Together with Edoardo Desogus '25, I supported Italia Nostra, an Italian nonprofit focused on safeguarding and promoting the cultural, artistic, and unique natural heritage of Italy. Our work was set on strengthening the organization’s fundraising strategy, identifying new avenues of funding, and driving project prioritization for the Tuscan Archipelago.

Our project began with learning the current fundraising strategy and its challenges. We progressed to developing the first ever fundraising document for Italia Nostra on a national level, both in Italian and English. Within the document we showcased some of the extraordinary impacts the organization has had and the future projects it plans to undertake. We also developed a database for the organization naming potential government grants to apply for, along with a list of potential partners that could donate expertise or time to Italia Nostra projects, such as universities and foundations. These tools can be used to greatly boost Italia Nostra’s financial resources that allow the organization to quickly safeguard the historic and natural sites of Italy. Italia Nostra can also work to take full ownership of a historic site to provide continuous protection and public fruition through the use of a stronger income statement. These components align greatly with the mission of the organization to protect and promote the patrimony of Italy. The work we did to create these components greatly aligned with the mission of the organization to protect and promote the patrimony of Italy. We worked closely with the board of Italia Nostra, heads of the municipalities, and local experts to learn about the past and future projects the organization is considering taking on.

Throughout the project with Italia Nostra, I applied many skillsets developed through my MBA, including simplification and formalization, team work, and pitch deck development. The organization wanted to communicate many aspects of who they are and the work that they do. However, the information was often perceived as too much, too little, or not clear enough depending on the audience. What was missing was a formal storyline guiding the audience through the organization’s mission. With the input of the Italia Nostra board, we collected all the relevant information that they wanted to showcase. We then streamlined and organized this information into a structured storyline. In this way, when an audience would read the document or hear it being presented, they could follow with more ease.

Working with Edoardo, Italia Nostra board members, and local experts required coordination of schedules in advance and great flexibility. Given that the summer months are the busiest season for Italia Nostra Archipelago, it was paramount that we made the most of our time together. This required a clear agenda and objective, and having access to certain Italia Nostra team members to help us overcome certain roadblocks to meet our deadlines. Another key component of our work included developing a fundraising document that allowed the organization to be “pitched” to varying audiences, with the goal of raising funds. At Columbia Business School (CBS), I had the opportunity to work with startups both through course work and internships. This aided my ability to further understand working strategies for this kind of project.

One of the challenges we faced was aligning on the information showcased in the fundraising document. Balancing multiple perspectives, we worked closely with the board to focus our lens and showcase the fundamental ideas of Italia Nostra. Another challenge we encountered revolved around the development of grants and a donor database. Many grants have very strict requirements for organizations and are tailored for specific project types. There was no straightforward way to scan for these “screening criteria” apart from reading through detailed documentation or directly contacting the institutions. While time intensive, it helped us learn more about the public grant system.

After having collaborated with Italia Nostra last year, it made the experience this year seamless and enjoyable. It felt truly rewarding to use my skills for the benefit of our planet and human kind’s historical heritage. This work made me realize the importance of the nonprofit space to bring fresh perspectives and how to utilize business practices for their benefit. I also learned the importance of private donations in the nonprofit sector, offsetting government funds which can be difficult to obtain. They are imperative for opportunity and impact. While acting as a smaller organization, Italia Nostra has a unique ability to attract a large member base and create meaningful events. They have established important partnerships and board members willing to donate their expertise, time, and influence to promote the mission of protecting and promoting Italy’s heritage. Working with Italia Nostra has significantly grown my passion for the social enterprise and nonprofit arenas, and is something that I will continue to engage in following my MBA.