Capstone Projects | Fels Institute of Government

The capstone project is the crowning achievement of your degree

The culmination of the Fels degree program, the capstone project is an opportunity to apply your classroom knowledge and skills to specific tasks or inquiries that serve the real-world needs of nonprofit organizations and government agencies. You have the option to propose your own capstone project or choose from a list of projects submitted by government agencies and nonprofit organizations to Fels Lab. The resulting project enables students to build relationships with diverse stakeholders and improve their skills in policy research, creative thinking, data analysis and interpretation, program evaluation, written and verbal communication, time management, and client management.

Students begin thinking about potential capstone projects during orientation and career advising as we get to know the skill areas you would like to develop and the types of organizations you may want to support. Once you have reviewed available Fels Lab projects or worked with faculty to design your own, you’ll be matched with your partner organization and guided by your capstone advisor as you begin the preliminary research and data collection for your project. A formal credit-bearing capstone course is designed to help you finalize your project.

Partners: Is your organization interested in working with a Fels student on a capstone project? Submit a Fels Lab capstone project proposal »

Recent capstone projects

Project Name	Project Type	Organization
Chattanooga's Housing Action Pan: Progress Report and Implementation Strategy*	Performance metrics	City of Chattanooga
Beyond the Cliff: Analysis and Recommendations for Addressing the Benefits Cliff*	Policy analysis	Episcopal Community Services
The Community Life Improvement Program Graffiti Abatement Team Community Impact Evaluation Report	Data analysis, Program evaluation	Community Life Improvement Program
The Impact of Armory Relocations on Recruitment and Retention in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard*	Data analysis	Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Building a Safer Tomorrow: Analyzing Misdemeanor Recidivism Trends through Deferred Findings in Arlington County, Virginia*	Data analysis, Program evaluation	Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney Office
The Mindful Educators Initiative: Strategic Plan for Mental Health PTO Pilot Program in the School District of Philadelphia	Program development, Strategic planning	Philadelphia Federation of Teachers
(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right to Funding: A Lobbying Strategy for State-Funded Programs in Virginia	Advocacy plan, Fundraising plan	Medical Society of Virginia
Policy Analysis: Amendments to PA Act 179	Data analysis, Policy analysis	UniqueSource Products & Services
An Evaluation of Disadvantaged Communities and General Participation in the Water Infrastructure Investment Plan	Data analysis, Program evaluation	New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Contracting Equity Policy Analysis and Recommendations	Policy analysis	Philadelphia Department of Human Services
Department of Records Traffic Accident Portal: Recommendation Plan and Preliminary Research for Future Evaluation	Program evaluation	City of Philadelphia Department of Records
Impact of Mobile Document Upload: An Analysis of 2022 Michigan SNAP*	Data analysis, Program evaluation	Benefits Data Trust
Pilot Program Evaluation and Recommendations for Growth	Data analysis, Program evaluation	Poetry in America; Arizona State University Center for Public Humanities
Stakeholder Engagement for Strategic Planning	Strategic planning	Crossroads for Women
An Analysis of Responsible Investing, ESG Investing, and Impact Investing	Policy analysis	QBE Insurance
The Progressive Turnout Program for Pennsylvania: A Best Practices Implementation Guide	Policy analysis, Program development	NA
Measuring the Use and Perception of the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative	Program evaluation	PA Attorney General's Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative
Value Capture Mechanisms for Affordable Housing	Policy analysis	The Rail Park
New Jersey Electric Bicycle Incentive Analysis & Program Proposal	Policy analysis, Program development	New Jersey's Clean Energy Program
An Evaluation of Giving Power Back to the People	Program evaluation	Kensington Community Resilience Fund
Pedestrianization of Camac Street	Policy analysis, Program development	Philadelphia City Council
Identifying Opportunities to Improve Health Outcomes in the JEVS Client Population	Data analysis, Program evaluation	JEVS Human Services
Building the Practice of Community Coaching in South Jersey: Operational Guide	Program development	South Jersey Community Foundation
Building the Practice of Community Coaching in South Jersey: Landscape Report	Program evaluation	South Jersey Community Foundation
Black Antebellum Settlements & the Modern-Day Wealth Gap in New Jersey	Policy analysis	NA
Improvements on the Property Tax/Rent Rebate and Tax Forgiveness Programs	Data analysis, Program evaluation	Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
The Criminalization of Unsheltered Homelessness and a Better, Proven Path Forward for Policymakers	Policy analysis	National Low Income Housing Coalition
Systemic Reform of the Criminal Expungement Process for Philadelphia County	Data analysis, Program evaluation, Strategic planning	Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity
Assessing Representation in English Language Arts Curricula	Policy analysis	The Education Trust
New York City Violent Gun Crime Strategic Study	Data analysis	Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, New York Field Division, Crime Gun Intelligence Center
A Policy Agenda for Nationwide Children's Hospital's Social Justice Initiative	Policy analysis	Nationwide Children's Hospital
A Community Recompense Program for Institutional Expansion*	Program development	Office of Councilwoman Jamie R. Gauthier
Expanded Child Tax Credit Outreach Campaign Evaluation*	Program evaluation	City of Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity
Help for the Hurdles Program Evaluation	Program evaluation	City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services
Measuring Effectiveness of Diversity and Inclusion Policies on Campus Racial Climate	Policy analysis	The EdTrust
Smart Artificial Intelligence Policies	Policy analysis	City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation & Technology
Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative: A Qualitative Analysis of the Grantee Experience*	Program evaluation	The Food Trust
A Feasibility Study for the Creation of a Garden Commons Network Across Philadelphia*	Program development	Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Crisis Communications Plan	Marketing and communication plan	Cleveland Department of Public Health
Doorways Prevention Program Training and Evaluation Assessment	Program evaluation	Doorways' Prevention Program
Continuing to Serve: Preparing Veterans to Transition into Service Organizations	Program evaluation	U.S. Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program
Reuse Rise Rejoice: A Menstrual Health Program Evaluation*	Program evaluation	African Education Program
Economic Impacts of Refugee Resettlement in the United States and Texas	Data analysis	N/A
Always Be Disclosing: Should Bank Size Preclude Eligibility for Climate Risk Disclosures?	Data analysis	N/A
Psychosocial Support Services for Gender-Based Violence in Southwest State Somalia	Data analysis	Gender-Based Violence Psychosocial Support Services
Strategic Plan for the Botswana - University of Pennsylvania Partnership	Strategic planning	Botswana - University of Pennsylvania Partnership
A Risk Informed Policy Analysis of Nuclear Power in Electricity Markets	Policy analysis	Nuclear Energy Institute
Making the Right Choice: A college decision making toolkit for adult learners	Policy analysis	Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
A Strategic Plan for Optimizing New Jersey's State Revolving Fund Application Process	Strategic planning	New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Autism and the Courts Initiative*	Program development	Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Department of Human Services; ASERT Collaborative
Reaching Women Veterans: Background Report & Communications Strategy*	Marketing and communication plan	U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mission Based Grantmaking: A Path to Success	Program development	K10 Kids Foundation
An Overview of Best Practices for Affordable Single-Family Housing Development and Finance	Policy analysis	Cinnaire
The ReStart Program	Program development	Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Radar and the Price of Speed	Advocacy plan	N/A
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger Environmental Scan	Strategic planning	The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
Personal Protective Equipment Supply & Supply Chain During COVID-19	Policy analysis	Community Network for Epidemic Preparedness and Support
Comparative Analysis of Municipal Experiences Owning and Selling Public Goods	Policy analysis	Delaware County Council
Evaluation Capacity-Building	Strategic planning	ImpactEd
Process Improvement Within the Chicago Community Trust	Program evaluation	Chicago Community Trust
Municipal High-Performance and Healthy Buildings Guidelines*	Program development	City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability
Young "Invincibles": Understanding Health Insurance Among Pennsylvania's Young Adults*	Data analysis	Pennsylvania Health Access Network
PHENND Managing Networks*	Data analysis	Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development
Representations of China Across the Media Landscape*	Data analysis	N/A
Realigning As We Build: Data Implementation Plan*	Data analysis	Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
Measuring Impact in a Complex World: A Social Return on Investment Framework*	Data analysis	JEVS Human Services
Now do we do it? Philly Style	Program evaluation	Students Run Philly Style
Riverfront North Partnership Data Implementation Plan	Program evaluation	Riverfront North Partnership
Juvenile Hall Admission and Impacts to Primary Care: Santa Clara County*	Data analysis	Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
The Polarization Machine: How Digital Activity Threatens Electoral Legitimacy	Policy analysis	N/A
A Study on Murals, Artist, and the Guilds Community Impact	Program evaluation	Mural Arts Philadelphia
Establishment of an Innovation Resource Network for Penn Medical Ethics	Program development	University of Pennsylvania Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy
An Analysis of the Free Library of Philadelphia's Digital Resource and Service Provision During COVID-19*	Data analysis	Free Library of Philadelphia
Evaluating Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program	Policy analysis	City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics
A Roadmap for Funding Permanent Supportive Housing	Program development	Asociación Puertorriqueños En Marcha
Review of Anti-Poverty Efforts by the City of Philadelphia	Policy analysis	N/A
Hallandale Beach Strategic Policing Initiative Measurement Protocols	Program evaluation	Hallandale Beach Police Department
Quality Jobs Tax Grant Program Design	Program development	City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce
Inequities in Disaster Evacuation for Low-Income Families*	Policy analysis	N/A
Membership Program Marketing and Communication Plan*	Marketing and communication plan	Committee of Seventy
Membership Program Survey Evaluation*	Program evaluation	Committee of Seventy
Ending Hunger for Good Workforce Development Plan	Program development	Pottsdown Collaborative
Equine Assisted Therapy for Veterans*	Program development	Valley Forge Military Academy
Assessing Philadelphia's Health Regulations to Reduce Commercial Waste*	Policy analysis	City of Philadelphia Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet
Default Justice: Debt Buyer Lawsuits in Philadelphia Municipal Court*	Data analysis	N/A
Predictive Analytics for US Armed Forces Veterans Exposed to Toxins	Advocacy plan	N/A
The Fight for Fair Funding in the State of Pennsylvania’s High-Need School District	Policy analysis	Education Law Center in Philadelphia
Analyzing Community Violence Reduction Programs in Philadelphia	Policy analysis	City of Philadelphia Office of Violence Prevention

"There is increasing demand being put on nonprofit leaders and public sector agencies to demonstrate the impact that they have in the community. Regardless of your role, it’s important to have an understanding of what data can tell you, how to use data, and how not to use data."

Claire Robertson-Kraft, Capstone Instructor

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