Building the Right Pro Bono Initiative for Your Company: How CEB Found the Right Approach to Making Social Impact
By Kim Gillman, Senior Associate Consultant, Advisory Services, Taproot Foundation CEB knew they could do more. The leading member-based advisory company, CEB had already made significant investments in the social sector including a Community Investment Grant program, a Global Service Day and a commitment to pro bono service. But they wanted to go further with their pro bono strategy, so...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Spectrum of Skills-Based Volunteering
By Lindsay Firestone, Director of Advisory Services, Taproot Foundation This is an installment of Taproot's Back to Basics series, focusing on the helpful building blocks for developing a successful corporate pro bono program. Over the past several years there has been tremendous growth in corporate pro bono service. From the growth of new programs, to the piloting of new models,...
Read MorePro Bono + Grant-Making = Philanthropy 2.0?
By Alexandra McArthur, Associate Consultant, Advisory Services, Taproot Foundation The anticipation was mounting as American Express President, Ed Gilligan took the stage. The American Express employees in attendance held their breath and then cheers erupted as he announced the 10 teams whose strategy recommendations had been selected for funding from American Express. Contrary to what you might expect, American Express...
Read MorePro Bono Service: The New Normal
One of the great things about being in one field for so long is that from time to time you have the chance to witness the arc of progress. An idea being adopted, an assumption being confirmed (or debunked), a trend becoming a norm—these are all key milestones to celebrate when you're trying to build a movement. At this year's...
Read MoreSkim Milk Marriages No More!
By Matt O'Grady, Guest Writer, Root The Supreme Court just ruled that having second-class citizens is finally passed. Its rulings in support of same-sex marriage cap a phenomenal transformation in the mores and attitudes of this country, a transformation few of us would have dared to predict just a few years ago. In striking down the so-called Defense of Marriage...
Read MoreMeet April: A Pro Bono Leader By Design
April Kobeda joined the Taproot pro bono consultant team in 2005 because she wanted to help nonprofit organizations accomplish their goals, to feel part of a larger community, and to gain experience outside of her corporate job. Having completed eight Service Grants, April adds a deeper understanding of nonprofit needs and insight to all of her projects. Read April's story...
Read MoreMe? Do What I Say?
Practice what you preach I don't have children, but a few weeks ago I had what I suspect was a parental moment. That moment when you realize that it's harder than you thought to practice what you preach. I was on a deadline to produce a tutorial for tools on Taproot Foundation's website entitled, So You're Ready to think About...
Read MoreMeet Ruth: A Taproot Fellow and Top-Notch Project Manager
Ruth Van Hecke is a dedicated Allstate employee, who was granted six moths to work as a Pro Bono Fellow at Taproot. She jumped right in, used her project management expertise, and made a huge impact on Taproot and how we work. Click here to read her story.
Read MoreBuilding the pro bono movement through Billion + Change
The most recent Billion + Change event, hosted by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) on May 22 in San Francisco, was a raging success for the pro bono movement. In attendance was a 75-person dream team of pro bono junkies, all making profound connections and driving thoughtful conversations about how to proliferate pro bono. Heather McLeod Grant, author of...
Read MoreIt’s Time to Staff! Here Are Some Nonprofits That Need YOU.
Summer is just around the corner and while the days are heating up, so are our Taproot Foundation Service Grants. Over the next few weeks, new projects will begin staffing, and we're excited to tell you about the incredible nonprofits we're working with. One of our recent pro bono consulting applicants said, "pro bono work is like getting a free...
Read More