THE PRO BONO ADVENTURES OF ARMIN: WEEK 5

Traveling most of this week with a broken notebook, I finally found the time to go through my notes and a have a closer look at Taproot’s pro bono service toolkit. What I found most interesting are the 8 different models pro bono service . Of those the two most popular models are the Standardized Team Projects and the Marathon Models.
In the Standardized Team Projects individuals form a team. Each team member is given specific roles and responsibilities. Then each project is scoped and structured around a standard deliverable based on the needs of the nonprofit partner.

The Marathon Model condenses nonprofit service. A company pools human capital on a pro bono project within a short, predetermined timeframe (12 to 24 hours) to deliver a mass volume of deliverables. As this model is increasingly requested in the US, a new model is being discussed. The so called Scope-a-thon is basically structured in the same way as the Marathon. The prominent difference is that it does not aim to provide a solution to a specific need but rather to identify what that specific need is. The need is the starting point of all the 8 models of pro bono service. Think of it as analogous to a hospital – you wouldn’t give treatment to a patient before diagnosing them. Finding the right diagnosis is crucial in defining the right cure.

To learn more about or pro bono models and how they can specifically fit the needs of your company, connect with us. 

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.