Draper Richards Foundation Awards Fellowship to Taproot Foundation for Innovative Volunteering Model
Taproot Foundation Makes Grants of Professional Services Performed by Skilled Volunteers
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, November 6, 2002 -- The Draper Richards Foundation has awarded the Taproot Foundation its fellowship for social entrepreneurship in recognition of its innovative model for providing professional services to nonprofits using teams of volunteers from the business community. The fellowship includes a grant of $300,000 to be distributed to the Taproot Foundation over the next three years.
Founded in 2001, the Taproot Foundation provides nonprofit organizations with Service Grants of infrastructure-building projects that are managed and staffed by volunteer professionals from the business community. In the first year of operations, the Taproot Foundation has awarded 20 nonprofits with Service Grants, engaging over 100 business professionals in meaningful service to the community.
"The Taproot Foundation is a highly effective means of enabling volunteer professionals to help nonprofits achieve their goals," said Jenny Shilling, executive director of the Draper Richards Foundation. "Providing teams of talented business professionals to nonprofit organizations enables the volunteers to complete high-quality projects such as brochure development, website design, or database construction. This highly structured system of volunteerism creates significant value for the nonprofit participants, and is a model that can be replicated nationally.”
The Draper Richards Foundation's fellowship is based on the structure of a venture capital fund. This high-engagement model provides strategic and organizational support to recipients, and in addition to funding of $100,000 annually for three years, Ms. Shilling will serve as a member of the Taproot Foundation's Board of Directors.
With early-stage support from the Draper Richards Foundation, the Taproot Foundation will introduce its efforts in other major metropolitan areas, and in the next year, expand its programs in the Bay Area by awarding services with a total market value of over $1 million to local nonprofits. The services, performed by more than 300 volunteer business professionals, will provide valuable marketing and technology tools, as well as lasting peer relationships between professionals in the two sectors.
"In our first year, over 250 business professionals applied to volunteer and over 90 nonprofits requested services, “ said Aaron Hurst, founder and president of the Taproot Foundation. “There is clearly an enormous demand for a new volunteering model. With the support of the Draper Richards Foundation, the Taproot Foundation’s capacity has greatly increased and will allow us to expand our reach in the Bay Area and across the country.”
About the Taproot Foundation
The Taproot Foundation (www.taprootfoundation.org) is an innovative new foundation that provides nonprofits with grants of capacity building services. The Foundation’s Service Grant model, which is currently being piloted in the San Francisco Bay Area, serves organizations focused on the environment, education, community development and health by providing marketing and technology services. The Taproot Foundation was founded in 2001 by a leadership team that includes executives with experience at the Bridgespan Group, Peninsula Community Foundation, Business for Social Responsibility and Landor & Associates.
About the Draper Richards Foundation
The Draper Richards Foundation (www.draperrichards.org) funds selected social entrepreneurs in a variety of public service areas, including education, the environment, arts, health, and community and economic development. The Foundation’s support is based on the structure of a venture capital fund, providing financial support as well as strategic and organizational assistance. The Foundation was founded by venture capitalists William H. Draper III and Robin Richards Donohoe.
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