A "taproot" -- the core root of a plant -- gathers nutrients from lateral roots and delivers them to the plant to help support its growth. The Taproot Foundation is designed to nurture nonprofits in a similar way, applying "nutrients" from the community in the form of pro bono professional services.

From the Ground Up

Taproot president Aaron Hurst has civic engagement and social entrepreneurship in his blood. He founded the nonprofit group in 2001, 40 years after his grandfather, Joseph E. Slater, wrote the original blueprint for the Peace Corps.

Since its launch in the Bay Area in 2002, Taproot has blossomed into the nation's largest nonprofit consultancy, opening a New York office in 2003 and locations in Boston and Chicago in 2006. The foundation's Seattle office commenced operations in early 2007

To date, Taproot estimates that it has awarded approximately $16 million worth of pro bono services to nonprofit organizations, recruited more than 6,000 business professionals to volunteer their skills, and served more than 400 nonprofits.

Taproot's Unique Foundation

Pro bono work for the nonprofit sector is often inconsistent and unreliable. Taproot's secret to sidestepping these problems lies in the standardization of services and volunteer roles. Rather than creating custom projects on an as-needed basis, the foundation has developed uniform project plans, methodologies, volunteer staffing models, and other tools to address the most common needs of its nonprofit clients while best utilizing its volunteer staff.

Additionally, Taproot provides training to both the participating nonprofit and the assigned volunteer team. For each pro bono service, Taproot also develops a detailed "blueprint" including a project plan, task lists, division of responsibilities, communications plan, meeting agendas, and more. Taproot's project blueprints incorporate the input of leading consulting firm executives.

Taproot evaluates the results of every service grant via questionnaires distributed to representatives of the recipient organization as well as all participating volunteers, reviewing not only the process measures and client satisfaction levels, but the long-term impact of the project on operations of the client organization.

Feeding the Tree

More than 90 percent of the pro bono work completed by Taproot is done in partnership with foundations, corporations, and other philanthropists. As experts in their fields, these funders help the foundation identify "high-impact" nonprofit organizations and underwrite its costs to manage the pro bono engagements. For $5,000 per project, a funder sponsors $30,000 to $50,000 in pro bono services for a grantee or nonprofit that is aligned with the funder's strategy.

Taproot also works directly with companies to define their own pro bono program and market it internally to employees, helping enhance staff recruitment, development and retention; facilitate internal communication; and foster innovation. Additionally, Taproot partners with trade associations, alumni associations, career services organizations, and volunteer programs to get the word out about its service.

For individuals -- Learn how you can use your skills to help a nonprofit.

For nonprofits -- Apply for pro bono help.