Skills-based-Volunteering

---

Education

The participation of the business community is an important part of the pro bono movement, as all companies can share their time, talent and expertise to increase the impact of efforts to advance social change. That is why A Billion + Change, a national campaign inspiring the largest commitment of probono service in history, has developed this short overview and checklist that businesses can use to help launch their SBV programs. It includes new trends and models of SBV programs, the benefits of SBV, tips for program strategy, implementation and evaluation, and helpful resources to connect you with volunteer opportunities

Defining Skills-Based Volunteerism

Pro bono service is a type of skills-based volunteering (SBV) where volunteers contribute their professional skills, often providing expertise to directly supporting a nonprofit′s internal operations, strengthening the infrastructure and capacity of the organization. SBV is a powerful driver of social change,and is a unique approach to community engagement that matches employees′ workplace skills, expertiseandknowledge with nonprofit needs to increase their impact in the community. By leveraging all types of skills, from IT support and strategic planning to marketing and HR consulting, SBV helps non profit sexpand their reach and become more sustainable, while allowing employees an opportunity to buildtheir leadership skills, and give back to a cause they believe in

• ✔ Talent management: SBV can be an effective way to cultivate critical business skills in your workforce. According to research from True Impact, skills-based volunteers are 142% more likely to report job-related skills-gains than traditional volunteers (True Impact 2012).
• ✔ Culture : For many small businesses, giving back to their communities through skills-based volunteering is ′in their DNA.′
• ✔ Engaging younger workers: Pro bono programs could provide valuable learning opportunities for millennials. Skills-based volunteers are 47% more likely to report high satisfaction from volunteering than traditional volunteers.
• ✔ Business development: Small businesses have reported that skills-based volunteer programs that allow them to engage with their community are a great way for them to make business connections and build their brand.
• ✔ Achieve high-impact social change: For many nonprofits, the value of skills-based volunteer services can be 500% greater than the value of traditional volunteer services.