# City Year UK wins Morgan Stanley’s 2021 Strategy Challenge

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/14/city-year-uk-wins-morgan-stanleys-2021-strategy-challenge/
- Published: 2021-05-14T10:57:08+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Youth and education charity** **City Year UK has been judged the winner of this
year’s Morgan Stanley UK Strategy Challenge, which saw six charities receive pro
bono advice and support from the firm.**

Now in its seventh year, the [Morgan Stanley UK Strategy Challenge](https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/giving-back/strategy-challenge-nonprofit-program),
in partnership with [Pilotlight](https://www.pilotlight.org.uk/), pairs teams of
Morgan Stanley professionals with non-profit organisations in London for nine weeks
to provide pro bono advice on strategic challenges such as business modelling, growth
plans and cost efficiencies.  The programme culminates in a day-long event, during
which teams present their recommendations to senior firm leadership and a panel 
of non-profit sector experts. Nonprofit organisations are invited to apply each 
year, with applicants assessed through a competitive selection process. This year’s
Challenge [kicked off in March](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/03/24/morgan-stanley-2021-strategy-challenge-kicks-off-benefitting-6-uk-charities/).

Since its inception, the UK Strategy Challenge has delivered over 24,000 hours of
service to 35 charities. As well as [City Year UK](https://www.cityyear.org.uk/),
the other charities benefitting from this year’s programme were Barnardo’s, Great
Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, Helpforce, NHS Charities Together and
The Felix Project.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

This year’s teams presented their final recommendations to senior representatives
from Morgan Stanley and the charity sector during a virtual event on 13 May, with
the City Year UK team announced the winner for its development of a sustainable 
business model to increase the number of the charity’s volunteer mentors and fund
new programme delivery for pupils.

Clare Woodman, Head of EMEA at Morgan Stanley said:

> “We are extremely proud to be working with the remarkable organisations that participated
> this year; many of whom have been working on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic.
> With a health and economic crisis generating increasing demand for their services,
> charities are experiencing greater challenges than ever before. We hope the strategic
> recommendations provided by the Morgan Stanley employees will help the non-profits
> continue their impactful work and reach even more communities.”

Kevin Munday, Chief Executive, City Year UK commented:

> “We are delighted to have won the Morgan Stanley UK Strategy Challenge 2021. We
> are particularly pleased with the practical materials and tools the Morgan Stanley
> team have developed, which will help us achieve our ambition to have an even greater
> impact on educational inequality.”

 * **[Strategic advisory firm joins Pilotlight Programme](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/08/10/strategic-advisory-firm-joins-pilotlight-programme/)**(
   10 August 2021)
 * **[Creative communications agency seeks applicants for pro bono scheme](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/03/14/creative-communications-agency-seeks-applicants-for-pro-bono-scheme/)**(
   14 March 2022)
 * **[Award offers £50,000 & 500 pro bono hours to educational projects](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/06/14/award-offers-50000-500-pro-bono-hours-to-educational-projects/)**(
   14 June 2022)