Change Observer: Why We’re All Designers
Who needs design? According to our Vice President of Service Innovation Laura Weiss, we could all benefit from design thinking, but especially in the social sector, designer tools and methodologies are critical for innovation that lead to continued growth and program renewal. Laura says, "To avoid the threat of stagnant maturity and potential decline, nonprofits must actively develop techniques for...
Read MoreYou have no idea what this blog is about…curious?
A study in blind trust by The Do Good Bus GOOD, the media company for people who give a damn, just wrote a piece about The Do Good Bus in Los Angeles that takes folks out to volunteer activities in exchange for a small fee to cover their costs. What is interesting about the model is that they don't let...
Read MoreWanna Chat?
Calling all social entrepreneurs! Tired of being a serial startup and ready to be known as a serious player in the field? There's no golden ticket that turns upstart nonprofits into established organizations, but after 10 years of building Taproot into a national force and a lifetime of entrepreneurship, our president and founder Aaron Hurst has sound advice for new...
Read MoreWhat China Can Learn from Taproot
Pro bono in China is being implemented by the Beijing Huizeren Volunteering Development Center. Since Feb. 28, a team of Chinese philanthropic leaders--Robin, founder of Huizeren; Xinfu, project manager; and Charles from Narada Foundation --visited and toured Taproot Foundation to gain greater insight into this nascent marketplace. Here are their final thoughts on the lessons they learned during their visit....
Read MoreAt Our Best
Why did AIGA set the standard for design firms to do 5% of their work pro bono when significantly better-compensated law firms and management consulting firms do half that amount?The most creative and talented people work because they love their craft and, secondarily, to pay the rent. They love to use their talents where they have the greatest impact and...
Read MoreA Moment of Your Time
May we have a moment of your time? 1% of your time to be exact. Do you remember why you decided to become a designer? Doctors save lives. Designers _________ . *Collective murmur from audience* Earlier this month, I attended a panel discussion to celebrate the launch of Public Architecture's new book, The Power of Pro Bono. Held at the...
Read MoreHuffPo: What IDEO.org Can Learn From Bridgespan
This week, IDEO announced they will be spinning out IDEO.org as a standalone nonprofit organization this fall under the leadership of Joceyln Wyatt and Patrice Martin. IDEO is not the first blue-chip professional services firm to spin off a nonprofit arm. In 2000, Bain & Company incubated The Bridgespan Group with deep financial and human capital start-up support and continues...
Read MoreMeet the Roots: Wendy and David
We've had the privilege of tracking the progress and impact our amazing pro bono consultants. But rarely do we get the opportunity to pull back the curtain and let you meet the playful professionals who help bring everything together behind the scenes. In a new monthly series, we'll be sharing stories from our own staff and letting you know why...
Read MoreCheck out Aaron at The Huffington Post!
Taproot President Aaron Hurst has been invited to be a regular contributor at The Huffington Post! Be sure to check out his blog here to see that latest insights and examples of how pro bono service can drive major social change. To kick if off, read a great example of how businesses can work together to help struggling local governments....
Read MoreAnjali and April’s story
On February 16, the Taproot New York office held its first pro bono consultant appreciation event of the year. We invited our amazing PBCs to share their stories of how they MAKE IT MATTER, and now we'd like to share them with you. April, a graphic designer, and Anjali, a marketing director, met while creating a fundraising brochure for HERE...
Read More