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.<\/p>\n
Philanthropist Connie Duckworth shares examples of how to share skills to promote a cause.<\/p>\n
Six years ago, I founded ARZU STUDIO HOPE<\/a>, <\/a>a non-profit social business enterprise creating artisan-based employment that empowers women.\u00a0\u00a0 Today, we help over 600 Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave.\u00a0 Of ARZU\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Donors typically want to fund projects, not overhead.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 People can underestimate the powerful impact of bringing their skills, rather than their checkbooks, to the table.\u00a0 At ARZU, engineers consult on solutions from solar power to low-tech plumbing.\u00a0 Artists create and gift us modern rug patterns, while graphic designers develop our branding and marketing materials. We\u2019ve learned about lean manufacturing from factory owners and soil enrichment from gardening enthusiasts. \u00a0 This level of expertise far outstrips our ability to pay.\u00a0 To us, it is truly better than cashing a check.<\/p>\n Connie K. Duckworth serves pro bono as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arzu, Inc<\/a><\/em>; and is an active member of the U.S.-Afghan Women\u2019s Council<\/a>, 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\u2019s 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\u2019s World (Basic Books 2003), was published in Septemb<\/em>er 2003.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n