• Nonprofits
  • Corporate
  • Volunteers
  • Resources
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • About

Pro Bono in Professional Schools

professional schools are leading our next wave of pro bono change-makers
Jan 14th, 2010 Social Impact, Volunteer Consulting

Introducing an upcoming leader in the pro bono movement: Universities. There are many pro bono programs at Professional Schools across the country, and they are paving the way to creating the next generation of socially responsible citizens while strengthening nonprofits.

To start the conversation on this emerging field, this week, Taproot Foundation, the Net Impact Chicago Booth chapter, and American Bar Association Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the Center for pro bono gathered twenty-five leaders from Chicago business, law, design, and architecture schools at the first-ever Chicago Summit on Pro Bono Service in Professional Schools.

With deans, professors, program directors, and students, we had a unique cross-university discussion focusing on the current State of the Pro Bono Union, how professional schools can collaborate to make an even bigger impact on the challenges facing Chicago today, and building a framework to ensure success and continuity of pro bono programs from year to year.

Some key points and outcomes from the Summit’s conversation include:

  • Pro bono programs are currently student driven and primarily student run
  • There is great value in collaboration across schools to take on multi-disciplinary projects
  • There is great potential for university pro bono to have a positive impact in the city of Chicago
  • In order to change the culture of the institution, infrastructure is needed – as one participant commented; “We have people ready, give me the resources!”
  • The group envisioned experiential learning as a part of every professional school’s education by 2013
  • A representative from the Civic Consulting Alliance committed to creating a list of 100 key issues for students to solve through pro bono

With great enthusiasm on campuses, we need to bring training, infrastructure, and resources to schools to move the needle on the pro bono movement. It’s clear the time is now!

Bring the pro bono ethic to your local professional schools. Reach out to Taproot for ways to partner up.
White business woman and Black business man work on a computer in an office
Jul 18th, 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility, Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, Small Business, Volunteer Consulting

What is Skills-Based Volunteering?

When you think of volunteering, images of cleaning up your local park or working in a food pantry may come...

group of workers
Aug 29th, 2023 Social Impact, Volunteer Consulting

Celebrate Labor Day by Supporting Nonprofit Employees

These days, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, a day at the beach and barbecues, but it began...

Let’s stay in touch

Sign up to receive news and updates about pro bono service.

Join
    • Nonprofits
    • Corporate
    • Volunteers
    • Philanthropy Through Taproot
    • Resources
    • Case Studies
    • Blog
    • Press
    • About
    • Taproot Plus
    • Events
    • Supporters
    • Donate
    • Careers
    • Contact us
    • FAQs

Enabling a world where social good organizations have the resources they need to fulfill their missions.

2023 Taproot FoundationTerms Privacy