Model & Strategy

Taproot Foundation engages the nation’s business professionals in pro bono services to support nonprofit enterprises in achieving urgent social change. Impacting critical issues like the environment, health, and education requires more than vision and passion. To succeed, social enterprises also require access to marketing, design, technology, management, and strategic planning resources. Taproot offers three core programs to increase nonprofits’ effectiveness through access to pro bono professional services.

The Services Grant Program directly matches volunteer experts from an array of fields with projects in need of support. The Advisory Services Program supports organizations to internally develop their own customized, high-impact pro bono outreach programs. The Advocacy Program joins leading foundations, universities, companies, coalitions and associations in collaboration to envision and design broader initiatives and movements built around donated services to effect social change.

Taproot demonstrates that pro bono service can be a reliable, high quality, cost-effective, and scalable resource for nonprofits, enlisting top talent from the marketing, tech, human resources, design and consulting fields to create meaningful impact.

At a Glance
Founded: 2001
Founder: Aaron Hurst
President & CEO: Lindsay Firestone Gruber
Civic Engagement
Location of work: Domestic, Northeast, West Coast, Midwest
Taproot Foundation
Oakland, CA
Make it matter
Meet Aaron Hurst

Aaron Hurst is the founder of the Taproot Foundation and is a creative force behind the conception of the national Billion + Change initiative and the Service Enterprise model. He is a featured blogger for the Huffington Post and Stanford Social Innovation Review. Aaron began his career as a social innovator at the University of Michigan, where he designed and led an educational program for local correctional facilities, subsequently becoming the first student to receive the Michigan Campus Compact Award. Upon graduating, he worked in inner-city education in Chicago before landing in Silicon Valley as an early employee at two venture-backed social venture companies. Aaron is a recipient of the Ashoka Foundation fellowship and has also been formally recognized as a leading social innovator by the Aspen Institute, Social Venture Network, Fast Company, Commonwealth Club, the Manhattan Institute, the State of California, and the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.

Lindsay Firestone Gruber became President and CEO in 2018. A widely recognized authority on nonprofit capacity-building, CSR and cross-sector collaboration, Lindsay has dedicated her career to the idea that greater change can be achieved in the world by helping to strengthen the organizations that are tackling some of society’s greatest challenges. Under her leadership, the Taproot Foundation supports organizations by engaging business professionals in pro bono service, ensuring that organizations serving the social good have access to the marketing, HR, IT, strategy and other resources they need to thrive.

IMPACT

Taproot envisions all organizations with promising solutions will be equipped to successfully take on urgent social challenges. Taproot will lead the way in ensuring that mission-driven organizations have access to high impact pro bono where and when they need it.

 

 

Since 2001, Taproot has engaged over 7,500 social change organizations, with more than 21,000 skilled volunteers providing 1.7M hours of work worth over $200M in pro bono value.

  • 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Happy LGBTQI+ Pride Month! Celebrate and support the community volunteering with Trans Advocacy and Care… https://t.co/cfJk0L73Lm
  • We have a community of over 150,000 volunteers skilled in HR, operations, business strategy, finance, marketing, te… https://t.co/5ik6d4PJGa
  • Sara found excitement in a 1-hour volunteer Session with @Homeless_Int_OC (Homeless Intervention Services of OC) th… https://t.co/AhOvLpJCQF
  • RT @3BLMedia: A great place for businesses to start! Check it out 👇
  • 🆕 WEBINAR: "Volunteer Support for Start-Up and Early-Stage Nonprofits." Join Taproot’s Nonprofit Success Coach and… https://t.co/K0AZ8YP0Ai
  • Happy Web Designer Day! Celebrate your valuable skillset by donating 1-hour of your time to nonprofits in need of w… https://t.co/Tvj76iAECu
  • Looking for a fresh approach to capture the interest of potential donors? Watch this 30-minute webinar exploring ho… https://t.co/SK4lqeDBdv
  • In observance of Memorial Day, volunteer with STEPS With Horses, a nonprofit improving the mental health & well-bei… https://t.co/x1akQrwDNW
  • Observing Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, volunteer w/ AshaUSA, a nonprofit providing culturally… https://t.co/lBGhn9rvCA
  • Calling all Fundraisers! Use these 6 storytelling tips to increase the effectiveness of your fundraising writing, w… https://t.co/Mqbc3t7iXN
  • We’re thrilled to announce Taproot's branding & messaging refresh! We’re still the same Taproot you know & love, ou… https://t.co/ebHeACMQrY
  • Is your non-profit short-staffed or under-resourced in comms? Comms professionals or whoever wears that “hat” look… https://t.co/YPbUCc1EJe
  • Calling Skilled Volunteers! Nettie’s Uplifting Supportive Services Inc needs Website Development support to continu… https://t.co/otHNSAzH0W
  • Celebrate Accessibility Awareness Day volunteering with @soallcanread. Their mission is to help parents of children… https://t.co/x2eMFU8sI6
  • Things are about to look a little different at Taproot. Stay tuned for news about a refresh coming soon! 🤩⏰
  • Are you interested in learning more about how volunteerism can support food security? Watch this recorded Taproot W… https://t.co/8USM8GLFvY
  • Ophelia was able to set up her nonprofit, Creative Emajinations, for success with the help of Taproot volunteers. F… https://t.co/lHQ9hQDpft
  • LAST CHANCE to register for 'Grants 102 - Persuasvie Storytelling for Grant Writers.' Tune in to this FREE Taproot… https://t.co/Atp3Yr9vSf
  • Amanda found connection, confidence, and a good work-life balance by volunteering with Taproot through her company,… https://t.co/2TXp2xzmBW
  • 1️⃣ week until our 'Grants 102-Persuasive Storytelling for Grant Writers' webinar! Watch May 11, 1pmET/10amPT:… https://t.co/b5Plx5b2RV