"Foundation Finds Help
The Taproot Foundation is deeply concerned about the fate of non-profits in this bad economy. But don't ask for grants. It won't give you a dime.
Instead of money, the year-old foundation donates time. The San Francisco organization dispatches teams of volunteers, whose expertise covers Web site and database development, brochure design and branding, to Bay Area charities. The foundation ensures the job will be completed efficiently, no matter what.
"When we promise a non-profit that we will build it a Web site, we guarantee it will get done -- and done to their satisfaction,'' said Aaron Hurst, president and founder of Taproot. ``If a volunteer moves to New York all of a sudden, we already have 20 designers lined up. We can fill that open space with someone else. We make sure the project continues."
The foundation, which operates with a bare-bones staff of two, was started with a three-year, $300,000 grant from the Draper Richards Foundation. The foundation, started by venture capitalists William H. Draper III and Robin Richards Donohoe, funds social entrepreneurs.
Hurst says his idea for Taproot evolved as he worked in both the non-profit sector and the business world.
In Chicago, he worked to help returning Peace Corps alumni make the transition to becoming public school teachers. (His grandfather, the late Joseph E. Slater, was an early inspiration as well. Slater was president of the Aspen Institute for 17 years and wrote the blueprint for the Peace Corps while serving in the Kennedy Administration.)
While employed in the non-profit sector, Hurst recalled, ``I was frustrated by the abundance of ideas but no infrastructure to take action.''
Before starting Taproot, Hurst was product manager for two San Francisco online services, iOwn, a real estate Web site, and iSyndicate, which syndicated online content. He realized how difficult it can be for volunteers to hook up with non-profits.
"It's like looking for a job in a sector you know nothing about,'' Hurst said. ``You don't know what questions to ask. It's a very intimidating experience that prevents a lot of people who want to volunteer from volunteering."
Taproot acts like a contractor. Once the foundation agrees to take on a project, it assembles a team of volunteer subcontractors, sets deadlines and makes sure the work is completed.
During its first year, Taproot completed 20 projects. Hurst expects to complete 50 projects in 2003.
Eventually, he hopes to spread his good works around the country. He has received requests for help from as far away as London.
"There is just a ton of demand," Hurst said.
