of Clara Copilot, Alexandria is taking the course to help launch a nonprofit called Sybil Collective focused on supporting other female veteran founders emerging in the intersection of technology and national security. “This course provides immediate value to the process of navigating a new nonprofit. From board creation to fundraising strategy, I have taken lessons from this course and brought them immediately to conversations with my cofounders,” she says.
Sabrina Aggarwal, WG’25, is also finding value in this course: “With a background in social impact, I was thrilled to discover this new course at Wharton—an opportunity to bridge my passion for driving meaningful change with the power of business development. Attending and graduating from Wharton is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. As business leaders, we have an obligation to leverage our expertise to create lasting, positive change and leave the world better than we found it.”
David’s goal for the practicum is for students to leave with a comprehensive understanding of the nonprofit sector and the skills necessary to succeed within it. “As many students will likely start their nonprofit careers as board members, I make sure to provide clear insights into the responsibilities and expectations of that role,” he explains.
“The nonprofit sector is a major part of the global economy,” David adds. “This course gives students the chance to gain practical experience and fill in a missing piece of the puzzle for those interested in social impact.”
By Meghan Laska
Posted: March 3, 2025