Net Impact Programming Supports Pro Bono Week Oct. 20-26, Alongside Other Leading Nonprofits

San Francisco, CA, Sept. 19, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Net Impact, the global nonprofit mobilizing a generation of leaders to change the world through their careers, is participating in Pro Bono Week Oct. 20-26 alongside leading nonprofits including the Taproot Foundation, Ashoka, and others. Net Impact offers a variety of programs aimed at developing leadership skills among its community of 40,000+ student and professional members, maximizing their social and environmental impact, and building capacity in the social sector. These programs include the popular Projects for Good platform, which connects students with the will (and skills) to make an impact with organizations who need them.

"For many of our members, pro bono can be the gateway that leads to a lifelong impact career," says CEO Liz Maw. "Once our members see how much of an impact they can make by applying their business skills to social and environmental causes, many of them seek out ways to spend more of their working hours on these issues."

Perhaps the most visible Net Impact program that leverages pro bono is Projects for Good. On the heels of a wildly successful pilot phase, the program offers nearly one hundred short-term pro bono projects tackling a wide range of causes. Projects, many of which can be completed remotely, range from social media strategies and marketing plans to research and analysis. Business-minded students can browse and apply for projects directly on the site, and nonprofits can screen candidates and access critical project management tools to ensure success. Drawing directly from Net Impact's own pool of talented and committed student members, the program helps participating nonprofits extend their capacity on projects that are often critical drivers of success.

Net Impact also runs a number of competitions that encourage students to tackle pressing world challenges. The Small Steps, Big Wins Campus Challenge incentivizes students to complete simple actions, such as volunteering or raising awareness of human rights issues among peers, through gamification and prizes. At the 2013 Net Impact Conference, to be held Oct. 24-26 in Silicon Valley, nearly 3,000 attendees will have a chance to attend a Taproot Foundation-led workshop “Pro Bono Champions: Translating Your Skills for Nonprofit Consulting,” which will help professionals learn how to best apply their skills through pro bono work. Net Impact also provides local pro bono-based programming through its chapter-based Service Corps program, in which local chapter members participate in pro bono consulting for local organizations in need.

For Net Impact’s global community, the organization's pro bono-related programs often serve as a stepping stone to greater service. “As Gen Y-ers, we panic at the thought of career plans,” says Lauren McHugh, a participant in Projects for Good. “So rather than planning whether or not [pro bono] fits into our career, we hope it will become an important part of whatever career we make.” That’s why Net Impact provides additional resources and tools for members who want to continue working on these issues during their regular workday.

The organization's online career center features stories from members who have ended up in permanent impact roles as either a direct or indirect result of their pro bono service. Net Impact’s Impact Job Board includes both nonprofit and for-profit opportunities for members interested in transitioning to impact work. The organization’s popular Impact at Work Toolkit, downloadable for free on its website, provides worksheets and advice for completing successful social and environmental projects at work.

To join the Net Impact community of changemakers, get involved in Projects for Good, or explore the organization’s other programs, readers can visit netimpact.org.

About Net Impact
Net Impact is the leading nonprofit that inspires a new generation to work within and beyond business for a sustainable future. We empower student and professional leaders to act locally through our vibrant chapter network and connect globally online and through our flagship conference. By 2020, we will mobilize a million new leaders to use their careers to drive positive change in the workplace and the world.

About Pro Bono Service
Pro bono--short for pro bono publico, "for the public good"—refers to professional services delivered without expectation of a fee to organizations serving the social good. It is both a form of support for community organizations as well as an increasingly core part of the ethic of business professionals from design to HR and technology, who believe that high-quality professional services are too important to only be available to those who can afford them.