Industry: Nonprofit
Location: Tanzania, Africa
Organization size: <10 employees
What they do: Social impact in Tanzania
Website: uniteafricafoundation.org
Q&A with Anne Wells, Founder and Director at Unite the World with Africa Foundation
Q: Why did you choose to employ D'Amore-McKim students?
A: As a small nonprofit without paid staff in the U.S., we needed smart, resourceful partners who could step in and make an immediate impact. We saw an opportunity to tap into the fresh perspectives and business acumen of D'Amore-McKim students to help us grow strategically from identifying high-impact ways to increase our visibility, refining our social media strategies, and building partnerships with mission-aligned organizations.
We also wanted to expand the reach of our films made in Tanzania, but our limited marketing budget made it difficult to connect with a global audience. The students' creativity and persistence helped us navigate these challenges and amplify our mission.
Q: What sets D'Amore-McKim graduate students apart?
A: D'Amore-McKim Community Impact Initiative students bring more than just enthusiasm. They bring advanced business insight and a strategic mindset. As graduate business students in rigorous programs, they approach challenges with critical thinking and a deep understanding of how organizations operate.
What truly sets them apart is their ability to analyze our operations and competitive landscape, identify the right audiences, and focus our resources on the most meaningful opportunities. They don't just complete tasks. They ask the right questions, work collaboratively, and deliver targeted, high-impact solutions. Their structured approach ensures their contributions are thoughtful, relevant, and aligned with our mission.
Q: What projects are your students working on?
A: At Unite the World with Africa, we're a small but passionate nonprofit that empowers marginalized youth and women in Tanzania through education, leadership, and business development. Partnering with D'Amore-McKim students has given us access to thoughtful collaborators helping us grow with purpose.
These students have become true thought partners. They're researching global conferences that align with our mission to help us gain meaningful exposure. They're also developing a cost-effective social media strategy, identifying grant makers and corporate partners with shared values, and exploring platforms and festivals where we can showcase the powerful stories of our scholars through film.
In addition, they're brainstorming innovative ways to connect our university-level students in Tanzania with remote mentors, opening doors to professional development opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. Their work is helping us think bigger, act smarter, and expand our impact sustainably.
Q: How have the students created sustainable value?
A: Bringing Northeastern students on board has enabled us to access to a team of dedicated, mission-driven consultants. They've added structure, energy, and fresh thinking to projects we've long wanted to pursue but didn't have the capacity to take on.
One is developing a tailored social media strategy with a long-term vision. The goal is to coach our Tanzanian scholars to eventually manage it themselves, creating a sustainable and empowering model. Others are identifying grant opportunities, building a strategic approach to conference participation, and helping us amplify the reach of our films.
They're not just completing tasks—they're building processes that will support our growth and sustainability well into the future. Their work is helping us lay a stronger foundation for long-term success.
Q: How has D'Amore-McKim supported you through this process?
A: We value all the support we've received from D'Amore-McKim. Our project manager from the career team has been with us every step of the way—joining weekly calls, keeping us organized, and even making personal introductions for informational interviews. His strategic oversight and consistent engagement have helped us stay focused, productive, and aligned with our goals.
This level of structure and support is rare in a typical internship. Having someone who understands both the nonprofit space and the development world has made a real difference in how effectively we've been able to collaborate with the students.
Q: What's next?
A: Would we bring on more Community Impact Initiative students? Absolutely. The students are talented, motivated, and mission-aligned—and they deliver real value. We'd love to continue this partnership and welcome more students into our work next year.
