The CASE i3 Consulting Practicum (CASE i3CP) is a credit-based academic program where MBA students work in teams with impact investing organizations to explore real-world questions in impact investing, ESG, and sustainable finance.
Through this experiential learning opportunity, students apply frameworks and tools from the classroom to analyze current challenges facing the field, while partner organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and structured analysis from highly motivated MBA students.
Our MBA teams engage with organizations from across the impact investing ecosystem, including asset owners, asset managers, fund managers, foundations, and field-building organizations.
Projects are conducted as part of a credit-based, faculty-guided academic learning experience, and student teams are not acting as professional consultants or advisors.
Our application window is usually open June through August each year. If we are outside of the open application period, the Apply Here button will allow you to enter your name and email address so we can notify you when the next application cycle opens.
How it works:
Project Selection: Each year, CASE i3 receives applications from potential partner organizations and our Duke MBA CASE i3 Fellows select the ones they are most interested in working with. Organizations contribute a modest program participation fee that supports administration of the academic experience and student programming, usually $1000-5000.
Student Engagement: Student teams typically devote several hundred hours to researching, analyzing, conducting interviews, developing frameworks or models, and synthesizing findings related to the project questions.
Partner Collaboration and Faculty Guidance: Teams work remotely in close collaboration with the partner organization and are guided by CASE faculty and staff throughout the engagement.
Our CASE i3 MBA Students
CASE i3 Fellows and Associates are highly skilled first- and second-year MBA students at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, selected through a competitive application process. Students bring prior experience across investing, consulting, finance, entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, sustainability, and related sectors, along with a strong interest in impact investing and social innovation.
Previous Partner Organizations
We are proud to have collaborated with over 70 organizations across the impact investing field, including asset allocators, asset managers, fund managers, and ecosystem-building organizations:
Project Timeline
Applications are accepted over the summer for engagements running from fall through spring semesters. This year’s client application is due August 31, 2026. Appropriate projects are scoped to fit within the academic calendar outlined below. You can view the Fuqua School of Business academic calendar here.
| Late Aug | Partner project online application due |
| Early Sept | Project due diligence call with MBA Fellow |
| Late Sept | Projects selected and organizations notified |
| Early Oct | Lead Fellow recruits and selects full team of MBA Associates |
| Early Nov | Organization meets full student team virtually |
| Nov-Dec | Students complete preparatory workshops and background research |
| Jan-Apr | Project work conducted by student team with ongoing input and feedback from the organization |
| Late Apr | Final presentations and project materials shared with organization. Organization feedback survey completed. |
Sample Projects
Past student projects have explored topics such as:
- Sustainability standards – assessing how investment organizations can align internal practices with evolving ESG and sustainability frameworks
- Market entry – researching considerations related to launching a new impact investment strategy or fund
- Investment landscaping – analyzing investment ecosystems, market dynamics, and sector opportunities in target regions
- Impact assessment – developing approaches to estimate or model environmental and social outcomes
- Impact management – exploring frameworks and processes for impact measurement and management
- Product and demand research – evaluating donor or investor interest in emerging impact investment products
- Industry and deal research – conducting landscape analysis and identifying themes, trends, or areas for further diligence
Students sign confidentiality agreements, and many project materials remain private to the participating organization. In some cases, organizations have chosen to share portions of their student team’s work publicly.
Tips for Your Project Application
Successful projects are typically:
- Clearly scoped and appropriate for a student learning environment
- Focused on a well-defined strategic or analytical question
- Structured so students can conduct research and analysis remotely
- Designed to benefit from fresh perspectives and academic inquiry
Applications should clearly describe:
- The project question or challenge
- The types of analysis or exploration envisioned
- Relevant expertise or background that would help students engage effectively
If you have any questions about CASE i3CP or the application process, email Kelsey Zavelo.
What Past Partner Organizations Say About Our Teams
“Working with the CASE i3 MBA students was a dream – they were thoughtful, communicative, thorough, and utterly brilliant. They understood our very complex product and portfolio structure, got to work quickly, and added value immediately. I am confident that the final external product we produce with their work will be infinitely better because they helped us put it together.”
Caitlin Rosser, Director of Impact, Calvert Impact
“We found the team skills at jumping in a learning a new industry and providing actionable recommendations and insights”
Big Path Capital
Examples of Past Projects
Secha Capital, a South African impact investing firm that provides patient capital to established African SMEs, worked with a CASE i3 team to co-write a report on how U.S. corporations and PE funds can be engaged in investing in the consumer growth story in Africa.
SJF Ventures engaged their CASE i3 team and the Duke Carbon Offset Initiative to create a dynamic model illustrating how and where SJF’s portfolio companies reduce carbon emissions.
SustainVC worked with a CASE i3 team define key impact indicators PCC can use to track impact and then to develop a tool to systematically quantify the impact of the PCC portfolio over time.