Community - It’s Our BusinessInsights and reflections on doing pro bono work |
We often say that nonprofits are not in business to make a profit. But they are in business. They have employees, clients, and vendors. They have marketing, finance, human resource, and technology needs. They often have complex operating structures. And they have business objectives that require business know-how in order to be met.
In February 2008, the Corporation for National and Community Service announced Billion + Change, a federal initiative to encourage American businesses to champion pro bono work by complementing their philanthropy with the contribution of in-kind services. While Deloitte had done ad hoc pro bono work for decades, we responded with a pledge to deliver $50 million in pro bono services by 2011. We’re proud to have met the goal, and prouder still to have transformed the way we approach our commitment to the community in the process. This report explores the lessons we learned and offers them up for the benefit of others.
Every insight in this report stems from the one basic concept that propelled our commitment. Nonprofits are sophisticated organizations that often struggle under the weight of heavy expectations. They typically labor under a financial model that is dependent on the generosity of others, and that kindness often comes in the form of volunteer time. Time is valuable in and of itself, but what is done with that time really determines how much it is worth to a nonprofit.
Community — it’s our business
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