Impact Area

The Small Business Initiative from Olin Business School works to positively impact the St. Louis economy. Undergraduate students work on consulting and recommending best practices aimed at the success of St. Louis businesses. Past initiatives include LifeBridge Partnership, the Salvation Army, and Sew St. Louis. Businesses are able to apply for them to be included.

The Taylor Community Consulting program from the Olin Business School works to impact the local nonprofit sector. Students, across all disciplines, work in team-based learning projects with the hope of creating positive change in the St. Louis community.

Serving as local nonprofit board members, WashU students provide service for United Way through engagement with community leaders. Students are able to develop valuable skills in board governance, interpersonal communication, and leadership while providing pro bono work to this corporation. Even as the yearlong program concludes, typically over half of the board fellows continue to serve.

The Finance Metrics Clinic connects St. Louis startups with WashU students to provide data-driven financial consulting. Students lead and work on these projects for 6-8 weeks.

The Marketing Metrics Clinic connects St. Louis startups with WashU students to help address marketing challenges and foster continuous growth.

The Olin Family Business Program engages both the off-campus business community and WashU by delving into topics that impact family businesses. The program combines a mix of special events, symposiums, and seminars, for larger audiences and smaller communities.

Student-led, patient-first. At the WashU Medicine Pro Bono Health Clinic, medical, occupational therapy, and physical therapy students team up to provide much-needed care to uninsured community members in the St. Louis area.

The Siteman Mammogram Van provides annual screening for women age 40 and over who have no signs or symptoms of breast cancer. This method provides efficient, private, and low-cost examination for patients. The van is placed at various St. Louis locations for optimal care.

Olin’s Center for Experiential Learning links the classroom with the world of business. With faculty support and guidance, talented Olin students apply leading-edge practices and practical management solutions to business challenges.

CityStudioSTL from the Sam Fox School at WashU supports a number of community engagement, student enrichment, and collaborations that bring students and faculty from different fields together with community partners. Fellowships support students in architecture, art, and design partnering with those in the St. Louis community to conceive, plan, design, and construct projects for local community groups and residents. Faculty can also receive support for community engaged scholarship and courses.