COMMON APPLICATION FOR PRO BONO SERVICES Looking for pro bono? You can use this document to describe your need for pro bono to a potential provider: We ve started with the basic questions that most providers will need answered before they ll start a discussion. Appendix A lists the 120 most common pro bono projects, by functional area. Use the Taproot Foundation s Project Finder (http://www.taprootfoundation.org/get-probono/bepowered-pro-bono/project-finder) to learn more about what goes into a project. Appendix B includes some more detailed questions for discussion with a provider. This information is good for a second conversation or an interview. Best of luck with your search! We re always looking for feedback on our materials. Please send any comments or questions to feedback@taprootfoundation.org. THE BASICS About your organization Organization name Your name Address Phone number Is this location the organization s headquarters? Year Founded Website Total full-time employees Total part-time employees Number of annual volunteers Income for last fiscal year Expenses for last fiscal year Programs Mission statement 1
Issue area focus (Choose the issue area that best fits your organization s mission) Describe your programs. (1-2 sentences for each program.) Arts Education Environment or animals Health Social Services Other Provide a link to the program page of your website. Tell us what makes your organization unique. (1-2 sentences) THE WORK Engagement Functional area in which you need pro bono What project or engagement do you need? How do you think the work should get done? Financial Management Fundraising Information Technology Leadership Development & Strategic HR Legal Marketing & Communications Operations Program Public Relations Real Estate & Facilities Strategy Management Other Display a list of engagements per functional area, as described in Appendix A. Other I need 1-2 people to help me execute a small project I need 3-5 people to help me execute a medium-to-large project I need one expert who can give me or my clients a few hours a month of coaching I need an expert who can help me figure out what I need I need a number of volunteers to support a one-time pro bono event What is your ideal timeline? When do you want to start and finish the engagement? 2
Need Why does your organization need this engagement? Why now? How will this engagement further your ability to achieve your mission? (Please focus on one critical need and limit to 5-7 sentences.) Do you have a current and complete strategic plan? If so, how does this engagement and its deliverable fit with your strategic priorities? (Limit to 3-5 sentences) What other options have you considered in order to meet your current needs? (Limit to 3-5 sentences) If you do not receive this engagement, how will you meet the need you ve described? (Limit to 1-2 sentences) Resources Who from your organization will fill these critical engagement team roles? Executive sponsor (the executive-level staff member who is responsible for the engagement): Project lead (the day-to-day contact for the engagement, including during the application process): Will you need to add any expenses to your budget, either to successfully complete this engagement or successfully maintain the deliverable in the future? Maintenance plan Who on your team will be responsible for using and maintaining the engagement deliverable? 3
What is the time frame for implementing the engagement deliverable? ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS Pro Bono Experience What other pro bono services have you engaged either through an intermediary like the Taproot Foundation, a partner such as a corporation, or an individual such as a board member? What worked and what didn t? Limited to 1000 characters or about 150 words What makes you think we are the right service provider for this engagement? Limited to 1000 characters or about 150 words Do you have any additional comments? Limited to 1000 characters or about 150 words
APPENDIX A: PROJECTS AND FUNCTIONAL AREAS Find the right project for your needs in this list. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Accounting System Budget Design & Development Business Plan Cash Flow Planning Cost Reduction Analysis Distribution Channel Audit Earned Income Plan Endowment Planning Financial Controls Financial Key Performance Indicators Financial Management Coach IRS Annual Filings Pricing Strategy Program Profitability Modeling Purchasing & Supply Chain Audit Sales Process Audit Scenario Modeling True Cost Analysis FUNDRAISING Capital Campaign Design & Management Crowdfunding Donor Relations Strategy Donor Segmentation Event Planning & Production Fundraising Coach Fundraising Executive Coach Fundraising Management Process Fundraising Plan Grant Proposal Budget Grant Template In-Kind Opportunity Assessment Membership Strategy Sales Process Audit LEGAL Employment Law General Corporate Law Intellectual Property Law Legal Coach Real Estate Law Taxation & Regulatory Compliance MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Annual Report Blog Design Brochure Client Service Evaluation Copywriting Google Adwords Plan Graphic Design Key Messages & Brand Strategy Marketing & Communication Plan Marketing & Communications Coach Merchandise Design Multimedia Naming & Visual Identity Newsletter Sales Process Audit Search Engine Optimization Social Media Plan Storytelling Training Training Design Translation & Interpretation Visual Identity & Brand Strategy White Paper PROGRAM Client Service Evaluation Needs Assessment Nonprofit Sector Program Coach 5
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Broadcast Email Tools Data Collection & Analysis E-Advocacy Platform Extranet Design & Development Information Technology Coach Internal Communications Plan Intranet Design & Development IT Plan IT Security Assessment Mobile App Office Networking Program Database Remote IT Access Set-up Salesforce Database Technology Assessment Training Design Usability Design Web Analytics Website LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND HR Back Office Systems Implementation Board Effectiveness Board Recruitment Board Reporting Dashboard Board Structure Board Training Change Management Employee Recruitment Process Executive Coaching Executive Director 360 Performance Review Executive Search HR Capacity Build Human Resources Coach Office Administration Setup Operations Process Design Organizational Design Organizational Diversity Plan Performance Management System Operations Process Design Program Database Program Evaluation Program Measurement Research Study & Report Theory of Change Training Design White Paper PUBLIC RELATIONS Advocacy Plan Client Service Evaluation PR Plan Press Kit Public Relations Coach Public Service Announcement REAL ESTATE AND FACILITIES Accessibility & Code Compliance Building & Space Identification Capital Campaign Materials Facilities Needs Assessment Facilities Renovation Healthy & Sustainable Environments Interior Design & Brand Integration LEED Certification Real Estate & Facilities Coach STRATEGY MANAGEMENT Competitor/Collaborator Analysis Distribution Channel Audit Environmental and Sustainability Policy & Plan Financial Analysis Geographic Expansion Plan Internal Capacity Assessment Market Analysis for Income Generation Market Research Mission, Vision, and Values Needs Assessment Operational Key Performance Indicators 6
Pro Bono Recruitment Process/Meeting Facilitation Professional Development Training Staff Compensation & Incentive Plan Training Design Volunteer Management Operations Process Design Program Evaluation Program Measurement Research Study & Report Strategic Plan Strategic Planning Prep Strategic Scorecard Strategy Management Coach SWOT Analysis Theory of Change White Paper APPENDIX B: FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS Consider these questions for a second-round application or a phone or in-person interview. They do not need to be filled in to submit this application. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Past year s budget Income: Expenses: Past year s actuals Employment Identification Number (EIN): (If your organization is a 501(c)(3) organization with an IRS-issued nine-digit EIN, please enter that EIN. Otherwise, provide the name and EIN of the organization that fiscally sponsors your organization.) For what fiscal year did you most recently complete an IRS 990 form? Start date for your fiscal year Income: Expenses: Earned Income: Individual Contributions: Foundation & Corporate Grants: Government Grants: Other Income: Program: Fundraising: Administrative: Earned Income: Individual Contributions: Foundation & Corporate Grants: Government Grants: Other Income: Program: Fundraising: 7
Current year s budget Income Expenses: SUPPORTERS Board members: Please list the current members of your board and each member s employer or professional affiliation and title. Example: John Q. Sample, Acme Corp., VP Sales Administrative: Earned Income: Individual Contributions: Foundation & Corporate Grants: Government Grants: Other Income: Program: Fundraising: Administrative: Please list all foundations and corporations that have supplied support (financial or in-kind, large or small) for your organization in the last two years. IMPACT How will you measure impact? Please list 1-5 SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Timely) that you hope to achieve as a result of this engagement. Then describe how and when you will measure progress towards these goals and what steps you have taken to accomplish these goals in the past. Limited to 1000 characters or about 150 words 8
RESOURCES People: Please supply the names and contact information of the people who will fill critical engagement roles. Funds: Will you need to add any expenses to your budget, either to successfully complete this engagement or successfully maintain the deliverable in the future? Executive sponsor This is the executive-level staff member who will be responsible for the engagement. This may or may not be the Executive Director. Executive Sponsor and Day-to-Day contact cannot be same person. Project lead If the service provider has questions about your application during the review process, they will contact this person. Executive Sponsor: Primary Board contact: Successful engagements often require some interaction with a representative from your organization s board. Day-to-Day contact: This is the person in your organization whom the service provider s pro bono consultant will work with most closely during the engagement. Day-to-Day contact and Executive Sponsor cannot be same person. Specialist: Many engagements require a person with specialized skills on the engagement team. For example, Website and Donor Database engagements require someone with relevant technical knowledge. Performance Management engagements require an HR specialist. 9