McKinsey consultants tackle economic inequality through nonprofit fellowship program

McKinsey‘s nonprofit fellowship program enables consultants to leverage their professional expertise to tackle economic inequality at the grassroots level. Through this initiative, nearly 50 fellows in 2025 are helping organizations advance economic opportunity by applying strategic business skills, data analytics, and AI capabilities to social challenges. The program exemplifies how corporate talent can create meaningful impact beyond traditional consulting, particularly by strengthening institutions that serve marginalized communities.

The big picture: McKinsey consultants are dedicating six to twelve months of their careers to help nonprofits strengthen their operations and expand their impact through specialized fellowship placements.

• The program deployed nearly 50 fellows globally in 2025 to support organizations across diverse sectors including health, sustainability, and the arts.
• Many of these placements focus specifically on economic opportunity—aligning with McKinsey’s broader mission to build resilient workforces and equip people with skills needed for success.

On the ground impact: Fellows are applying business expertise to grassroots organizations that serve marginalized populations, creating unexpected professional journeys.

• Paula Tanasescu worked with Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the world’s largest reentry organization for formerly incarcerated gang members, where she helped launch a dog grooming business as a new social enterprise.
• Emma Moriarty supported Kiva U.S., a microfinance organization providing interest-free loans to entrepreneurs, drawing a connection to her eighth-grade history project supporting a Ghanaian farmer with a microloan.

Measurable results: The fellowship program is producing tangible improvements in how nonprofits serve their communities and scale their impact.

• At Homeboy Industries, Paula implemented micro-credentials and skills badges across social enterprises to better align training programs with employer partner needs.
• Emma developed an AI tool to streamline Kiva’s loan application screenings and implemented communication strategies that reduced loan defaults by 9% while increasing first repayments by 8%.

Why this matters: The fellowship program demonstrates how traditionally business-focused skills can be transferred to address systemic social challenges when deployed strategically within nonprofit organizations.

• By providing high-level expertise that many nonprofits couldn’t otherwise access, fellows help create more sustainable pathways to economic opportunity for underserved communities.