Morgan Stanley today announced the winners of the 15th annual Strategy Challenge in the UK.
The Firm’s flagship pro bono programme, in partnership with Pilotlight in the U.K, brings together rising talent to help nonprofit organisations solve strategic, mission-critical challenges. The winning team supported Anthony Nolan.
Over the past 10 weeks, Morgan Stanley employees provided in-depth, pro bono consulting services to 15 nonprofits on topics such as expanding services, improving productivity and efficiency, and enhancing effectiveness through business and program models. The 2024 Strategy Challenge culminated in events in New York and London, where teams presented their recommendations to nonprofit sector experts and senior leaders at the Firm.
In the UK, the winning team worked with Anthony Nolan, a charity dedicated to unlocking the potential of stem cells by growing a world-leading register so that patients with blood cancer and blood disorders who need a transplant can find their lifesaving match. The Morgan Stanley team explored how Anthony Nolan could improve the stem cell donor journey to improve availability rates and address inequalities for patients from ethnic minority backgrounds. The team’s winning recommendations leveraged data to provide machine learning algorithms, refine communications, improve operational efficiency and prioritize donor outreach while minimizing risk and financial burden to the organization.
“Stem cell donor availability is a global challenge and a critical factor in patient survival. I have no doubt that the output of the Strategy Challenge will help us save more lives,” said Chris Phillips, Chief Engagement Officer at Anthony Nolan. “The Morgan Stanley team’s curiosity, professionalism and dedication made this a very special experience, and we have already started implementing their recommendations to ensure more donors are available for patients when they are needed.”
"Every year, our employees apply their professional skills to giving back and driving social impact in collaboration with leading nonprofits through our Strategy Challenge,” said Joan Steinberg, Global Head of Philanthropy at Morgan Stanley and President of the Morgan Stanley Foundation. “All of the participating teams should be proud of the excellent proposals they have created to help organizations address complex societal challenges and effect greater change within and beyond their communities.”
Ed Mayo, CEO at Pilotlight commented:
Congratulations to the six remarkable charities and the dedicated staff of Morgan Stanley for the 2024 Strategy Challenge. At Pilotlight, we believe that great causes deserve great talent, and this challenge exemplifies that belief. The work produced between these teams will have a lasting impact, enabling these charities to make strategic choices that will touch countless lives within the communities they serve.
We are proud to partner with Morgan Stanley in this contribution to social change.
The six nonprofits that participated in this year’s Strategy Challenge in the U.K. included:
- Anthony Nolan is a charity dedicated to unlocking the potential of human cells. Over the last 50 years, they’ve led the way in stem cell donation for transplants and cell and gene therapies. By uniting people and science, they’re growing a world-leading stem cell register, so everyone who needs a transplant can find their lifesaving match.
- Place2Be is a children’s mental health charity with over 25 years’ experience working with pupils, families and staff in UK schools. The charity provides mental health support in schools through one-to-one and group counselling, expert training and professional qualifications.
- Save the Children works in the U.K. and around the world to keep every child safe, healthy and educated. It has helped provide over 45 million children with the opportunities they need to survive and thrive.
- The Felix Project rescue good, surplus food from the food industry that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste and deliver it to hundreds of food banks, charities, primary schools and holiday programmes in London.
- West London Zone is a place-based, youth focused charity helping children and young people to develop their self-belief, skills and relationships. Its vision is that children and young people at a tipping point of need are able to successfully navigate social, emotional and academic challenges to thrive into adulthood.
- YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity fighting for a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health.