At Wharton, you’ll find a community of students who share your passion. And, you’ll find exceptional opportunities to learn and engage. Whether launching social enterprises, engaging in public service, enacting change in the business world, investing in the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profits), or supporting the causes they believe in most, Wharton students have the drive, knowledge, and skills to make a difference.

Wharton’s Social Impact Initiative (WSII), a hub for all activities, brings Wharton’s expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and vast network to the complex intersection of business and social impact. WSII channels the drive of faculty, students, alumni, and external organizations to advance business-based solutions to enduring social problems. Enabling the integration of learning, experience and impact, and the development of research, outreach and student-centered programs, WSII furthers the commitment to make Wharton a force for social good. From funded summer internships to direct work with social enterprises, you’ll find the support you need to make an impact while here at Wharton.

You can explore and add to your major one of many social impact courses, such as Impact Investing, Environmental Sustainability and Value Creation, Social Entrepreneurship, and Social Impact of Marketing. In addition, field-based courses allow you to explore societal challenges and potential solutions from the ground up.

Looking for more? Become an MBA Social Impact Fellow, participate in the Nonprofit Board Leadership Program, or launch a social enterprise through the Wharton Venture Initiation Program — these are just a few of the many opportunities that build experience and expertise in creating, supporting, and evaluating social impact.

See what some of our students are doing

View a webinar to discover ways to get involved in Social Action.

Social Impact Student Club

The Social Impact Student Club builds a strong community that provides the knowledge, resources, and support to meaningfully engage in social impact, now and throughout their professional careers. At its student-led annual conference, students discuss and discover how to use their business expertise and functional skills to promote the common good. And, they engage with industry professionals in an open, constructive dialogue to broaden the community’s vision for social impact.

Wharton Social Venture Fund

Wharton’s Social Venture Fund partners with venture capital funds that focus on a triple bottom line investment philosophy to provide resources and support for critical initiatives. Students get real-world opportunities to learn social venture practices.

Wharton Community Consultants

This student organization provides advice and assists non-profit organizations in Philadelphia while providing students with hands-on experience on real consulting assignments.

Wharton International Volunteer Program

The Wharton International Volunteer Program empowers Wharton students to make a sustainable and measurable impact on small non-governmental organizations in developing countries. It also raises awareness about the socioeconomic challenges developing countries face.

Non-Profit Leadership Board Fellows

Fellows in the Non-Profit Leadership Board Program  learn non-profit board governance in an experiential learning environment. The program is rooted in a commitment to serve the needs of non-profit organizations in the Philadelphia area.

Wharton Global Health Volunteers

As Wharton Global Health Volunteers. students of Wharton’s Health Care Management Program apply their skills to projects in health-care systems with severely limited resources and overwhelming health problems, and they gain experience in international health.

SPIF (Summer Public Interest Fund)

SPIF encourages and supports first-year students who wish to pursue careers in areas that serve the public good by supplementing their summer salaries. The fund is financed entirely by fellow students who pledge 1% of their summer salaries to students who work in the public interest.

Rebuilding Together

This student group organizes a three-week event in the spring semester in which each MBA cluster rehabilitates a house. Part of a national organization, the Philadelphia effort started in 1988 as Christmas in April, organized by a group of Wharton MBA students.

Say Yes to Education

Say Yes to Education is a Wharton alumni founded volunteer organization that helps local low-income and first-generation-to-college students develop the skills and motivation necessary for success in education and life. This MBA club tutors and mentors West Philadelphia elementary and high school students.