C05 Showcase: Volunteering Redefined

Volunteering Redefined: The Taproot Foundation Model of Capacity

Friday, July 15 2:15pm - 4:15pm

With

Matthew O'Grady, Taproot Foundation

Brief Description

Can volunteers really build the capacity of an organization to have impact in the community? The Taproot Foundation has answered resoundingly, "Yes!" with its groundbreaking model. Since its founding in 2001, Taproot has awarded some 200 "grants of service" to nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay area and New York City, valued at over $6 million. These grants have built capacity in fundraising, marketing, IT, and human resources performance management. Experience the Taproot model, learn what we’ve learned, and participate in a dialog about other areas where volunteers could impact nonprofit capacity.

About the Presenters

Matthew O'Grady, Taproot Foundation

Matthew O'Grady is a recognized leader in nonprofit capacity building and volunteer management with over 27 years of experience in the sector. As the managing director - Bay Area, he leads our founding office in leveraging volunteers from the business community to deliver high quality capacity building services to local nonprofits.  Previously, Matt directed consulting services and training programs for The Management Center, where he expanded the agency’s consulting practice eight-fold, and conceived & launched several popular training programs. Prior to this post, Matt served as the director of San Francisco chapter of Business Arts Council. Over his five-year tenure in this position he doubled the size of the office, delivering $1.2 million in pro bono capacity building services to over 140 local arts organizations annually. Since 1990, he has also maintained his own consulting practice, focusing on nonprofit governance and strategic planning. Matt began his career at the Oakland Ballet where he served as the director of marketing and communications.  Matt has served more than 20 years on numerous boards of trustees, including California Assembly of Local Arts Agencies and Shanti, San Francisco’s renowned AIDS service organization where he served as chair from 1996-1998.  He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music composition and conducting from Northern Illinois University.

Aaron Hurst, Taproot Foundation

Aaron founded the Taproot Foundation in 2001, 40 years after his grandfather, Joseph E. Slater, wrote the original blueprint for the Peace Corps. Inspired by the Peace Corps, Aaron founded the Taproot Foundation to connect this country's millions of business professionals with nonprofits who need their talents and experience.  As president of the Taproot Foundation, Aaron leads the development of the organization across the nation, as well as sets the strategy and vision behind the Foundation's work. He is also a member of the Board of Directors.  Prior to founding the Taproot Foundation, Aaron was a director of product management at iSyndicate, a digital syndication company, and iOwn, an online real estate service. His nonprofit experience includes work at the DePaul Center for Urban Education and the Chicago Foundation for Education. Aaron graduated from the University of Michigan, where he created award-winning new models for integrating community service into the university curriculum.