PRO BONO ADVENTURES OF ARMIN: WEEK 19

This week I learned about Taproot in numbers. As the graphic below shows, Taproot has awarded 2,097 Service Grant to nonprofits since its inception in 2001. Through Service Grant projects, Taproot has provided a total of 1,211,650 hours of pro bono, delivering services valued at USD 104,805,000 to nonprofits across the USA. These truly amazing statistics underline the huge impact that Taproot’s work has had over the last decade. Taking the perspective of a global fellow, these figures are a huge motivation for me to replicate the power of pro bono in other countries.

Philanthropic investment

Also interesting in this figure is the 7.5 multiplier: an approximation of the leveraged value that Taproot delivers through its Service Grant Program. For example, when given USD 10,000 by a foundation to support a nonprofit, Taproot will deliver a consulting project valued at USD 75,000. Well that’s what I call an impressive leverage of the philanthropic investment!

To accomplish this feat, Taproot is constantly revising its services and focusing on ways to increase impact. A concrete example is a new tool introduced as part of the Service Grant Program. One of our Fellows in the NY office – and grad student from NYU Wagner – presented a new impact measurement tool that will become part of the Service Grant evaluation process. This includes predefined baselines and an additional survey conducted 6 month after the completion of a pro bono project. It is important to understand impact as it is a prerequisite for further improving the services that Taproot provides. It is this mindset that proves to me that Taproot really is the thought leader of the pro bono movement.

Ready to get involved the pro bono movement? Learn more about giving or receiving pro bono by contacting us today.

Armin Pialek is the first Fellow in a pilot joint venture between Taproot and the BMW Foundation. He is working to first bring pro bono to Germany, and then to replicate the model to engage Fellows to develop pro bono with Taproot and the BMW Foundation around the globe.