Morgan Stanley

PACT and Anthony Nolan Teams Win Morgan Stanley’s 15th Annual Strategy Challenge Supporting Nonprofits in the U.S. and the UK

May 31, 2024

  • Morgan Stanley employees provided more than 13,000 hours of pro bono consulting to 15 nonprofits
  • 195 nonprofits served since the program’s launch in 2009

New York -

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced the winners of the 15th annual Strategy Challenge, the Firm’s flagship pro bono program which brings together rising talent to help nonprofits solve key strategic challenges. The winning teams supported Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT, formerly ECPAT-USA) in the U.S. and Anthony Nolan in the UK.

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.

The winning team in the U.S. worked with PACT, a nonprofit seeking to eliminate and prevent child sexual exploitation and trafficking through legislative advocacy, corporate partnerships and educational initiatives. The Morgan Stanley team analyzed how PACT might expand its school curriculum and whether the organization should implement a paid service model to help fund the growth of this program. Following thorough research, the team’s winning plan would enable PACT to develop its internal capabilities, boost engagement and offer flexible pricing options for schools while still benefiting from new revenue streams.

“We are honored to have been selected as the winning team of this year’s U.S. Strategy Challenge,” said Lori L. Cohen, Chief Executive Officer at Protect All Children from Trafficking. “Morgan Stanley provided invaluable consultation on strategic planning to PACT, assisted in the development of a viable revenue model, and identified ways to optimize our current resources. This work will be instrumental in helping us further our reach in preventing child sexual exploitation and trafficking.”

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.”

The 15 nonprofits that participated in this year’s Strategy Challenge across the U.S. and the UK include: Anthony Nolan, Bottom Line, Counseling in Schools, India Home, PACT, PFLAG NYC, Place2Be, Prospect Schools, Rising Ground, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, Save the Children, The Felix Project, The New York Women’s Foundation, West London Zone and YoungMinds. For more on the Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge and each of the participating organizations, click here

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.  

CRC# 3616952, 5/31/24

Media Relations Contact:

Carrie Hall

Carrie.Hall@morganstanley.com