Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
July/August edition of "Impact" newsletter
July/August edition of "Impact" newsletter
About the Organization
The Taproot Foundation provides nonprofits with grants of marketing and technology services rather than financial support. These "Service Grants" are staffed by business professionals who donate their skills to help the community.
Benefit to the Community
In 2002, their first year of operation, the Taproot Foundation expects to donate more than $500,000 in services to San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits. These services are typically out of the reach of many smaller nonprofits. Not only do the volunteers provide services, they also provide de facto training for the grantees. Nonprofit staff members benefit from being able to work with professionals and see the steps in the process and the decisions that are being made.
Measuring Success
In order to evaluate the impact of each grant, the Taproot Foundation asks grantees to define the metrics they will use to measure success. Volunteers follow up one year after completion of the project to see whether the project has achieved the hoped-for results. This information is then used to measure the effectiveness of the Service Grant program and to determine the nonprofit's eligibility for future grants.
The Taproot Foundation provides nonprofits with grants of marketing and technology services rather than financial support. These "Service Grants" are staffed by business professionals who donate their skills to help the community.
Benefit to the Community
In 2002, their first year of operation, the Taproot Foundation expects to donate more than $500,000 in services to San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits. These services are typically out of the reach of many smaller nonprofits. Not only do the volunteers provide services, they also provide de facto training for the grantees. Nonprofit staff members benefit from being able to work with professionals and see the steps in the process and the decisions that are being made.
Measuring Success
In order to evaluate the impact of each grant, the Taproot Foundation asks grantees to define the metrics they will use to measure success. Volunteers follow up one year after completion of the project to see whether the project has achieved the hoped-for results. This information is then used to measure the effectiveness of the Service Grant program and to determine the nonprofit's eligibility for future grants.
