Five New Year Resolutions You’ll Want to Keep for 2011

As December comes to an end, the time has come to start making your New Year resolutions for 2011. It’s the opportunity to start anew, but our list of commitments usually ends up being a depressing collection of limitations and constraints that fall by the wayside before spring arrives. So this year we’ve come up with a few resolutions you’ll actually WANT to keep. By signing up for a pro bono project with Taproot, you’ll be making a difference in your community while also reaping benefits of your own. Add these resolutions to your list, and apply to become a pro bono consultant with Taproot in 2011!

1. BEEF UP
   While you may not want your waistline expanding, perhaps your resume could use a little fattening up. Build and diversify your experiences and skills with a pro bono project, which will show prospective employers your range and adaptability in new and challenging environments. And who knows? You may have the opportunity to win a couple awards along the way that will turn your resume into a real belt-buster.
2. SPEND MORE
   As your colleagues slim down their budgets, flaunt your generosity by multiplying your philanthropic contributions. But how to give without breaking your own back account? Our studies have found that an hour of pro bono service is valued at nearly 10 times that of traditional volunteer activities. And pro bono projects strengthen nonprofit infrastructures, which have a sustainable impact with far-reaching effects that may extend well beyond 2011.
3. SHARE YOUR SECRETS
   If you’re sick of the cutthroat rat race, here’s your chance to go from competition to collaboration. Joining a pro bono project allows you to share your skills in new and meaningful ways to solve relevant social issues. You’ll have opportunity to think creatively and maximize your expertise. Giving back to your community doesn’t stop at the nonprofit: you and your teammates will also benefit from sharing knowledge, and you’ll be setting a great example for all professionals.
4. DRINK MORE
   When you sign up for a pro bono project, you’ll be building your own network with fellow professionals who share your passion for making a difference. Whether or not you’re a drinker, you’ll at least get to meet plenty of interesting people and will be invited to Taproot’s socials and mixers hosted exclusively for our pro bono consultants. Share ideas and best practices, learn about other professions, or just kick back and enjoy a beer while sharing stories of how you made a difference this year.
5. BE A RADICAL
   While you may only see your impact locally, your involvement in a pro bono project is part of a greater shift in how we think about philanthropy and giving. We call it the “pro bono movement,” and it’s equipping nonprofits across the nation with the resources they need to fulfill their mission. Once you experience the power of pro bono, we hope you’ll be just as zealous as we are in spreading the word about how simple and rewarding it is to MAKE IT MATTER.

Dive into pro bono now by connecting with nonprofits through Taproot+!

Joshua Winata is an External Affairs Fellow at the Taproot Foundation.

Image by dixieroadrash via Flickr