Nonprofits Want Talent, Not Cash

When leaders from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation convened nonprofits involved in the 2008 Summit on Corporate Volunteersism, they had one question: What resources do you need to continue to build sustainability?  Their answer was not more money, it was more talent.

The Washington Post published an article today by Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation, in which she discussed the nonprofit sector's need for more talent in strategic areas of importance.  On the other side, businesses are having trouble retaining their talent and differentiating their products and services in order to stay competitive.  These two needs have led to the expansion of pro bono work, which is when businesses allow their employees to volunteer for nonprofits in need.

Businesses of any size can let their employees do pro bono work, but large corporations have led the way.  Companies like Deloitte, IBM, and Morgan Stanley have already provided more than $300 million worth of volunteer time to their employees.  This is not to say smaller companies are not doing their part.  In fact, Case wrote that these companies are starting to increase skills-based volunteering in their communities.  She cites the Omaha-based Nebraska Global, a software investment fund, which has seen its 51 employees volunteer over 4,500 hours to local nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Club of Lincoln.  The company also plans to lead a campaign to recruit 100 Nebraska business to start their own pro bono programs.

Has your organization been the recipient of any pro bono volunteers from local businesses?  We'd like to hear any stories you have.  Meanwhile, you can read the full story on this topic in The Washington Post.

Milwaukee Nonprofits Cashed In On Brewers' Playoff Run

The Milwaukee Brewers' playoff run might be over--they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 12-6 in game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Sunday--but nonprofits were sure to cash in while the good times lasted.

According to an article in The Journal Sentinel, Sportservice, which runs the concession stands at Brewers home games, had a deal with local nonprofit groups that allowed their employees to work at the stands for a cut of the revenues.  The groups that sent employees to work there would earn 10 percent of the sales.  Sportservice has been working with Milwaukee nonprofits since the '90s, and groups have bought in a ton of money from it.  According to the article, one group raised $50,000 in a year.  Deals like this take place across the country, though it's usually in the minor leagues.

With the Brewers making their longest playoff run since 1982, when they reached the World Series, nonprofits were able to make more money than they might have during a normal year.  Unfortunately for nonprofits and Brewers fans, baseball in Wisconsin will be on hold until 2012.

Nonprofits And For-Profits: Can They Work Together?

Note: This is a summary of a story in the latest episode of The NonProfit Times TV

Nonprofits and for-profit corporations sometimes have an uncomfortable partnership of money and mission.  This hasn't been the case with Livestrong, the charity founded by champion cyclist Lance Arsmtrong.  The organization has had a long and successful history of positive relationships with corporate sponsors.  The NonProfit Times TV recently caught up with Chris Brewer, senior manager of development communications at Livestrong, and found out why they have been so successful in these sometimes challenging partnerships: (NOTE: These interview highlights have been paraphrased)

NPTtv: How does Livestrong go about finding corporate sponsorships?

Chris Brewer: Livestrong makes sure that the sponsors they are working with don't just want to slap their brand on something.  They want their partnerships to be more than just the corporation writing a check to them; They want them to be engaged.  Brewer cites their relationship with Nike as an example of their ideal corporate sponsor.  They have not only been able to create a successful line of merchandise using the Livestrong brand, but they have also delivered the organization's message across the globe.

NPTtv: What can the average nonprofit learn from the way Livestrong uses Lance Armstrong?

CB: Brewer reminds listeners that Lance was not that well known an athlete when the organization first started.  He also tells nonprofits that they have to make sure that if they do use a celebrity to promote their organization, they have to make sure it's the right fit.  You can't just assume because the person is a celebrity that they will help your cause.

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Check out the full interview with Chris Brwer at The NonProfit Times TV.