Is pro bono free?
While Taproot’s programs are offered completely cost-free to nonprofits, pro bono does require a commitment of time and occasionally other resources (such as printing budget for a brochure). It’s important to recognize that skilled volunteers and nonprofits will need to invest time and energy to make pro bono work. The returns on this investment, however, are often enormous.
What kind of support can I receive pro bono?
Just thinking about the challenges you face within your organization can help generate a list of viable project opportunities. Taproot focuses on connecting nonprofits with professionals primarily in marketing, design, strategy, human resources, finance, and technology. Within those areas of expertise, there are many different types—and sizes—of projects that can be tackled. Find out how pro bono can help address your challenges. And if your pro bono request involves legal support, contact us.
Where do your skilled volunteers come from?
Our skilled volunteers are a mix of professionals— employed by companies, independent contractors, and experts who are in transition or who are retired.
What is a Virtual Session?
A Virtual Session connects you with a skilled volunteer for a one-hour virtual consulting call. This session allows you to float ideas, brainstorm, troubleshoot, or get advice from subject matter experts on topics ranging from marketing to HR to strategy and beyond. These virtual sessions are available to nonprofits and social change organizations in the U.S., the E.U., the U.K., India, and Canada.
Request a session
What is a Speed Consulting workshop?
You and your organization will gather advice from skilled volunteers on key challenges across multiple areas in this half-day, round-robin workshop. Offered to nonprofits and social change organizations in select cities nationwide. Create an account on Taproot Plus to be notified when a local event is accepting applications or find an event near you.
What is a Marathon event?
You and your organization will team up with a small group of skilled volunteers to address a challenge in person—from a scope of work all the way through to a deliverable—in one day. Offered to nonprofits and social change organizations in select cities nationwide. Create an account on Taproot Plus to be notified when a local event is accepting applications or find an event near you.
What is Taproot Plus?
Taproot’s on-demand matchmaking platform connects you and your organization with 1 – 2 volunteers for virtual projects. These projects are managed by you, from selecting your skilled volunteers to managing your project. Taproot staff is available for project scoping support upfront and ongoing troubleshooting as needed. Offered to nonprofits and social change organizations in the U.S., the E.U., the U.K., India, and Canada.
Post a project on Taproot Plus
How do I access services?
Read about our available services. When you see a pro bono service that can meet your needs, click on the appropriate link to get started!
When are Taproot’s services available?
You can post a project or get a quick consultation anytime on Taproot Plus.
If you want to join us at an in-person pro bono event or workshop, check out our events schedule.
What are the eligibility requirements for social impact organizations?
- Organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit to participate in Taproot’s U.S. programming, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis for organizations with a fiscal sponsor.
- Registered nonprofits and public schools in the EU, the U.K., India, and Canada are eligible to post pro bono projects on Taproot Plus.
- Nonprofits of all sizes are welcome to apply for our services. The only exceptions to this are organizations that seek to advance a religious doctrine or actively discriminate based on age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, disability, national origin, political affiliation, or religious belief.
Why should I use pro bono services? Isn’t it true that “you get what you pay for”?
Over the course of serving thousands of nonprofits across the country and abroad and working to design pro bono programs for leading companies, Taproot has seen seen firsthand the ways in which pro bono can help a nonprofit build capacity and develop lasting relationships with volunteers. When you carefully design a project, screen for the right volunteers, and manage the work diligently, pro bono can be as effective as paid consulting (or even better!).
How do you measure the value of pro bono service?
The best way to measure the value is to use the hourly rate of the professionals involved in service. The current average hourly rate for pro bono service, as determined in partnership with CECP, is $195.
How is pro bono different from traditional volunteering?
Traditional volunteering, such as a beach cleanup or serving at a soup kitchen, typically addresses the need for “extra hands” – a nonprofit needs people to help deliver a program. Pro bono service, however, uses specific professional skills to focus on addressing an organization’s internal strategic and infrastructure needs (often referred to as capacity building). For example, an HR professional could engage in traditional volunteer opportunity by planting a community garden, but could also provide pro bono professional services by helping an organization draft an employee handbook.
I’ve never worked with a nonprofit before. Is that okay?
Yes! As long as you have the right professional expertise for the specific project at hand, you don’t need to have prior experience working for a nonprofit. In fact, you are not alone – many of our pro bono consultants haven’t worked outside the corporate sector.
What types of opportunities are the best fit for me?
Taproot provides various opportunities for you to get involved. Find our programs here.
Taproot Plus: Work virtually or in person with a nonprofit on projects or provide quick consultations through sessions.
Workshops and Events: Team up with a group of consultants in person to help a nonprofit address a challenge.
How do I volunteer with Taproot?
Create an account on Taproot Plus (as easy as signing in with your LinkedIn account!), tell us about the fields and skills in which you have at least 3 – 5 years of professional experience, then start browsing for in-person and virtual opportunities. Once you find a project, session, or event that sparks your interest, simply apply to volunteer.
How do I know what opportunities are open to me?
Sign up for an account on Taproot Plus and login to see which projects, consultation sessions, or in-person workshops and events are available to you.
When can I work on a Taproot project?
You can volunteer for projects or consultation sessions as early as tomorrow by registering on Taproot Plus. And we hold workshops and events throughout the year in cities across the country. Find available projects and opportunities on Taproot Plus to see how you can get involved today.
Can I use a Taproot Foundation project to build new skills?
While learning is part of every process, the goal of Taproot’s programs is to provide the highest quality support for nonprofits. Volunteers are expected to have at least 3 – 5 years of professional experience in a given area and should volunteer for opportunities that align with their expertise.
Why volunteer with Taproot Foundation?
Taproot has been leading the pro bono movement for more than 20 years. Our model has proven successful in engaging thousands of business professionals every year and supporting more than 8,000 nonprofits since 2001.