SSIH FAQ

All students who are travelling are expected to pay a deposit of approximately $3500 by December. For travel costs related to local and international nonprofit organizations, SSIH has a FutureFunder account to help with raising money. Additionally, students can choose to organize fundraising activities, such as bake sales, to reduce financial burdens. 

Undergraduate students register for BUSI 4904. This is a full-year course (1.0 credit for 2 semesters).

Graduate students can enroll for a single semester (0.5 credits per semester).

Reference letters will be written upon request for outstanding performance on the management team or on one of the project teams. Reference letters can be provided after students have successfully participated for 3 months or more. 

You do not need to be enrolled for course credit. You can volunteer as a Project Team Member. Volunteers are expected to commit the same time and effort as students. It’s also important to note that students participating for course credit receive priority in selecting their preferred Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

All students and volunteers are expected to commit 8–10 hours per week, with workload fluctuations during peak periods. Team Leads and Assistant Team Leads may have a slightly higher workload than Associate Members.

Students indicate their top 3 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) preferences on their application form. Assignments are made based on these preferences to match students with an organization that aligns with their interests. While every effort is made to accommodate preferences, we cannot guarantee students their first choice. 

Performance is assessed based on peer feedback, client feedback on deliverables, self-reflection assignments, and input from the instructor. There is no final exam for this course.

No, prior consulting experience is not required. However, we look for students with transferable skills relevant to their assigned projects, such as social media, graphic design, budgeting, research and analysis, etc.

SSIH project teams consist of three main roles: Team Lead, Assistant Team Lead, and Project Team Associates.

The Team Lead is responsible for managing the project, communicating with the nonprofit client, and ensuring deliverables are completed on time. They are also responsible for contributing to project work.

 The Assistant Team Lead supports the Team Lead by helping with project management while also contributing to the project work.

Project Team Associates focus specifically on executing project tasks such as market research, social media strategy, and other deliverables outlined in the application form.

Students work on various consulting projects that support nonprofit organizations. Project work can include, but is not limited to:

• Graphic design (e.g. with Canva)
• General research / literature review
• Business requirements/process analysis
• Financial analysis (e.g. forecasting with Excel and other tools)
• Public speaking / presentations
• English grammar / writing / editing

Leadership/Management Team: For those interested in gaining hands-on experience in management, HR, and operations. This team supports the overall function of the Hub, ensuring that projects run smoothly and that both students and partner organizations receive the necessary guidance and resources through functions such as interval reviews and general guidance.

Project Teams: As a Project Team member, you’ll act as a consultant for our nonprofit or charity partners, working directly with professionals in the sector. Your role is to support your respective organization achieve their goals by conducting research, developing strategies, and delivering other real-world solutions that create meaningful social impact.

Any Carleton University student, regardless of department or faculty, can apply to join the Sprott Social Impact Hub as either a student or a volunteer. Participation is not limited to business students. To apply as a student for course credit, eligibility is restricted to third-year students and above (including graduate students).

Project meetings and work sessions are scheduled based on team availability using a Doodle poll. This ensures that meetings are set at times that work for all team members