Abstract

As more companies and individuals are volunteering professional skills to assist nonprofit organizations in creating or improving business practices, pro bono has moved from the legal field to encompass many arenas. This effective practice highlights the efforts of Harvard Business School Community Partners to provide alumni the opportunity to offer pro bono services in projects that involve key business issues such as strategic planning, organizational development, marketing, and board governance.

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Issue

While there is increasing reliance on and need for nonprofit services in the health care, housing, food, education, and cultural sectors of society, the sustainability of nonprofit organizations is oftentimes neglected. Nonprofit organizations can enhance sustainability by reaching out to targeted organizations that provide pro bono services.

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Action

HBS Community Partners provides Harvard Business School alumni with opportunities to apply their business and management skills as volunteer consultants working on challenging and worthwhile projects in the nonprofit sector. The projects involve key business issues such as strategic planning, organizational development, marketing plans, and board governance. Alumni work with a diverse group of nonprofits including museums, performing arts, social service, and community development agencies.

According to HBS Community Partners:

• Make pro bono work for the volunteer
• Offer pro bono work that aligns with volunteers’ interests in personal development or in particular causes or nonprofit organizations
• Pair senior staff with newer employees when performing pro bono projects as a way to strengthen internal networks and create professional development opportunities
• Think about using an intermediary organization to facilitate and sustain pro bono work within a company without considerable internal management

Project Examples:

Goodwill Industries of San Francisco

The Community Partners team evaluated new business opportunities for Goodwill Industries to generate increased revenue and new jobs for Goodwill clients. The team identified potential new business ventures and developed criteria to evaluate the options. It then selected the most promising option and presented Goodwill with a business plan and supporting financial model for the new venture.

The Oakland Museum

A Community Partners team worked with the Oakland Museum to increase its earned revenue. By assessing the property rent value, the museum store, and conservation facilities, the team developed a financial plan to better leverage the museum’s resources. The museum responded so receptively that some of the team members continued to help the museum construct a branding strategy that resulted in renaming the institution as the Oakland Museum of California.

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Context

HBS alumni compete to volunteer for Community Partners’ projects because of the networking and career development opportunities they offer. Volunteers strive to perform their best because their teammates are top-level business leaders, and they are working with highly regarded nonprofit organizations.

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Outcome

Participants make valuable contacts with organizations, CEOs, board members, and senior staff. They also develop their professional skills and gain experience in nonprofit management for future work in the nonprofit or social enterprise sectors. Community Partners volunteers have become CEOs, COOs, CFOs, and board members of nonprofits and foundations, while others have started their own social enterprises.

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Evidence

Consulting can produce innovative recommendations, but Community Partners considers the true measure of success to be whether its teams’ recommendations are put into practice. Over 90% of Community Partners’ projects are put into practice.

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For More Information

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Resources

See the Resource Center’s pro bono page.

Source Documents

Related Practices

• Linking law students with volunteer opportunities
• Providing social services with corporate volunteers

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