This team-based course, part of the GSB's Action Learning Program, provides students the opportunity to work with organizations that are focused on achieving impact, including impact for-profits, investment funds, and evaluators. Topics include current trends and drivers in the impact space, frameworks for measuring impact, financial instruments and techniques for achieving impact, analysis of impact fundamentals, organizational structures for impact, and challenges in fundraising for impact businesses. Students work on projects to analyze impact investments including private equity and fixed income products, assess the financial viability of an impact business, develop equitable alternative risk assessment metrics, model the economic and social value of outcomes, and evaluate the impacts of an organization. This course provides real-world opportunities for students to learn research-validated foundations, tools, and practices; apply these tools and learnings to a real project for an external organization; create value for the organization by providing insights and deliverables; and be an ambassador to the organization by exposing them to the talent, values, and expertise of the GSB. Students also have the opportunity to gain practical industry experience and exposure to the organization, its industry, and the space in which it operates; build relationships in the organization and industry; and gain an understanding of related career paths.
4 units · GSB Letter Graded
This team-based course, part of the GSB's Action Learning Program, provides students the opportunity to work with organizations that are focused on achieving impact, including impact for-profits, investment funds, and evaluators. Topics include current trends and drivers in the impact space, frameworks for measuring impact, financial instruments and techniques for achieving impact, analysis of impact fundamentals, organizational structures for impact, and challenges in fundraising for impact businesses. Students work on projects to analyze impact investments including private equity and fixed income products, assess the financial viability of an impact business, develop equitable alternative risk assessment metrics, model the economic and social value of outcomes, and evaluate the impacts of an organization. This course provides real-world opportunities for students to learn research-validated foundations, tools, and practices; apply these tools and learnings to a real project for an external organization; create value for the organization by providing insights and deliverables; and be an ambassador to the organization by exposing them to the talent, values, and expertise of the GSB. Students also have the opportunity to gain practical industry experience and exposure to the organization, its industry, and the space in which it operates; build relationships in the organization and industry; and gain an understanding of related career paths.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.