By Jerry Filmore
WORCESTER — Graduate students at Clark University are working to support a local nonprofit addressing food insecurity through a hands-on project management challenge.
Students in Clark University’s Master of Science in Project Management program recently participated in a multi-round “PM Challenge,” where teams were tasked with developing practical, low-cost fundraising strategies for The Mustard Seed, a Worcester-based nonprofit that provides meals and food assistance to community members in need.
The Mustard Seed serves older adults, individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, and others facing food insecurity in Worcester.
As part of the challenge, students had two weeks to create project plans focused on increasing donations, improving outreach, and strengthening long-term sustainability. The goal was to develop solutions that could be implemented within six months using limited resources.
Winning the competition were students Pooja Pithva and Prakash Jha, whose project, “$10 Feeds Dignity,” focused on increasing recurring donations through website updates and expanded social media outreach.
According to Mary M. Piecewicz, director of the program, the challenge was designed to give students real-world experience while supporting community organizations.
“The PM Challenge reflects Clark’s commitment to experiential learning and community engagement,” Piecewicz said. “It provided an opportunity to address real needs at The Mustard Seed while helping students understand the growing demand for project management in the nonprofit sector.”
The challenge was organized by six graduate students and evaluated by a panel that included representatives from The Mustard Seed, the City of Worcester, and the program’s advisory council.
Clark University’s Project Management program, established in 2021, is accredited by the PMI Global Accreditation Center and is STEM-designated.
W.U.W. Verification Box
Event: Clark University PM Challenge
Partner Organization: The Mustard Seed (Worcester)
Focus: Fundraising strategies to address food insecurity
Timeline: Two-week student competition
Outcome: Winning project focused on recurring donations and outreach
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