Powered by Pro Bono: The Nonprofits Step-by-Step Guide to Scoping, Securing, Managing, and Scaling Pro Bono Resources [Paperback]

Taproot Foundation (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2012

How to access the power and profitability of pro bono resources

Savvy nonprofits use strategic management, marketing, technology, leadership to be competitive. With strapped budgets, many nonprofits cannot afford to pay for these resources.? However, businesses are an often overlooked as an effective source of skilled professionals who can supply the needed skills. This book shares the acclaimed Taproot Foundation?s pro bono best practices and shows nonprofit managers to apply them to their own unique challenges in a low-to-no-cost way.? The author offers keys to identifying opportunities for using pro bono sources, recruiting pro bono resources, and managing pro bono projects effectively.

• Reveals how a nonprofit can partner with a global corporations to further their mission in an effective and low-cost manner
  
• Aaron Hurst is the president and founder of the Taproot Foundation who pioneered a new field in community investment and continually breaks new ground through its signature, catalytic programs designed for the emerging global pro bono marketplace
  
• Gives nonprofit managers and staff the keys to identifying opportunities for using pro bono resources

Taproot?s Aaron Hurst offers a hands-on guide to managing and engaging pro bono resources directed at nonprofit organizations.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Generate Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Pro Bono Services

More than $15 billion in pro bono services is donated to nonprofits every year—four times as much as all corporate grantmaking. These services go beyond legal services, to marketing, strategic planning, technology, and more. Powered by Pro Bono, a hands-on guide from the leader in the field, provides step-by-step directions for how your nonprofit can secure and manage these valuable resources to get the results you need.

"Taproot was remarkably able to transform pro bono service from an unreliable solution into one that hundreds of nonprofits count on every year. This book finally lets the rest of us in on the secrets behind how they have made it work."

—Jeanne Bell, CEO, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services; chair, Alliance for Nonprofit Management

"This book is a critical resource for any nonprofit board serious about resource generation."

—Linda Crompton, CEO, BoardSource

"Powered by Pro Bono discusses effective approaches to attract and manage pro bono services."

—Evan Hochberg, national director, Community Involvement, Deloitte Services LP

"This book will unlock the vault of talent and skills that companies can bring to the nonprofit sector, and ultimately help build stronger communities."

—Ken Sternad, president, The UPS Foundation

"Powered by Pro Bono is required reading for anyone committed to making long-term, positive impact in their communities."

—Caroline Barlerin, director, Global Community Engagement, Hewlett Packard's Office of Sustainability and Social Innovation

"Companies are increasingly developing pro bono programs as a key tool to increase their positive community impact. This book is an essential guide for nonprofits to prepare for this fast-growing trend."

—Margaret M. Coady, director, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy

About the Author

Aaron Hurst is the president of Taproot Foundation. He is one of the nation's most recognized social entrepreneurs, and a leading advocate of pro bono service. He is also the author of the inspirational Mommy and Daddy Do It Pro Bono.

Taproot Foundation, founded in 2001, leads the rapidly expanding pro bono marketplace. Taproot has served more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations through its award-winning Service Grant Program, designed pro bono programs for dozens of leading companies, and sparked key national pro bono initiatives such as Billion + Change.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (September 19, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118140958
• ISBN-13: 978-1118140956
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.8 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Toolkit for any nonprofit! Well structured, practical and insightful. September 18, 2012

By Armin

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is an impressive collection of the knowledge that Taproot has gained over the last 10 years and serves as a step-by-step guide through each stage of a pro bono engagement. From scoping the need to securing the pro bono resources, managing the project and scaling to a point where critical needs related to organizational infrastructure can be routinely met via pro bono, this book enables nonprofits to maximize its impact.
Many of the insights and practical recommendations are valid not only for nonprofits in the USA but around the world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A game changer approach to pro bono November 14, 2012

By Danielle Maria Reyes

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If, like me, you've run a nonprofit organization, then you know that free services, pro bono consultants, and in-kind gifts are not always as time and cost effective as they initially appear to be. Through clear and easy to follow steps, Powered by Pro Bono brings a thoughtful and strategic approach to this process. It shifts the thinking and practice of being reactive to accepting pro bono support, to proactively planning for and seeking out pro bono when the need, timing, and provider, are right for your organization.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pro Bono Bible September 29, 2012

By ladyluck5785

Amazon Verified Purchase

This latest release from Taproot Foundation offer their collective decades of experience in a simple, easy to use, follow, understand and practical guide.

Some of the best features that makes Powered By Pro Bono far above the rest:

1) It is actually usable.
There are so many books out there that either recount successes of project management, or theory OR they're all workbook and no context. This is neither one - Powered by Pro Bono gives a reader enough strategy and insight to clue in to the process, but enough tools to make it applicable to what you're doing

2) It's a great tool for everyone
No matter if you're upper management of a non-profit, a professional consultant thinking about doing pro bono work, a seasoned pro bono professional, or even a regular paid consultant, a junior team member or project leader, this is for you. There are great project management and team leadership skills and tools that are relevant (and wise) for all professions, sectors and experience levels.

3) It's a great tool for anytime
No matter where you are in your project (concept, implementation, review), Powered by Pro Bono will help you figure out where you've been, where you want to go, and what you need to do to get you there

4) It's inspirational
Not only is it a great tool, but it's got a TON of resources and examples for what pro bono work is capable of achieving.

The best part about Powered by Pro Bono is that it leaves success up to you. It's not one of those prescriptive books which requires steps A-Z to be followed exactly - you can use it however you NEED to use it. You can just read chapters to expose yourself or your team to ideas, concepts or processes, or you can go through it line by line, use worksheets and make it a blue print for your project.

Great book. Must have for anyone remotely related to the social sector.