The Pro Bono Action Tank Applauds the Passage of the Give Act and Serve America Act

National service recognized as a vital to meeting challenges

San Francisco, CA – April 21, 2009 - The Pro Bono Action Tank (PBAT) commends members of Congress and President Obama for passing H.R. 2857 and S. 3487, the GIVE Act and the Serve America Act, respectively. The broad bipartisan support each of these bills received is a testament to the national resolve to redouble our commitment to service.

"The recent economic downturn has posed a serious burden to organizations serving the public good," said PBAT Executive Director, Jamie Hartman. "This legislation helps to ensure that nonprofits have access to the resources they need through volunteer service. Through incorporating pro bono service, the business community can provide capacity-building services nonprofits otherwise can’t afford. We believe that the public and private sectors working in tandem through pro bono service, can find innovative solutions to many of the obstacles facing this country.” The PBAT, a program of the Taproot Foundation, is a convening, research and advocacy initiative to support and expand pro bono service beyond the legal profession.

  • 77% of nonprofits believe that skilled volunteers could significantly improve their organization’s business practices
  • 97% of MBA graduates said they were willing to forgo financial benefits to work for an organization with a better reputation for corporate social responsibility and ethics
  • Leveraging professional talent and expertise is the single most valuable form of assistance a company could provide to help build and strengthen the capacity of nonprofits

About the Pro Bono Action Tank

Established in 2008 by the Taproot Foundation, the Pro Bono Action Tank (PBAT) is leading the effort to increase access to high-quality pro bono services for public benefit organizations working to address our society’s social, environmental and economic issues. The PBAT works with academic, trade and business leaders to inspire and enable the business community to engage in pro bono service, develop standards to ensure high-quality service delivery, and make it easier for all public benefit organizations to access the expertise they need to achieve their missions.

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