Whether it’s by organizing a weekend-long marathon session of pro bono service projects for local nonprofits, creating a virtual internship program for students to prepare them for careers in the social sector, or building coalitions of businesses to mentor disconnected youth, small business that have pledged to join A Billion + Change have demonstrated innovation, creativity and passion for improving communities through pro bono service.
We are pleased to harness this creativity and passion, and are thrilled to welcome the founding members of our Small Business Affinity Group: Thenera Bailey, President of SISGI Group, Gregory Cotton, President of COTTON7 Global Enterprises and Matthew Manos, Founder of Verynice, a global design studio. These change agents will spearhead periodic webinars or conference calls to share information and best practices about challenges and opportunities specific to small businesses in the pro bono movement. Watch for them to lead ongoing discussions and please look to them as a resource as we create a vibrant hub for social entrepreneurs interested in skills-based volunteering and pro bono.
Theirs are stories of innovation and inspiration. For example, the SISGI Group engages student interns in skills-based volunteering by pairing them up with nonprofits in need of capacity building. This provides students interested in careers in the social sector with the opportunity to develop critical skills, while providing needed support to nonprofits in areas such as research, strategic planning, training and social media.
VeryNice, a global design, business and innovation consultancy in Los Angeles, dedicates over 50 percent of its work toward pro bono services. Founded by Matthew Manos, a young and dynamic social entrepreneur, VeryNice has worked on more than 1,000 projects for more than 250 clients spanning six continents.
In New York City, Gregory Cotton was inspired with the service ethic through his years of military service, and now instills that value in his company. Today, COTTON 7 Global Enterprises improves environmental security and access to clean water in Sudan, and also partners with larger corporations domestically to create educational tools for youth focusing on the value of money and financial planning.
If you are a small business that has taken the A Billion + Change pledge, let us know if you’d like to join our Small Business Affinity Group to grow this dynamic hub of social entrepreneurs! In addition to quarterly peer-to-peer mentoring calls, the group will offer:
- Tools and resources specifically designed for small businesses to help you start and expand your pro bono programs;
- Small business spotlights to showcase your stories in our e-newsletters, social media and small business trade publications; and
- Opportunities to collaborate on regional networking events.
The pro bono movement is sweeping the nation, but the conversation doesn’t only have to include large multinational corporations or law firms. Small businesses also have a critical role to play, and we hope you will join us to lend your voice to this movement!