Committed to Making the World More Equitable and Sustainable
The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation is the destination at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for people committed to helping solve complex social and environmental problems. As Chicago Booth’s social impact hub, the Rustandy Center offers hands-on learning opportunities, supports innovative courses, and pursues research—all with the goal of developing people and practices with the potential to solve the world’s biggest problems.
“I will not live forever, but with the support of the University of Chicago, the Rustandy Center will last forever. I believe the center will be something special. It will be ahead of the curve, to serve the community, not only in the United States but all over the world.”
—Tandean Rustandy, ’07 (AXP-6), in an interview with Chicago Booth Magazine about the $20 million commitment he made in May 2017 for social impact at Booth
Our Committed Community
The Rustandy Center is a resource for nonprofit and business leaders; social entrepreneurs; Booth faculty, students, and alumni; nonprofit board members; and impact investors—anyone committed to making our world more equitable and sustainable. Members of our community are motivated to lead meaningful lives—to use business fundamentals as tools to make a lasting, positive impact on human life and our planet.
Impact by the Numbers
From its founding in 2012 as the Social Enterprise Initiative to the present, the Rustandy Center has launched new for-profit and nonprofit ventures, funded faculty research worldwide, and hosted events drawing hundreds of business and nonprofit leaders.
90
Number of social impact startups launched by the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC)
100+
Number of nonprofits represented at each of the 2016 and 2017 On Board conferences on nonprofit board service held in Chicago
12
Number of research projects funded; topics include volunteer retention and the effect of tax form disclosures on nonprofits
Impact Over the Years
Want to see how our impact has grown from year to year? Take a look at our past Year in Review Social Impact Reports:
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016*
2014-2015*
*Before 2017, the Rustandy Center was known as the Social Enterprise Initiative. In spring 2017, the center was renamed in honor of Tandean Rustandy, ’07 (AXP-6)
Social Impact at Chicago Booth
The Rustandy Center integrates Booth’s multidisciplinary approach to business education with experiential learning and entrepreneurship. Further, we believe this combination of finance, economics, and operations with real-world experiences is just as right for social sector leaders as it is for business leaders.
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Grateful for Our Donors
Alumni such as Tandean Rustandy, ’07 (AXP-6); John Edwardson, ’72; and Ron Tarrson, ’72 (XP-31)—along with the center’s additional 130 donors—have provided vital support for our programs.
Learn More about Our Donors
Leverage Your Social Sector
Share the Rustandy Center’s mission with friends and connections committed to tackling social and environmental problems.
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