Root Profiles
Our Roots are a group of passionate, strategic thinkers that work collaboratively to address the resource deficit in the nonprofit sector. We're not afraid to take risks and learn from mistakes.
Meet some Roots:
How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?
My involvement in the nonprofit sector began through a summer internship in college. I'd tried to use summer jobs to try out different careers of interest; I knew that I wanted my work to somehow contribute to "making things better", but still needed to explore the details. After a frustrating summer working for the government, my next stop was the nonprofit sector. I was disappointed to soon realize that even for the most diligent searcher there was a severe shortage of interesting opportunities for summer internships in the nonprofit sector that entailed more career-oriented responsibilities rather than tutoring kids or drawing blood. I managed to create an opportunity in the Department of Corporate Strategy in the headquarters of the American Red Cross, where I was able to gain tremendous exposure and insight into the executive operations of a multi-million dollar international organization. Specifically, I witnessed the hire of senior executives from the private sector to run several of the Red Cross' services, hoping to use their private sector expertise to further the Red Cross' mission.
The hopes, challenges and tensions surrounding this initiative were of specific interest to me and spurred my own academic study of the topic when I returned to school in the fall. This culminated in my senior thesis research around what effect the educational and professional background of a nonprofit executive, being either predominantly nonprofit or private sector-oriented, had on their running of an organization. Interviewing a variety of nonprofit executives and hearing their take on the greatest challenges facing the success of their respective organizations and the sector in general, I knew that my future career would center around addressing those very challenges, in essence working to "make things better" in the nonprofit sector to better our society in general.
Who is your favorite Taproot Foundation grantee?
It's so hard to pick just one. In fact that is one of my favorite things about working in an indirect-service organization - the spectrum of unique, interesting nonprofits to which I am exposed. I think my favorite is an orgnization in New York - Prep for Prep. Attending Yale I saw first hand the incredible results this program yields and I was thrilled when Taproot Foundation had the chance to help build that organization's capacity to do more good.
Why did you want to become a Root?
I have a personal and professional passion for making the nonprofit sector stronger and better able to improve our world. To me, it was abundantly apparent that Taproot Foundation had taken a truly innovative, yet wonderfully simple approach towards that end - using the skills, training and tools that are already out there in the private sector and connecting them in an effective, disciplined way to the existing, parallel needs in the nonprofit sector.
I and so many others have had past experiences where working in a nonprofit organization is simultaneously rewarding and frustrating when you realize that many of its limitations and obstacles are easily preventable/overcome through solutions that already exist, but are simply inaccessible or untapped.
How would you describe the Taproot Foundation's culture?
Taproot Foundation is innovative, creative, professional, unifying, bridge-building, ambitious and smart.
Where would you like to see the Taproot Foundation in 2020?
In 2020 I would like to see Taproot Foundation be synonymous with pro bono work in much of the corporate sector in our flagship cities. Taproot Foundation should be to corporate America what Teach for America became to college campuses - a legitimate, widespread, hip, accepted alternative to the traditional volunteering and professional development opportunities. I want to hear marketing, IT and HR professionals say "you haven't done a Taproot Foundation project yet?".
How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?
My first exposure to the nonprofit sector was through my church. Having grown up in the church, my family was involved with random organizations through service ministries.
Who is your favorite Taproot Foundation grantee?
West Side Campaign Against Hunger. Their model is so unique and the organization is so appreciative of the work our teams are doing. I immediately fell in love with them at the interview. The account director on the project is also a delight (he calls me MISS) - a British gentleman with a kind nature. He and his girlfriend are volunteers on separate projects.
Why did you want to become a Root?
I have always wanted to eventually work in the nonprofit sector. After reading about Taproot Foundation, I was hooked. I get the opportunity to work within a nonprofit with access to hundreds of other nonprofits. The learning potential is great and the culture is a welcome change from corporate. After my first interview, I was hoping I get the job.
How would you describe the Taproot Foundation's culture?
The culture is team oriented, passionate, fun, and open to innovation and encourages different opinions and ideas. I believe that any personality type would be comfortable working here.
Where would you like to see the Taproot Foundation in 2020?
I would like to see Taproot Foundation as THE organization that major cities turn to in order to improve their communities thru service. We will be positioned as the true go to for all things pro bono and all of this is fueled by a viral movement that started with our volunteers and just exploded out of nowhere. Subway signs, bus wraps, billboards... our brand would be as mobile & commonplace as any consumer product causing big city noise.
Meet some Roots:
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Lindsay Firestone
Senior Manager, Partnerships and Consulting Services Bay Area |
Kandace Evelyn
Program Manager Washington DC |
Ragnar von Schiber
Senior Program Manager Western Region |
ROOT: Lindsay Firestone
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How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?
My involvement in the nonprofit sector began through a summer internship in college. I'd tried to use summer jobs to try out different careers of interest; I knew that I wanted my work to somehow contribute to "making things better", but still needed to explore the details. After a frustrating summer working for the government, my next stop was the nonprofit sector. I was disappointed to soon realize that even for the most diligent searcher there was a severe shortage of interesting opportunities for summer internships in the nonprofit sector that entailed more career-oriented responsibilities rather than tutoring kids or drawing blood. I managed to create an opportunity in the Department of Corporate Strategy in the headquarters of the American Red Cross, where I was able to gain tremendous exposure and insight into the executive operations of a multi-million dollar international organization. Specifically, I witnessed the hire of senior executives from the private sector to run several of the Red Cross' services, hoping to use their private sector expertise to further the Red Cross' mission.
The hopes, challenges and tensions surrounding this initiative were of specific interest to me and spurred my own academic study of the topic when I returned to school in the fall. This culminated in my senior thesis research around what effect the educational and professional background of a nonprofit executive, being either predominantly nonprofit or private sector-oriented, had on their running of an organization. Interviewing a variety of nonprofit executives and hearing their take on the greatest challenges facing the success of their respective organizations and the sector in general, I knew that my future career would center around addressing those very challenges, in essence working to "make things better" in the nonprofit sector to better our society in general.
Who is your favorite Taproot Foundation grantee?
It's so hard to pick just one. In fact that is one of my favorite things about working in an indirect-service organization - the spectrum of unique, interesting nonprofits to which I am exposed. I think my favorite is an orgnization in New York - Prep for Prep. Attending Yale I saw first hand the incredible results this program yields and I was thrilled when Taproot Foundation had the chance to help build that organization's capacity to do more good.
Why did you want to become a Root?
I have a personal and professional passion for making the nonprofit sector stronger and better able to improve our world. To me, it was abundantly apparent that Taproot Foundation had taken a truly innovative, yet wonderfully simple approach towards that end - using the skills, training and tools that are already out there in the private sector and connecting them in an effective, disciplined way to the existing, parallel needs in the nonprofit sector.
I and so many others have had past experiences where working in a nonprofit organization is simultaneously rewarding and frustrating when you realize that many of its limitations and obstacles are easily preventable/overcome through solutions that already exist, but are simply inaccessible or untapped.
How would you describe the Taproot Foundation's culture?
Taproot Foundation is innovative, creative, professional, unifying, bridge-building, ambitious and smart.
Where would you like to see the Taproot Foundation in 2020?
In 2020 I would like to see Taproot Foundation be synonymous with pro bono work in much of the corporate sector in our flagship cities. Taproot Foundation should be to corporate America what Teach for America became to college campuses - a legitimate, widespread, hip, accepted alternative to the traditional volunteering and professional development opportunities. I want to hear marketing, IT and HR professionals say "you haven't done a Taproot Foundation project yet?".
ROOT: Kandace Evelyn
|
How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?
My first exposure to the nonprofit sector was through my church. Having grown up in the church, my family was involved with random organizations through service ministries.
Who is your favorite Taproot Foundation grantee?
West Side Campaign Against Hunger. Their model is so unique and the organization is so appreciative of the work our teams are doing. I immediately fell in love with them at the interview. The account director on the project is also a delight (he calls me MISS) - a British gentleman with a kind nature. He and his girlfriend are volunteers on separate projects.
Why did you want to become a Root?
I have always wanted to eventually work in the nonprofit sector. After reading about Taproot Foundation, I was hooked. I get the opportunity to work within a nonprofit with access to hundreds of other nonprofits. The learning potential is great and the culture is a welcome change from corporate. After my first interview, I was hoping I get the job.
How would you describe the Taproot Foundation's culture?
The culture is team oriented, passionate, fun, and open to innovation and encourages different opinions and ideas. I believe that any personality type would be comfortable working here.
Where would you like to see the Taproot Foundation in 2020?
I would like to see Taproot Foundation as THE organization that major cities turn to in order to improve their communities thru service. We will be positioned as the true go to for all things pro bono and all of this is fueled by a viral movement that started with our volunteers and just exploded out of nowhere. Subway signs, bus wraps, billboards... our brand would be as mobile & commonplace as any consumer product causing big city noise.
ROOT: Ragnar von Schiber
|
How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?
I jumped the corporate ship to nonprofit management about 10 years ago, after a career in international high-tech marketing. What drew me to nonprofit work was a desire to make the world a better place in a positive, people-focused environment. I worked initially with youth and cross-cultural exchange - a field I'm passionate with my bi-cultural background and overseas experiences. People are at the core of what's great (and lousy)! in this world and are fascinating creatures...
Who is your favorite Taproot Foundation grantee?
Impossible to say - there are too many. The ones that I find most inspirational are the organizations with leaders and staff clearly driven by their enthusiasm and commitment to organizational mission, whatever it is. In hearing the passion of these folks, their goals and their obstacles, I in turn get excited about how the Taproot Foundation can help them by further building out their capacity. I especially love to revisit with our repeat Grantees - the organizations which come back to us again and again for new projects, strengthened by their last Service Grant, with greater capacity for more and better work and with renewed inspiration and appreciation.
Why did you want to become a Root?
I discovered the Taproot Foundation in Fast Company's "Top 25 Groups That Are Changing the World" 2006 article. It was an awesome "ah-ha" moment, when I discovered this organization which straddles the for-profit and nonprofit sectors and works to better the world through outstanding people, process and results. I stalked the Taproot Foundation job postings until I was hired!
How would you describe the Taproot Foundation's culture?
Smart, effective and generous people are inspired to do a great job every day. There's a great sense of teamwork, passion and appreciation that we're all working together on something quite special. There's a trenchant drive to be ever more effective, impactful and scalable.
Where would you like to see the Taproot Foundation in 2020?
Our flagship Service Grant program will still deliver project-based capacity building to individual nonprofits, but we'll be in more cities on the ground and I could see us working in other locations with a new remote model. Nonprofits will have an even greater Service Grant catalogue of projects to choose from, including new practice areas (ie accounting, technology). The pro bono ethic will be entrenched in all professionals, thanks to the Taproot Foundation and our strategic partners. The majority of Fortune 500 corporations and professional services firms will be doing their own in-house pro bono flavor but inspired by Taproot Foundation's leadership, best practices and tools. Good times for all!
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