The Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenges 2025 is now accepting applications. Teams of graduate students worldwide are invited to participate each year in the Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge to design and present innovative financial strategies to address urgent social and environmental concerns.

The Challenge promotes contacts with top industry figures to find, empower, and inspire people who will shape the future of sustainable finance. In 2025, more than 290 students from over 55 schools developed innovative financial mechanisms for social good.

Quick Details

Provided by: Kellogg School of Management

Host Country: London, England

Application Deadline: January 26, 2025 (11:59 p.m. PST.)

Prospectus Submission Deadline: February 23, 2025

Career Trek: February 27, 2025

Announcing Date: March 17, 2025

Final Event: April 25, 2025

Eligible Nations: International

The Challenge: Design a Creative Financial Solution for Urgent Social or Environmental Problems

Benefits of the Challenge 

Winners will benefit as follows:

• $10,000 is awarded to the winning team (First Position).
• Possibilities for networking and receiving guidance from notable people.
• Master Class Lecture Series: Four lectures by recognized impact finance professors from major universities.
• Career Trek: Networking meetings with industry professionals in small groups.
• Finals in London City, UK: The opportunity to submit your proposals to industry executives in London.

Eligibility for the Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenges

Entrants should meet the following criteria:

• There may be no more than four (4) people on a team.
• When the prospectus is submitted, every team member must be enrolled in a graduate program. Undergraduates are not qualified.
• Members of your team could attend various graduate programs.
• All concepts must originate with one of the team members.
• Application is open to all nationals.

Selection Criteria

The judging panel will consider the following points:

Creativity and Financial Innovation (25%)

• Has the team implemented a novel investment strategy to maximize profits and impact? Their search is for either:

1. 1. A creative financial arrangement, Or
   2. A tried-and-true investment strategy creatively used to solve an issue previously outside the scope or reach of a social or environmental challenge.

• What about this project is intriguing? Is it original or simply another copy of a dozen others?
• Does the project have a distinctive capital structure, such as using various institutional investors and money sources?
• Does the plan identify new sources of return, a new asset class, or a new source of value or cash flow?

Impact and scale (25%)

• Does this offer a scaleable approach to raise enough money and positively impact the environment or people?
• Do any particular measures for impact exist? Is the effect substantial and lasting?
• Does the planned strategy’s effect come from financial levers rather than additional philanthropic donations?
• Has the group shown diligence in identifying and estimating the effect that will result?

Feasibility (25%)

• Is the investing thesis logical to you?
• Do legitimate sources of risk-adjusted market rate returns exist in this instance? (Even while taking into account a gestation time with reduced rewards)
• Could this receive support and a response from institutional investors?
• Was the theory well-researched, and is there solid proof of financial depth that considers the entire economy?

Quality of due diligence and financials (20%)

• How extensive and in-depth is the thesis research?
• Do the projected returns and cash flow make sense? Has the team shown sound financial reasoning and the accuracy of critical economic assumptions?
• Have the critical issues around returns, asset quality, underwriting, and risk control—market-based and non-market—been identified and dealt with?
• Does the team possess the abilities necessary to carry out? Have the qualifications for the investment team been established?
• Are the suggested incentives and fees fair?

Presentation (5%)

• Has the team’s proposal been convincing, simple, and straightforward?
• Have all team members participated in the final event’s initial presentation or the Q&A?

How to Apply for the Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenges?

To apply, click the Apply Now button below.

Apply Now

To learn more about The Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenges, kindly refer to Kellogg School of Management’s official website or read the FAQs.

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