#taprootdc

What happens when you combine speed dating with consulting? Speed consulting! Speed consulting allows nonprofits to sit down with experts in finance, marketing, and strategy to diagnose critical problems nonprofits are facing.

Thanks to the generous support of American Express, and in partnership with Serve DC, Taproot DC hosted a Speed Consulting event at the Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center on Friday, September 11th, 2015 from 8:30am - 1:00pm. The event was part of 9/11 Skills Service Day, a national day of service commemorate the anniversary of 9/11.

We were joined by 15 wonderful consultants and 13 nonprofits, including DC SCORES, DC STEM, Homestretch VA, and more. During the event, we decided to spotlight one nonprofit, Capital Partners for Education, to give other nonprofits a sense of what it's like to attend a speed consulting event with Taproot.  

We followed Genette Comfort, Director of Development and Communications at Capital Partners for ED, to each of the 3 sessions.  

First up was the session on finance. Genette explained to her consultant a common nonprofit problem that Capital Partners is facing - staff capacity. The ED can't do it all, and managing financial systems is best divided among qualified staff instead of concentrated in 1-2 people. How can pro bono help?

Key takeaway from finance: "Know where you are as a nonprofit. You've got to start with small solutions to build a strong foundation. My consultant walked me through simple steps that will allow us to make a plan going forward."  

Next was the strategy session. Capital Partners for Ed has grown by 40% in the past year. How do they manage their new staff? How can they maintain their productivity and grow their outputs?  

The key takeaway from strategy was to conduct internal assessments. "We identified key areas where we could be using volunteers, as well as where we need to be better about utilizing free resources [pro tip: Taproot is one of them!]. We need to be collaborating with other nonprofits in our line of work as well."  

Lastly, was the session on marketing. Capital Partners for ED runs a very high-touch, hands-on mentoring program with many detailed components. How can their branded collateral convey the complexity of what they do while still being accessible to stakeholders and easy to read?  

Key takeaway from marketing: Focus on your audience(s). "We were so focused on generating new collateral that we didn't pay as much attention to who it was going to [i.e. funders, partners, students, mentors, etc.]. By segmenting our materials depending on the audience receiving them, we'll be able to better reach our key groups with the messages they need to hear."  

So there you have it! That's how Capital Partners for Education got their pro bono needs "done in a day."  

Feedback from the event:

“The depth of expertise was first-class.”

-DC STEM Network  

“I can’t believe they’re talking to me for free!”

-Capital Partners for Education

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing: (APAH) is a nonprofit developer dedicated to developing, preserving, and owning quality housing that is affordable and enhances the Arlington County community. APAH is the only nonprofit affordable housing developer to work exclusively in and for Arlington County.

Bread for the City: The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC, with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

CentroNia: CentroNía is a nationally recognized, multicultural learning community with a pioneering approach to bilingual education. Visit CentroNía and see children building bilingual literacy skills with a native speaker, teens experimenting in music with their  artists-in-residence, or budding entrepreneurs preparing to build a quality childcare business.For everyone, CentroNía offers a welcoming environment that encourages intellectual adventure and provides guidance each step of the way for children, youth and families to achieve their goals.

Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy: The Chavez Schools' mission is to prepare scholars to succeed in competitive colleges and to empower them to use public policy to create a more just, free, and equal world.

Family Matters of Greater Washington: The mission of Family Matters of Greater Washington is to provide a “family” for those in need with accessible and affordable social services for all ages. In these uncertain times, a tragic turn of events can put even a strong family at risk. But one thing is for certain, they are here to help – through their resources you can obtain parental education, counseling, adoption and foster care assistance, and services to aid seniors.

First Generation College Bound: For 23 years, First Generation College Bound (FGCB) has helped young people realize a dream that often seemed out of reach - to be the first in their families to get a college education. This unleashing of human potential has produced almost 500 college graduates, hundreds of millions of dollars in added lifetime earnings and a brighter future for us all. FGCB graduates have attended some of the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, and some have gone on to enter graduate programs, law school and dental school.

Martha’s Table, Inc: Martha’s Table transforms lives by engaging the community in developing sustainable solutions to poverty.  They meet core needs of their clients with education, nutrition, clothing, and family support programs that prepare young people, from infancy through adulthood, for a promising future.

Paul Public Charter School: Paul PCS provides a structured, yet nurturing environment, through an extensive character education model, individualized course placement, and an array of support services. A myriad of after school activities and clubs allow students to explore hobbies and interests, including athletics, mentoring organizations, music and dance, media and technology, visual arts, and more. Paul PCS has high expectations and believes that success in the middle and high school years is realized by providing a rigorous academic program, a deliberate exposure to the arts and athletics, and an emphasis on character development and leadership.

Stepping Stones Shelter: Stepping Stones Shelter Inc. provides a continuum of services (emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and post-shelter support) to homeless families with children in order to move them from crisis to a stable home environment. By offering food, shelter and supportive services in an atmosphere of dignity and respect, Stepping Stones provides hope for the future, strengthens families, and promotes self-sufficiency.

Turning the Page: Turning the Page links D.C. Public Schools, families and the community so that the community can ensure D.C. students receive valuable educational resources and a high-quality public education.

Originally posted on Taproot Foundation's Pro Bono Junkie Blog: 

The Board of Directors of theTaproot Foundation announced today the appointment of Liz Hamburg as the organization's second president and CEO, effective February 1, 2014. Hamburg replaces founder and former president and CEO Aaron Hurst. 13 years ago, Hurst imagined a vital pro bono movement in the nonprofit sector. That vision became Taproot, a leader in the pro bono movement and a catalyst for the $15 billion pro bono marketplace.

Throughout her 20-year career in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors, Hamburg has demonstrated strong entrepreneurial leadership, with extensive experience starting and growing innovative businesses both in the U.S. and international markets. Hamburg has broad nonprofit experience both as board member/chair and as a mentor to non-profits and social entrepreneurs, and can take Taproot deeper into existing markets and expand it into new ones.

"After a national search of formidable candidates," says Steve Kirmse, Taproot Board Chair. "Liz emerged as our next leader because of her extensive nonprofit activities and over 20 years of experience in building the scale and impact of innovative businesses. Liz is a high-energy, entrepreneurial executive who is passionate about making an impact in the world. She is ideally suited to lead Taproot forward as the pre-eminent convener in the pro bono movement."

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Taproot Foundation," said Hamburg. "I have personally experienced the great joy and satisfaction of offering my professional services to nonprofits and have seen the meaningful effect that pro bono services can have on an organization working to drive social change. I'm so excited to find new and innovative ways to broaden Taproot's reach even further."

Hamburg is the founding New York board chair and member of the governing board of the Women's Initiative for Self Employment, one of the largest domestic micro-enterprise training organizations working with low income women to help them start and grow businesses. She has been instrumental in launching Women's Initiative's national expansion into New York after 25 years in the Bay Area. She is also a founding member of the advisory boards of the Brown University Entrepreneurs Program and the entrepreneur board of Venture for America, and has served on the New York Advisory Board of Astia.

 Hamburg's for-profit experience includes serving as president of Upstart Ventures, where she was involved in the start-up and growth of over 15 new businesses, including her most recent venture, ApplyWise, an education technology company providing high school students with college planning tools. Hamburg was a member of the founding management team and director of the board of Vimpel Communications, one of the leading cellular operators in Russia and the first Russian company listed on the NYSE. She has launched new products for Reuters Tokyo and Fujisankei Communications, one of Japan's largest media conglomerates, playing a leading role in the introduction of Fuji's Nintendo game software into the U.S.