2008: A Pro Bono Year in Review
- The Pro Bono Summit, hosted by the President's Council, is the first event ever that focused on pro bono services across mutiple fields.
- Billion + Change campaign launched and secured $400 million in pledges of pro bono service from corporations across the country.
- Leading intermediaries like the Pro Bono Institute and Public Architecture reported record levels of interest and engagement.
- The Taproot Foundation's leading pro bono program launched in DC and Los Angeles.
- New research from Deloitte, Taproot Foundation and Common Impact expand our understanding of the field.
- Capital One created what is likely the first scalable, multi-functional, in-house program that sets the bar for corporate community investment.
Over the year, we have also seen some exciting new trends emerge:
- Pro bono service is beginning to be valued as a true cash equivalent by philanthropic community.
- Pro bono service is spreading to in-house programs and is less and less confined to professional services firms.
- Pro bono service, especially in the legal profession, is moving from 'thousand acts of kindness' to multi-firm campaigns that address systemic issues head one.
- Professional services firms, following the example of Deloitte are beginning to lay the groundwork for a transparent marketplace for pro bono services with public budgets and outcomes reporting.
What a year! There is a lot to celebrate and a lot of organizations that have contributed to making this possible. Thank you for helping to harness human capital to improve the human condition.
75 informative, inspiring, and/or entertaining posts to your Pro Bono Junkie’s Blog seems like a milestone as well, Aaron. Thanks for the shout out to Public Architecture once again in your 75th.
2008 definitely felt like a breakthrough year for the pro bono design movement, particularly within the architecture profession, which is our primary focus.
Public Architecture is most proud to now count more than 450 architecture and design firms from across the country as members of our pro bono design program, “The 1%.” Collectively, these firms have pledged 175,000 hours and an estimated $17.5 million in pro bono services to communities in need. (For the sake of reference, we closed 2007 with less than 200 firms.)
Chief among the aforementioned firm efforts are those of Perkins+Will and HOK. They are two of the largest architecture firms in the country, between them with offices in most major metropolitan areas. Each has set goals and tracked progress for each of their offices. Perkins+Will has also adopted a formal policy on pro bono--quite likely the first in the profession, certainly for a firm of their size and stature.
We are also heartened by two specific of the efforts of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) to encourage pro bono service among its members and chapters. Earlier this year, the AIA added specific language about pro bono to its Code of Ethics for the first time in its 150-year history. The Code now reads: “Members should render public interest professional services, including pro bono services, and encourage their employees to render such services. Pro bono services are those rendered without expecting compensation, including those rendered for indigent persons, after disasters, or in other emergencies.” Additionally, this month the AIA published its first-ever “Pro Bono Guidelines,” outlining how its chapters and members can and should undertake pro bono service.
Lots more planned for 2009. Look forward to working with you.
Its awesome to see a real effort being put forward by professionals to make a real difference in the community.