Eight Models of Pro Bono: Outsourcing - HP

By Carol Guttery on November 30, 2010 7:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Over the next few months, Director of Programming Carol Guttery will be contributing a series based on Making Pro Bono Work: 8 Proven Models for Community and Business Impact, a white paper released by Taproot identifying multiple unique ways that organizations can adapt and deliver pro bono service to address a variety of social issues and business goals. She will be spotlighting organizations that successfully exemplify each of the eight models.
What does it mean to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and be considered 10 percent disabled? What about 30 percent disabled? For the claimants in the case of Sabo v. the United States, the higher rating means greater disability benefits and healthcare for life. In this class action, veterans sued and won the right to have a benefits review and a potential increase of these very valuable benefits. But winning the suit was just the first step; veterans needed additional legal support in order to join the class and instigate a case review.

This is where the in-house counsel of HP stepped in. HP's team joined the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), Pfizer, and the law firm of Morgan Lewis to offer case support for members of the class action. They provided three level of support:

• Phone counseling was offered to all 4,300 veterans who were interested in pursuing their options. An HP attorney, paired with another staffer such as a paralegal, offered veterans information about the suit and gave guidance on next steps.
• HP attorneys represented a small number of active-duty service members who were in the process of a benefits appeal.
• Non-attorney staff supported the American Legion by reviewing and summarizing case files that were in appeal.

Hundreds of HP employees participated in the program, allowing NVLSP to offer support to 100 percent of the veterans affected by the class action.

In Taproot's white paper Making Pro Bono Work: 8 Proven Models for Community and Business Impact, this model of service would be considered Outsourcing. This model works when a company makes its services available to a specific number of nonprofit organizations on an ongoing, as-needed basis. In this instance, NVLSP acted as the nonprofit and coordinated services to the veterans. HP and their peers committed to providing a basic service to all members of the class and a deeper level of service to a limited number of cases. It is an ongoing program, and HP employees are engaged in service as needs arise from NVLSP.

This program is very strategic solution for HP. It feeds their need for a geographically neutral program that can build skills among all department employees, not just attorneys. And it allowed the department to commit to an issue area that all employees could rally around. It is impactful for NVLSP because of the breadth and depth of support being offered.

Other companies considering an Outsourcing solution would do well to model HPs strategic approach to both the way that they are engaging employees as well as the depth of long-term commitment to their nonprofit partner.

How does this apply to your corporate setting? Have a lunchtime brainstorm meeting with some peers from your department and visualize how you could apply your skills to this model of service and let us know what you come up with.

Carol Guttery is the Director of Programs at the Taproot Foundation.

POOF! Making your pro bono dreams come true with Taproot's online community

By Joshua Winata on November 29, 2010 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One day, Taproot pro bono consultant Sheila Mong thought to herself, "Wouldn't it be great if I could see deliverables that other pro bono consultants have created in the past?" Twelve consultants agreed with her. POOF! Now it exists.

One day, pro bono consultant Lisa Radin thought, "Wouldn't it be great if I could find market data about nonprofits in one place on Taproot's website?" Seven other people knew of good resources available in different places online. POOF! Now they're all accessible on Taproot's project resources page.

What if your pro bono dreams could come true at the snap of your fingers?

Well, unfortunately the Taproot Foundation isn't a gang of genies, but we are a community of people passionate about leveraging the skills of business professionals for social good. And that community can make a lot happen when they get their fingertips snapping and clicking across their keyboards.

Maybe you didn't know that the world of Taproot pro bono extends to the Web. Well, let me give you the back-story. At the Taproot Foundation, we know that we're working with the best and the brightest pro bono consultants that America has to offer, and that those consultants can help each other--and help us--deliver pro bono better. That's why we built an online forum where our consultants can give us feedback about Taproot's services and share what they know about skills-based volunteering.

That community is no quiet place to retire. With over 2,906 active consultants answering each other's questions, piping in with their opinions on Taproot's services, and voting on their peers' suggestions, this busy little community is a nesting ground for ideas.

These ideas are the future of Taproot and the pro bono movement. They even helped Taproot redesign and re-launch our pro bono Web site project this fall, with input from six different threads in our online community about the topic.  As of now our online community is only available to our Taproot pro bono consultants, so apply to become a pro bono consultant today to become part of the buzzing and chatting happening on www.taprootfoundation.org.

Ryan Cohen is a Product Development Fellow at the Taproot Foundation.

BONUS ROUND: Help Us Select the Pro Bono Role Model of the Year

By Joshua Winata on November 22, 2010 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We've received so many fantastic nominations for our Taproot Role Model of the Year contest that our judges are having a hard time choosing just one! So we're looking back to you to help us decide in a Bonus Round who will be this year's pro bono hero. We have selected our Top 6 finalists and want your feedback on who you think is most deserving of the prize. Read more about our contestants below, then check our Facebook page to cast your vote, and don't forget to 'like' us while you're there!

Voting for this Bonus Round closes at 6 p.m. PST on December 3rd, and the winner of the contest will be announced shortly after! You can vote as many times as you like and have your friends vote too.

Remember, there's a lot at stake--the winner will receive the title of Taproot Foundation's first-ever Pro Bono Role Model of the Year and represent us at the 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service from June 6-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
 
In addition to an all-expenses paid trip to the conference in New Orleans, our new spokesperson will be decked out in brand new fits courtesy of gift cards provided by Banana Republic. We'll capture the story of why they are Pro Bono Role Model of the Year by way of a super-sick illustration by Kevin McGrath (valued at over $2,000) of the work that they do both at the office and pro bono. Finally, they will be featured on our website and invited to guest blog for a full year!

Thanks for helping us MAKE IT MATTER.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE!

Pro Bono Hero Nominee: Joanna

Why Taproot?
I am currently on my 4th Taproot consulting project. As nonprofits struggle to gain the eyes and ears of funders and volunteers while doing their every day jobs, I am proud to give them new language, new images and new approaches to speak about the work they are doing.
Despite the ups and downs of each project, I am always appreciative of the new marketing skills I have been able to hone while getting to know other individuals with the same desire to have a positive impact on the community. Every project has opened my eyes to a new organization and a new issue with passionate people working hard to make a difference.
 
What's your vision for the future of Pro Bono in America?
Giving back is no longer just about donating money or time. The opportunity Taproot has provided me to take my existing strengths and professional background to give back has opened new doors to me both personally and professionally.
 
Why should you be our hero?
I should be Taproot's first-ever Pro Bono Hero because despite a 45 minute commute, a full-time job, a toddler and a wonderful husband I like spending time with, I am excited to spend time giving back through pro bono work.

Pro Bono Hero Nominee: Anthony

How do you do Pro Bono?
I started Philadelphia Service Corps through Net Impact - a non-profit that organizes young professionals who are interested in using their business skills to improve the communities in which they live and work.  We've successfully completed five projects with non-profits that vary in size from a very small Community Development Corporation to a very large Business Improvement District.

How has Pro Bono changed you?
My pro-bono experience has had a profound impact on me as a person and professional. As a person, I've found an outlet for my passion of applying business skills to solve tough societal problems.  As a professional, I've improved my ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team, understand the unique objectives of non-profit executives and develop relationships that will last forever. 

What's your vision for the future of Pro Bono in America?
I envision a future in which pro-bono volunteerism narrows the gaps between the for-profit, non-profit, higher education and entrepreneurial sectors.  I strongly believe that the solutions to the world's most challenging problems hinge on effective cross-sector collaboration. Pro-bono volunteerism is the first and most powerful step in closing the gap between sectors and realizing our full potential as local and global communities.

Why should you be our hero?
I've helped our volunteers see the very best within themselves and apply their skills to fundamentally alter the quality of life in Philadelphia and beyond.

Pro Bono Hero Nominee: Shylo

Why Taproot?
I have completed several service projects with Taproot. Before getting involved with Taproot, I was thinking about going to culinary school or even law school -- anything than another year in marketing. I didn't believe I was making a positive impact on the world by writing copy for direct mail that would end up in the trash unread. My experience working with non-profits has allowed me to take pride in my professional skills and really feel like I'm doing something--anything--that matters.

What's your vision for the future of Pro Bono in America?
Taproot's businesslike, straightforward approach to working with non-profits will absolutely result in more corporate workers teaming up with charities to produce effective work, not just good feelings. Sometimes charity work can feel like drudgery or make you feel like a fish out of water. Taproot's growth will mean that seasoned pros will being to see volunteering as something that's easy, comfortable and impactful.

Why should you be our hero?
I should be Taproot's first-ever Pro Bono Hero because I'm an example of how men and women at any stage in life can use hard-won professional skills to fuel the soul.

Pro Bono Hero Nominee: Joanie

Why Taproot?
My experience with the clients and with my fellow Taproot-ers has been terrific. I have been so impressed with how Taproot is run, and what positive and impactful experiences the model creates for both grant recipients and PBCs. I am also very inspired to be part of an organization that is participating in and driving forward the national conversation on service.

What's your vision for the future of Pro Bono in America?
I believe more people would "Make it Matter" if they could get in touch with what they personally have to offer, and how easy and energizing it can be to offer it.  Every person has something to contribute - something that is natural and inherent - something that brings joy to them and benefits to those around them. My vision is to create the space for people to do that in service of choosing their cause and method for impact - to help people reach that "a-ha!" moment and then channel that into action.

Why should you be our hero?
I am ready to complement my Turnip tie with the Pro Bono Hero Cape! I will represent Taproot with pride and energy at the 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, and am excited to gather, share, and create ideas in service of getting more and more people to Do It Pro Bono.

Pro Bono Hero Nominee: James

How do you do Pro Bono?
My pro-bono experience was separate from my professional career until recently when I left my job to create my own business that is committed to making a positive impact on the world and providing pro bono services.  I travelled to Honduras this past October  to bring wireless communications to a school system.  I now run my own company called Twomile, which builds websites that promote social change.

What's your vision for the future of Pro Bono in America?
My hope is that Pro Bono work can become a form of social currency that can help improve our society.  Many issues today revolve around misunderstandings and the inability to relate with others.  However, working Pro Bono breaks these boundaries -- regardless of age, political group, professional background, religion, or legal status -- by creating relationships and uniting people over a common goal.  I passionately feel that if Pro Bono work is respected as a form of social status, our society can create a culture that not only focuses on helping people in need, but has purpose and understanding at its core.

Why should you be our hero?
The diversity of my Pro Bono work -- from local to international, from virtual to personal -- is a reflection of my lifestyle to help bring social change, and I hope to be a model that inspires others to also combine passion and relationships to create real, long term, sustainable change.

Pro Bono Hero Nominee: Stephen

How do you do Pro Bono?
As the president of SDA I have donated not only my own time, but that of my employees as well.  As a group, pro bono services account for approximately 5% of SDA's annual services. I have worked with five non-profit groups, including two school districts, the Boys and Girls Club, a community group and the Hanna Fenichel Center for Child Development (HFC).  My work with these groups has helped broaden my architectural practice, including national recognition from the American Institute of Architects in 2009 for the HFC pre-school remodel.

What's your vision for the future of Pro Bono in America?
The economy will cause people to reassess priorities and is stretching government budgets to the limit.  Through pro bono service, people will re-discover the non-monetary rewards and personal satisfaction gained from volunteer work.  Their efforts in turn will increase the capacity of non-profits to fill the void created by reduced public sector spending. 

Why should you be our hero?
This award would re-assert the practice of architecture as a public service.  One with the power to transform lives and communities rather than a luxury afforded only to the wealthy.

Continue reading BONUS ROUND: Help Us Select the Pro Bono Role Model of the Year.

The XXX Foundation

By Aaron Hurst on November 16, 2010 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Someone recently asked me how I would design a foundation based on my experience as a social entrepreneur, capacity builder, and grantee of over a hundred foundations. It was a fun question that got me thinking.

Is the tide turning for the nonprofit board model?

By Aaron Hurst on November 12, 2010 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It has become increasingly clear in my ten years of working in the sector that boards represent both a tremendous challenge and opportunity for nonprofits.

The governance and board model has been largely static for decades while the sector and our society has gone through radical shifts. This has in many ways held the sector back from realizing its critical role in society.

The modern day board is anything but modern. It was designed in a different era a time when:

• white men were the only Americans who could vote;
• the only 'office professions' were lawyers and accountants (no marketing, HR, IT, etc.);
• nonprofits worked almost exclusively domestically; and
• there was not only no Internet, but also no television.

But I left the annual BoardSource Leadership Forum in San Francisco this week with hope that the tide may be turning. There is new energy in the field and a hunger for innovation.

There was a buzz in the air in San Francisco that, under the leadership of Linda Crompton, BoardSource is poised to redefine boards to better meet the needs of nonprofits and society in a world that has radically changed since the centuries old-inception of a formal governance structure for nonprofits.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Aaron Hurst is a member of BoardSource board of directors.

Aaron Hurst is the President & CEO at the Taproot Foundation.

The Benefits of Board Service

By Joshua Winata on November 10, 2010 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today, Taproot will be attending the BoardSource Leadership Forum, a conference "focused entirely on the governing challenges facing America's nonprofit organizations." Joining our President and CEO Aaron Hurst for a session on the intersection of pro bono and board service are two business professionals who are walking the walk by donating their time and skills to their own local nonprofits. Today they share their reasons for serving on boards and the rewards they've gained from it. Have you considered using your professional talents for board service?

Tammy Brown
Marketing Director, Technicolor

When considering joining a board, most people think in terms of solely benefiting the nonprofit. The truth is that corporate professionals can gain not only a sense of well-being by helping guide the mission and message to the public, but also practical experience to help in their day-to-day job.

The stereotype of a non-profit functioning out of a backyard garage should be banished from everyone's mind. They are now highly organized, business- and media-savvy organizations. This is not a one-way relationship. If you put your energy, time, and focus into being a participating board member, you'll reap loads of knowledge you can use.

That being so, my list of reasons corporate professionals should be on non-profit boards:

• Enhanced Communication Skills: When you can't throw tons of money at a person or project, you really get to understand how important it is to be able to sell-in your idea with your words.
• Learning How to Stretch a Budget: Smaller budgets help in the understanding of how to make your marketing budget (or any other one) last longer, and you spend it smartly.
• Better Negotiation Skills: You don't realize until you're trying to help a donor to understand why your cause is a terrific place for their donation or to get a vendor to donate or lower their prices that your ability to negotiate is a key attribute everybody should have.
• Thinking More Strategically: High-level thinking about the future of a business takes on a greater meaning when the health, education and welfare of real people are at stake. Makes corporate strategy seem much easier to deal with.

And a special note to my fellow marketers, you'll not find a better way to use every bit of knowledge you have about social media, traditional media, and digital marketing. I'm using it all in a marketing plan I'm writing for LA Commons. So if you're looking for a way to flex that marketing muscle, a non-profit board is a great way to go.

Stacy Proctor
Vice President of Human Resources, Associated Third Party Administrators

To my fellow HR professionals:

Board service should not be about practicing your Human Resources technical skills. While the organization may request some guidance and/or ad hoc assistance, this is not a reason to join a board. In my opinion, the benefit of board service is primarily to work with individuals in other industries and professions.

On your regular work team, you play the HR expert role. Even when you are contributing to solve a challenge with an operation's procedure, you are still perceived as doing so from an HR perspective. Board service can allow you the professional anonymity to contribute and work with a diverse team. Your HR professional skill set is secondary to the success of the overall mission of the non-profit organization. It is a fine line, and if you are selected for board service solely because of your expertise, the anonymity may be difficult. My board experience began with me playing HR expert but has evolved as the organization hired an HR professional. I now benefit from a great opportunity to transcend HR stereotypes and truly contribute without biases from myself or my fellow board members.

The benefits of board service also include an opportunity to learn about non-profit regulations and fundraising. It provides an excellent opportunity to polish your "elevator speech" techniques as well. However, the ability to collaborate and truly make a difference in people's lives is the greatest benefit of all.

A Good Board Meeting

By Aaron Hurst on November 9, 2010 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Over the past eight years, we have evolved our board meetings to be increasingly effective. Having sat on other boards and through too many of our own old board meetings, it is striking to see the changes and improvements that have developed through experience. Someone suggested that I describe our current board meeting structure as one model for running a good board meeting.

The first crucial ingredient is a critically-thinking executive committee that is able to help co-design the agenda for each meeting. This often takes two iterations but really ensures the agenda and docket are set up for success. As we craft and refine the agenda, we ask ourselves:

1. Are we clear on the desired outcome for each section?
2. Are we providing the necessary information, framework and recommendations to enable effective decision making on items requiring action?
3. How might the agenda item get derailed, and how do we proactively address the issue?
4. Is there any part of the agenda that could be done over email or in committee?
5. Are we providing the necessary content and discussion at each meeting to engage people in the mission and strategy and not just in the routines of running a board?

Within the agenda for each meeting, we identify one featured piece of content where we can have a richer conversation. This is a deep dive into one topic that can range from a show-and-tell about a project we just did for a partner to a key strategic decision we need to make to the state of our current IT infrastructure. For these, we often ask a member of the staff to prepare and present the content. This creates a development opportunity for them while also exposing the board to our amazing team.  They typically present for 30 minutes and then either open the conversation up to structured brainstorming (if that is the desired outcome) or a framework for making a decision is that is needed.

This is all set up in a docket that is sent to board members a week in advance for them to read.  This enables us to avoid "reading aloud" at the meeting and jump into the content.

Like everything, it is a work in progress, but it is working.

Aaron Hurst is the President & CEO at the Taproot Foundation.

The Road to Board Service: A tale of two professionals

By Joshua Winata on November 8, 2010 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This Wednesday, Taproot will be attending the BoardSource Leadership Forum, a conference "focused entirely on the governing challenges facing America's nonprofit organizations." Joining our President and CEO Aaron Hurst for a session on the intersection of pro bono and board service are two business professionals who are walking the walk by donating their time and skills to their own local nonprofits. In the days leading up to the conference, we will be sharing their experiences and thoughts about board service. In what ways do you see your own story in their journeys to nonprofit board positions?

Tammy Brown
Marketing Director, Technicolor

I've always had a yearning to work with a non-profit.  When I was a kid, my mom was on the board of directors for a non-profit that provided jobs and homes for the disabled. She went to meetings, served on committees, and generally set the example in demonstrating how important it is to be involved with the community.

Flash forward (many) years later, and here I am on the board of directors for LA Commons, an organization whose mission is to engage Los Angeles-area communities in artistic and cultural expression that tells their unique stories. This was made possible by my finding out about the Taproot Foundation when I was at loose ends looking for a way to keep busy while searching for a job. Bingo! It was just what I was looking for - a foundation that needed help from experienced marketers to help non-profits. Taproot provided the introduction to LA Commons, where I served as the Account Director on a key message and brand strategy project. It seemed fitting as all my marketing experience needed to be channeled somewhere productive.

My place on the board of LA Commons was borne out of developing a solid relationship with its executive director, Karen Mack, and the rest of the members during the Taproot project. Thankfully, LA Commons was very pleased with the results of the message and strategy we developed through our consulting engagement. By being involved with the organization over the five months of the project, I came to feel a passion for what the organization was trying to accomplish.

As a marketer, I realized I could provide some knowledge and expertise from the corporate world that could help with fundraising and, in general, help raise LA Commons' profile even higher. When Karen asked me to be on the board; it was an immediate "yes." This opportunity was too good to pass up. Putting corporate know-how to work in the non-profit sector not only feels good, it is good.

Stacy Proctor
Vice President of Human Resources, Associated Third Party Administrators

I have volunteered for many years with many organizations for specific events: toy drives, numerous fundraising walks, coastal clean-up, etc. I love contributing to a good cause, but it wasn't until I had the pleasure of working with clients of The Arc of San Francisco that I found myself intrigued by the significant impact of non-profit agencies. The Arc's focus is to serve people who have developmental disabilities by providing access to services that advance self-determination, dignity, and quality of life. My relationship with the organization began through helping clients find employment in the hotel industry.

I found the clients motivating; they had refreshing attitudes and an infectious appreciation for life and the opportunity to work. I was so enthralled with their positive energy that when the Director of Job Placement Services asked me to join their Business Advisory Council, I immediately accepted. I served on the Business Advisory Council for years and became the Chairperson for that group. Each year I became more involved with the organization. In 2006, I was asked to join the Board and become the Chairperson for the Human Resources Committee. I was thrilled for an opportunity to share my expertise with an organization that truly makes a difference in people's lives. The Human Resources Committee has evolved as we found new talent for the organization, and I am currently serving on the Policy and Finance Committee, which functions as the Executive Team for the Board.

What We Learned at the 2010 Net Impact Conference

By Jaime Hiraishi on November 5, 2010 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week, Taproot Foundation representatives Laura Weiss and Jaime Hiraishi attended and presented at the 2010 Net Impact Conference, 2020: Vision for a Sustainable Decade, hosted at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. The audience was primarily socially-minded MBA candidates eager to make a difference and jump into their careers. With the many dynamic conversations, keynotes, and panels, they came away with valuable observations that we'd like to share with our Pro Bono Junkies.

1. Innovation (Still) Sells:  People seem to be disproportionately attracted to anything focused on innovation or design thinking.  Evidence of this at the Net Impact Conference was the number of sessions with 'innovation' in the title that were almost instantly filled to capacity.  Perhaps this is not too surprising since the majority of conference attendees were students searching for their professional destiny, and the promise of innovation is that it offers a signpost for the future.
2. Crowdsourcing is Hot:  While there was debate about its effectiveness and quality controls, crowdsourcing is a hot trend in philanthropy and social change.   Many companies and foundations have recently turned to crowdsourcing as a way to be more "transparent" in grantmaking, engage new audiences, or take their marketing in a new direction.  Some are approaching this as purely a trend while others are making careers consulting on how to win crowdsourcing campaigns.   What do you think, is crowdsourcing here for the long haul?
3. Twitter is (Sort of) Evil: There's no denying that Twitter is a communications phenomenon of historic proportions.  It was originally designed as a fun way for family and friends to stay in touch when they were not in the same place.  At Net Impact this manifested as a ubiquitous visual feed that actually appeared on many of the presentation screens in the session classrooms.  Some speakers even encouraged the audience to tweet questions if they preferred that to raising their hands.  In the most egregious situations this feed was left running as a backdrop, providing direct competition with the session panelists.  Guess who won?  Apparently it's more fun to read tweets than interact with live human beings. 
4. CSR Can Be Part of Any Job:  Anyone can incorporate social responsibility into a professional role.  While titles like "Director of CSR" and "Director of Sustainability" are few and far between, there are ways to incorporate social responsibility and sustainability into every role.  Why not become an advocate in your company for more sustainable practices and for more community engagement?  Why not pave a new path for yourself?   We won't all have the opportunity to focus our roles solely on CSR, but we can all start to make small changes and have CSR become a natural part of our roles.
5. CSR Should Become Extinct: It was both shocking and stimulating to hear several presenters promote a future where the concept of corporate social responsibility is part of the DNA of every organization, thus rendering the term itself obsolete.  It's compelling to consider the parallel concept of 'customer service', and a world in which every stakeholder's interest is always taken into consideration in the delivery of goods or services. 
6. Chart Your Own Course: There is no standard career path for making a positive impact on society--it hasn't always been a factor in traditional for-profit careers.  So, it's up to you to chart your own course.  Don't wait for someone to hand you your dream opportunity, make it for yourself.  It takes courage and innovation to change the status quo and chart a new direction within a company.  It takes courage and innovation to start something new, to change business practices, and try new strategies - but one champion is all it takes to implement lasting changes on a company and the community.

It was undeniable that the MBA candidates were passionate about making a difference in society, so much so that it is not a matter of if they will change the face of business, but how.  One inspiring story came from Mike Lynch, who has taken his love for nonprofits and service to his company, becoming a champion of pro bono within CapitalOne.  He has written pro bono into his performance goals to let his manager know how important his pro bono work is, and that he sees it as part of his professional development and responsibility.  If each of the 120,000 MBA graduates follow his lead and dedicate 5% of their billable hours to pro bono service, they would create a $2.2 billion marketplace of much needed professional services for nonprofits.  How can we make this a reality?

Laura Weiss is the Vice President of Service Innovation at the Taproot Foundation.
Jaime Hiraishi is a Recruitment Coordinator and External Affairs Associate at the Taproot Foundation.

One More Day

By Joshua Winata on November 3, 2010 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One day. That's all that is left in our Pro Bono Role Model of the year contest, which closes 11:59 p.m. Nov. 4. Now is the time to submit those clutch nominations to honor your pro bono heroes. We can't wait to read your inspiring stories and be blown away at the pro bono efforts going on all around the country. Remember, the winner gets a free trip to New Orleans, Louisiana in June! Time is ticking, so be sure to enter your submissions today on our Web site at http://www.taprootfoundation.org/s/blog.

Get out and vote!

By Aaron Hurst on November 2, 2010 8:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As Americans, it's our right and privilege to vote and have a say in who we want representing us. Taproot offices are closed today for Election Day, and we hope other organizations and companies will be inspired to do the same in an effort to increase voter turnout and engagement. It's just another way that you can MAKE IT MATTER.