Finding Fulfillment Beyond the 9 to 5 Through Pro Bono Work

By 2011 ProInspire Fellow Nikita Mitchell

We're on Day 4 of our 5 Days of Giving series on the blog with the goal of
helping each and every one of you with your goals to change the world, in both big and small ways.

Every day more and more professionals are seeking ways to have a meaningful impact outside of their day jobs. This has become increasingly obvious over the last several years as major corporations continue to implement employee engagement programs, particularly those that include skills-based volunteering opportunities.

For individuals struggling to align their work with their passion, working on pro bono projects for a nonprofit is the perfect way to find fulfillment – until, of course, making the switch into the social sector.

During my three years at Deloitte Consulting I was heavily involved in organizing community service events for the firm. One of my most fulfilling activities, however, was working with a small team on a pro bono proposal to address a need for my alma mater, Howard University. Volunteering to take a lead on this allowed me to work with senior management to succinctly pitch the project to the firm’s Partners. As the project got off the ground I was also able to see the impact that my work had on the University.

Working on a project that allows you to further develop skills, possibly even develop new ones and engage in work that you’re passionate about is a professional development opportunity that everyone should experience. If you’re interested but unsure where to start, here are some organizations that may be a good fit:

Bankers without Borders
During my ProInspire Fellowship – through my role at the Association for Enterprise Opportunity – I had the opportunity to partner with Grameen Foundation on their deployment of Bankers without Borders (BwB) in the United States. If you are interested in international development and/or microfinance, this is the perfect organization for you. One of the most valuable aspects of the relationship BwB has with its volunteers is the online training and personalized interactions. Even more, you’ll be joining a network of thousands of professionals passionate about fighting poverty across the globe.

Taproot Foundation
Taproot Foundation's mission is to "lead, mobilize and engage professionals in pro bono service that drives social change." They do this by engaging design, marketing, IT, strategic management, and human resources professionals to build the infrastructure of other nonprofit organizations. Taproot is pretty specific in their request for talent, requiring that volunteers only provide support on projects that match their existing professional skills (often requesting 3-5 years minimum).

Compass
If you live in the DC Metropolitan area you should consider working with Compass, whose mission is to inspire the active engagement of business professionals with their local nonprofits to transform communities. Compass typically works with MBAs and senior business professionals, carefully matching Project Leaders, volunteers and clients to create the most effective working relationships. The timeframe for these projects are pretty consistent, lasting about seven months – from early fall until late spring.

These are just three organizations to get you started, however you can always consider contacting your favorite nonprofit and asking if there is a particular issue that you can help them address given your skill sets. The opportunities to engage in meaningful work are out there. You just have find them!

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Nikita Mitchell was a 2011 ProInspire Fellow in Washington, DC with AEO, a national membership organization dedicated to supporting the development U.S. microenterprise initiatives to assist underserved entrepreneurs. She now works with ProInspire and 4-H (a ProInspire hiring partner).