The Taproot Foundation and the Foundation Center Announce New Strategic Partnership

New York, NY — July 25, 2013. Taproot Foundation and the Foundation Center announced today the launch of a new partnership that seeks to expand knowledge-sharing resources and support for the nonprofit sector.

Both organizations already offer trailblazing tools and services for nonprofits seeking access to pro bono resources (Taproot) and knowledge about financial grants and capacity building (the Foundation Center). Leveraging the respective strengths of both organizations — from databases and diagnostics to research and best practices — the strategic partnership focuses on expanding the accessibility, range, and quality of resources available to nonprofits and enabling companies and foundations to best support nonprofits in unique, strategic ways.

Together, the two organizations can continue to push forward the conversation around strategic philanthropy and facilitate the effective allocation of resources to support strong, healthy organizations working for our collective good.

“It’s such a valuable collaboration,” says Alethea Hannemann, Taproot Foundation’s director of product and program development. “Both organizations are focused on perfecting the information platforms that nonprofits need to easily identify and access key resources, including both funds and talent. With greater access to those resources, nonprofits are able to increase their capacity and advance their mission. There is a lot that Taproot and the Foundation Center can learn from one another and we are eager to see what this synergy will allow us to accomplish together.”

The two organizations have identified several key priorities to explore, including initiatives such as:

• Creating GrantCraft resources to encourage pro bono service as a philanthropic strategy;
• Developing training programs for the philanthropic and nonprofit communities to help promote and expand knowledge about and access to pro bono services; and
• Aligning both organizations’ data resources to yield new insights that will benefit the sector.

“This partnership will serve as a lever, providing a critical boost to those working to solve the world’s most pressing problems,” said Jeffrey Falkenstein, vice president for data architecture at the Foundation Center. “Marshaling our forces will help social sector organizations maximize the allocation of their resources, unleashing greater impact and realizing the tremendous potential of this field.”

Cheryl Loe
Communications Project Manager
The Foundation Center
(888) 356-0354 ext. 701
communications@foundationcenter.org

Emmett Mehan
Associate Manager, National Partnerships
Taproot Foundation
(212) 257-7650
emmett@taprootfoundation.org

About the Foundation Center
Established in 1956, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of more than 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.

About the Taproot Foundation
Since 2001, Taproot Foundation has proven that pro bono service is a viable and reliable tool for strengthening nonprofit organizations. Today, Taproot continues to lead nationally by acting locally, and seeks to build a pro bono marketplace that, like philanthropy, is large, accessible, professional and transparent. By taking lessons learned from our award-winning Service Grant Program and applying them to our innovative new program areas, we work to stimulate the supply of pro bono resources through our corporate Advisory Services practice, as well as demand for these services by giving nonprofits the tools and training that sets them up for successful pro bono engagements. Our work has evolved to include thought leadership and international field-building, convening global leaders in the social sector to guide the design and direction of the pro bono movement while focusing on infusing a pro bono ethic into business professions, professional schools, companies and nonprofits in communities across the country and around the world. Visit www.taprootfoundation.org to learn more.

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