Aaron Hurst founded the Taproot Foundation 40 years after his grandfather, Joseph E. Slater, wrote the original blueprint for the Peace Corps. Inspired by the Peace Corps' ethic that seemingly intransigent boundaries can be crossed when people work together as peers, Aaron created the Taproot Foundation in 2001 to connect this country's millions of business professionals with nonprofits who need their talents and experience. Aaron is a nationally recognized social entrepreneur and has received the following awards:

• 2009 University of Michigan Humanitarian Service Award
• 2008 Innovator of the Year Award, Alliance for Nonprofit Management
• 2007 Social Venture Network's Innovation Award
• 2007 Commonwealth Club INFORUM 21st Century Award
• 2005 Ashoka Fellowship

Why "Taproot"? A "taproot" is the core root of a plant. It gathers nutrients from lateral roots and delivers them to a plant to enable it to flourish. We see ourselves as a taproot for the nonprofit sector, drawing nutrients from the community and delivering them to nonprofits to enable them to thrive.

What began in San Francisco in 2001 with a single Marketing Service Grant has expanded to include offices in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Washington DC and Los Angeles -- connecting thousands of professional pro bono volunteers with the nonprofit sector. Since its founding, Taproot Foundation has provided tangible deliverables valued at over $58 million toward the improvement of the nonprofit sector.

2001	2002	2003
-Founded in San Francisco	-Awarded first Service Grant -Received first funder (Peninsula Community Foundation)	-Launched New York Office -Added IT Service Grants -Received Draper Richards Fellowship

2004	2005	2006
-Over 1,000 professionals recruited -"Excellence in Nonprofit Marketing Award"	-Launched Chicago office -Added HR Service Grants	-5,000 professionals recruited -Recognized by Fast Company as a "Rising Star" -Received Manhattan Institute Award for Social Entrepreneurship -Received Jazz Metra Networking Award

2007	2008	2009
-Launched Seattle office -500th Service Grant Awarded -10,000 professionals recruited -Added Strategy Management Service Grant	-Launched Los Angeles office -Launched Washington DC office -Launched Pro Bono Action Tank (PBAT) -Listed in Time Magazine as "one of the 21 ways to fix America"	-Launched Leadership Development & Strategic HR Service Grants -1,000th Service Grant Awarded