Negative sentiment about the economy is reverberating through charitable giving, with a chilling effect on fundraising. But, the good news is that volunteerism is on the rise. Many organizations value your time as much as your money.
Philanthropist Connie Duckworth shares examples of how to share skills to promote a cause.
Six years ago, I founded ARZU STUDIO HOPE, a non-profit social business enterprise creating artisan-based employment that empowers women. Today, we help over 600 Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave. Of ARZU’s total expended resources, 93% directly supports our mission to create economic sustainability and provide access to education, healthcare, improved living conditions and community development in rural Afghanistan.
Donors typically want to fund projects, not overhead. Yet, every organization, no matter the size, needs an array of basic infrastructure, such as legal, accounting, IT, printing, office, furniture–the list can seem endless. Creatively reaching out to professionals for pro bono or reduced rates on their goods and services allows us to stretch cash contributions and grants. People can underestimate the powerful impact of bringing their skills, rather than their checkbooks, to the table. At ARZU, engineers consult on solutions from solar power to low-tech plumbing. Artists create and gift us modern rug patterns, while graphic designers develop our branding and marketing materials. We’ve learned about lean manufacturing from factory owners and soil enrichment from gardening enthusiasts. This level of expertise far outstrips our ability to pay. To us, it is truly better than cashing a check.
Connie K. Duckworth serves pro bono as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arzu, Inc; and is an active member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, a bi-partisan public/private partnership established by Presidents Bush and Karzai in 2002. She is a retired Partner and Managing Director of Goldman Sachs, where she was named the first woman sales and trading partner in the firm’s history during her 20 year career. Her book, a primer on how to start a business entitled, The Old Girls Network: Insider Advice for Women Building Businesses in a Man’s World (Basic Books 2003), was published in September 2003.