HOW TO RECRUIT SKILLED VOLUNTEERS OFFICE DEPOT FOUNDATION CONFERENCE
THE TAPROOT FOUNDATION ►Operates in five cities across the United States (San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Washington DC) ►Recruited over 41,000 people who are interested in doing pro bono work ►Completed over 1,200 pro bono projects The Taproot Foundation’s mission is to lead, mobilize and engage professionals in pro bono service that drives social change.
“For the public good" Used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment as a public service. WHAT IS PRO BONO? ►Jack – Branding expert; has helped three organizations define and refine their brand ►Katie – Senior Strategy Consultant; has supported two organizations in conducting an Environmental Scan prior to writing a Strategic Plan ►Julio – Designer extraordinaire; has developed logos and marketing collateral for three organizations ►Rojean – Human Resources VP; has led an overhaul of HR systems and improvements for four organizations (including Taproot!)
PRO BONO CONSULTANT RECRUITMENT
THE BIG SECRET TO VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT: Ask, and you’ll receive.
WHERE TO LOOK? YOU ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS! ►Your Board ►Corporate Sponsors ►Current Volunteers ►Job Boards
SMART RECRUITING 1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT INEFFECTIVE: ►“We want marketing help” ►“You’re an expert; what do you think we need?” ►“We’d work with anyone, really” EFFECTIVE: ►“We need a stronger elevator pitch, and we need to know what messages will hit home with major donors and with volunteers” ►“We’ve done some of our own research and it seems like this is the best way to approach the problem. Have you experienced this in the past?” ►“We’re looking for someone who has experience with branding and messaging. You seem like the perfect fit, given your work at Company XYZ.”
SMART RECRUITING 2. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BY BEING PREPARED INEFFECTIVE: ►“Our Board doesn’t really need to know about this project” ►“I think this is a big issue because I struggle with it – I don’t need to talk to anyone else” ►“We’ve never really tried to fix this” EFFECTIVE: ►“Since this project is really going to affect the strategy of the organization, I’ve cleared it by the Board in advance” ►“I’ve talked to my direct reports and our ED, and they agree that this is a challenge that’s been going on for quite some time” ►“We tried to find a solution to this challenge, but weren’t able to make much headway.”
SMART RECRUITING 3. SET EXPECTATIONS UP FRONT INEFFECTIVE: ►“I’m not really sure how long this project should take” ►“You can check in with us whenever, we don’t want to bother you” ►“Just call my assistant, I don’t really need to be involved” EFFECTIVE: ►“I’m looking for someone who can carve out 2-5 hours of time each week for this project. It should take about 4 weeks all in all, based on my estimates.” ►“Let’s set up a weekly check-in phone call, just to make sure we’re always on the same page.” ►“I’m going to be providing input and final approval during each stage of our project; however, if you need access to past materials or have any quick questions while you’re working, you can reach out to our Program Coordinator.”
IN OTHER WORDS: Pro bono consultant recruitment should be taken as seriously as searching for a new employee.
IS PRO BONO RIGHT FOR YOU? THE BEST PRO BONO CLIENTS ARE THOSE WHO ►Have a clear strategic direction, and are looking for pro bono projects to help them continue on that path ►Have strong, definitive leadership ►Have programs that are stable and sustainable; are not in a state of flux
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ►Taproot Foundation Service Grants
► Competencies Map ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
► Pro Bono Marketplace Map ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
PRO BONO IS ^ FREE PRO BONO IS AN INVESTMENT OF TIME, ENERGY, & TALENT. Level of attention Quality of product NOT
Thank you!