CMMB has been serving communities in Peru since 1970, delivering access to healthcare in the neighborhoods of Huancayo and Trujillo. Today, Peru is classified as an upper-middle-income country—but that is not reflective of every community across the country. In the regions we serve, economic opportunities are limited, and access to health is often unattainable due to challenges in traveling to the facilities or the cost of services. Despite the need, this reclassification reduced access to international aid. In the fall of 2024, CMMB launched a partnership with The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

The Wharton Global Health Volunteers Program is a student-led organization that connects MBA students with resource-limited, opportunity-rich healthcare organizations for semester-long consulting projects. Through this initiative, Wharton MBA students worked with CMMB Peru to advance their work in local fundraising and strategic communications.

The Challenge: Strengthening Visibility and Local Funding

Peru’s classification as an upper-middle-income country, coupled with the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, left CMMB Peru with a need for new funding channels—and an opportunity to identify them locally.

The Solution: Student Volunteers in Action

CMMB Peru invited seven students from The Wharton School to support the development of two complementary initiatives. One would focus on building a comprehensive fundraising strategy. The other would establish the foundation necessary to enhance local visibility of CMMB Peru through effective communication strategies.

Key components of the work included:

Fundraising: Mapping Peru’s donor landscape, qualifying potential funders, and developing a strategic outreach plan.

  • Develop in-person and virtual trainings on fundraising best practices and effective donor engagement
  • One-week visit to Trujillo to facilitate in-person training
  • Identify and qualify new local funding partners
  • Develop an actionable engagement strategy
  • Strengthen capacity for ongoing donor engagement

Communications: Enhancing organizational communications through training, social media planning, and content creation.

  • Develop in-person and virtual trainings in effective use of social media platforms, content creation, audience engagement, and usage of AI as a support tool.
  • One-week visit to Trujillo to facilitate in-person training
  • Creation of a communications plan covering audience analysis, an overview of social media communications tools, and content/publication guidance
  • Propose a social media calendar
  • Development of platform-specific training materials to bolster the training sessions

One Spanish-speaking student facilitated collaboration across both groups, ensuring seamless delivery between Trujillo and Huancayo.

The Results: A Suite of New Resources and Skills

Over the course of the project:

  • 20+ staff members trained in communications and fundraising best practices
  • Fundraising tools created, such as donor lists, prioritization criteria, and outreach templates
  • Comprehensive communications plan developed, including platform-specific strategies for LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the website
  • Social media skills strengthened, including generative AI support for drafting posts.

Lessons Learned

This project highlighted several key insights:

  • Hybrid training allows teams in different regions to participate fully and effectively
  • Hands-on workshops help staff translate knowledge into practical skills
  • Capacity building in communications and fundraising strengthens organizational resilience and local ownership

“By the end of the week, we had moved beyond the role of volunteers and consultants. We had become allies in their work, and the community had become our home. The hospitality we received and the chance to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully left an indelible mark on each of us. It’s not often that we get to be part of such a transformative experience, both professionally and personally. Still, this trip was a reminder of the power of connection and the importance of community.” – Wharton Student Group, Communication Initiative

What’s Next: The Application

CMMB Peru has a suite of resources to continue building its communications and fundraising strategies. The groundwork has been laid, lessons learned, and new skills gained. Now the team sets its sights on pursuing local funding opportunities and communicating its impact effectively—so they can ultimately reach more families and communities in need.

Partnering for Greater Impact

Volunteer partnerships like this demonstrate how professional expertise can build lasting capacity in local health organizations. Whether through fundraising, communications, or technical training, volunteers play a vital role in strengthening health systems and ensuring communities thrive.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES