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Foundations in Social Impact

Foundations in Social Impact is a social impact leadership program designed exclusively for first- year Dartmouth students. Students work together to actively examine social impact themes and their place as changemakers in society.

  • friendship, leadership, leader, foundations

    Explore new forms of leadership alongside other first-year students.

  • design thinking, leadership

    Use Design Thinking to tackle the most pressing social issues of our time.

     

  • Dartmouth, Morocco, Foundations, Leadership, Social Impact

    As a Foundations alum, I’ve been able to cultivate my ability to contextualize what I’m learning with social impact every day. –Katelyn Zeser ‘22

Foundations in Social Impact

The world needs innovative, creative, and thoughtful leaders now more than ever.

Dartmouth '28s: Join Foundations in Social Impact – only first-years can apply! -  to learn best practices in social impact. Find your community. Complete a real-world nonprofit consulting project and produce a deliverable that will make you proud.

Foundations workshops will introduce you to a cross-section of campus partners engaged in social impact work and to numerous community organizations in the Upper Valley. In each Foundations session you will challenge and reflect on your leadership style, think deeply about ethical community engagement and how to address our most pressing social issues.

Check out the Dartmouth '27s Foundations experience:

About the Program

  •  Weekly sessions during the Winter and Spring terms; Wednesdays 7-9pm
  •  Learn best practices in social impact and how to create meaningful change
  • Complete a real-world nonprofit consulting challenge with an Upper Valley community partner
  • Discover your leadership style, how to communicate effectively, and create community
  • Engage with campus and community partners to learn new strategies for social impact

Application and Selection Process

Applications are now closed. Applications for the 2026 cohort will open in Fall 2025.

Learn More

Drop in during office hours:

Tuesdays, 10am-12pm
Fridays, 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Email the DCSI Leadership program to find out more!

Read what program alumni have to say:

Foundations was an integral part of my freshman year, and I cherish the experiences that I had attending workshops, connecting with my teammates, and working on our consulting challenge. One of the most valuable things that I have taken away from the program is the realization that there is no "ideal" social impact changemaker. The workshops, coupled with our consulting challenge, gave me the chance to reflect on who I am as an individual, what strengths and weaknesses I have, what skills I am gifted with, and how I can grow in my own unique way. ~Katherine Arrington '24

Working as communications lead with the Family Place consulting challenge gave me valuable experience communicating in a professional manner, working in an online environment, and navigating teamwork. These are skills that I use daily during my job and will continue to cultivate throughout the rest of my life. ~Marco Allen '23
 

With the advent of COVID-19 in the US, I wanted to help my home community. Consequently, I joined COVID-19 Greater Charlotte Area Mutual Aid, an organization my friends started that connects individuals in the Charlotte region to meet their needs….However, my experiences from Foundations in Social Impact has taught me that it doesn't matter if our mutual aid helps 100 or 100,000 people. Helping the life of one individual, one life, one person — that's the real social impact. As we continue to support our local community, I cannot express how grateful I am for my experiences in Foundations. ~Joey Chong '22