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Taproot

@taprootfound

Taproot mobilizes the pro bono expertise nonprofits need to grow, innovate and drive lasting change

taprootfoundation.org
Joined April 2009
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  • Followers17.2K
What would help more nonprofits get the expertise they need? At #IGNITE2026, our Three Big Bets sparked conversations about what’s possible. A few highlights: Read more in the thread below. Photos: Hans Alcindor Photography
Two panelists and a moderator laugh during a live on-stage discussion beneath a banner reading "Power what's possible"

ALT Two panelists and a moderator laugh during a live on-stage discussion beneath a banner reading "Power what's possible"

A woman holding a microphone and an "IGNITE" card addresses a seated group in a glass-walled conference room; a large screen behind her shows a slide about AI while attendees seated at round tables in the room listen.

ALT A woman holding a microphone and an "IGNITE" card addresses a seated group in a glass-walled conference room; a large screen behind her shows a slide about AI while attendees seated at round tables in the room listen.

Speaker giving a presentation with a slide behind them reading "Beyond Business as Usual" while a panel sits beside a large "Power what's possible" banner and an audience watches.

ALT Speaker giving a presentation with a slide behind them reading "Beyond Business as Usual" while a panel sits beside a large "Power what's possible" banner and an audience watches.

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Key takeaways for collaboration? Find champions within partner organizations, measure progress as you go and fund nonprofits’ capacity to put pro bono expertise to work.
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Around the tables, participants pushed these ideas further. Getting to 10X means changing how we build, support and invest in pro bono. These conversations are helping us work out how.
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"We’re not just focused on us doing our work better. We’re focused on the movement.” - Taproot CEO Cat Ward The challenge opening #IGNITE2026: How do we 10X the impact of #probonoservice, reaching more nonprofits with the expertise they need? Photos: Hans Alcindor Photography
Taproot CEO Cat Ward addressing a seated audience in a modern conference room, presentation screens showing metrics and a large banner reading "Power what's possible."

ALT Taproot CEO Cat Ward addressing a seated audience in a modern conference room, presentation screens showing metrics and a large banner reading "Power what's possible."

Panel discussion featuring Adam Goldfarb, Dr. Akilah Watkins, and Cat Ward. Adam gestures while Dr. Watkins listens and Cat faces them, audience members in foreground, set against a large branded backdrop reading "Power what's possible."

ALT Panel discussion featuring Adam Goldfarb, Dr. Akilah Watkins, and Cat Ward. Adam gestures while Dr. Watkins listens and Cat faces them, audience members in foreground, set against a large branded backdrop reading "Power what's possible."

Keynote speaker Cheryl Dorsey delivering a presentation at IGNITE, standing at an IBM-branded podium in front of a large banner reading "Power what's possible."

ALT Keynote speaker Cheryl Dorsey delivering a presentation at IGNITE, standing at an IBM-branded podium in front of a large banner reading "Power what's possible."

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Keynote speaker Cheryl Dorsey, CEO of @echoinggreen, offered a starting point: Align. Amplify. Leap. Commit to a common agenda. Work with and through others. Use new technology to open paths that weren’t possible before.
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And as she reminded us, “Change moves at the speed of trust.” Nonprofits need to help shape these partnerships with the people and communities they serve represented in the conversation. As Cat put it: “This is the room that builds what’s next.” Today, we’re getting to work.
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At IGNITE, we’re bringing together leaders ready to multiply what pro bono can do until every nonprofit can count on it. Getting there takes bold bets, the kind our keynote speaker has made. We’re excited to welcome keynote speaker Cheryl Dorsey, CEO of @echoinggreen.
Graphic announcing Cheryl Dorsey, CEO of Echoing Green, as the IGNITE keynote speaker; smiling headshot of Cheryl in a green jacket with text about "a proven formula for a 10X leap to drive the pro bono movement." IGNITE Powered by Taproot logo is visible.

ALT Graphic announcing Cheryl Dorsey, CEO of Echoing Green, as the IGNITE keynote speaker; smiling headshot of Cheryl in a green jacket with text about "a proven formula for a 10X leap to drive the pro bono movement." IGNITE Powered by Taproot logo is visible.

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As a social entrepreneur herself, Cheryl built a movement by investing in emerging leaders and their visions, creating a multiplier effect for the field. Cheryl will share her formula for a 10X leap: the moment that demanded it, what felt impossible, and what unlocked the path.
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Her experience will help ground IGNITE’s goals in the collective commitment that turns bold ideas into lasting change. Follow along at ignite.taprootfoundation.org #probonoservice #IGNITE2026 #socialimpact #nonprofitsector #socialchange
Ignite 2026 powered by Taproot

Ignite 2026 powered by Taproot

IGNITE 2026 powered by Taproot is where the future of pro bono gets built. November 4-5, 2026, cross-sector leaders will gather in New York City with one goal: multiply what pro bono can do, until...

ignite.taprootfoundation.org
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Replying to @taprootfound @AnthropicAI
That could mean building a custom app to expand program delivery, analyzing data to see what’s working, or automating workflows so staff can focus on mission-critical work.
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Nonprofits bring their vision and ambition. Skilled professionals bring their AI fluency to help nonprofits reach new heights. We can’t wait to see what becomes possible when they come together.
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Replying to @taprootfound @AnthropicAI
Earlier this year, Anthropic launched Claude Corps to pair nonprofits with early-career talent trained in AI. Nonprofits embraced it. Now Taproot is planning to extend that model, drawing on 25 years of pro bono experience.
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We plan to recruit skilled professionals, train them on the latest ways nonprofits can use Claude, and match them with nonprofits for defined pro bono projects.
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We're excited to announce that Taproot is planning to partner with @AnthropicAI, the company behind Claude, to help more nonprofits put AI to work for their missions.  Read more from our CEO, Cat Ward, about the planned partnership: buff.ly/93ztBfQ
Photo of a woman in yellow speaking to someone in front of them wearing gray. Text reads "Read the article AI expertise to take nonprofits further" Taproot and Anthropic logos visible.

ALT Photo of a woman in yellow speaking to someone in front of them wearing gray. Text reads "Read the article AI expertise to take nonprofits further" Taproot and Anthropic logos visible.

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What will it take to 10X pro bono service? New models bold enough to make it possible. Taproot’s third Big Bet of IGNITE is New Models for Catalytic Change. Follow along: buff.ly/w5GEibm
Title reads "New Models for Catalytic Change" promoting a panel on building new models and partnerships to 10X pro bono, showing four professional headshots (one labeled Moderator) with brief role titles beneath. Photos of Mel Ochoa (Moderator), Jonny Dorsey, Janet Foutty, Ryan Stowers. IGNITE Powered by Taproot logo is visible.

ALT Title reads "New Models for Catalytic Change" promoting a panel on building new models and partnerships to 10X pro bono, showing four professional headshots (one labeled Moderator) with brief role titles beneath. Photos of Mel Ochoa (Moderator), Jonny Dorsey, Janet Foutty, Ryan Stowers. IGNITE Powered by Taproot logo is visible.

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In rapid-fire lightning talks, Jonny Dorsey, Secretary of @MarylandServes, Janet Foutty, President of Employer Partnerships at @raiseus_ai, and Ryan Stowers, SVP at @StandTogether will share how government, employers, and grassroots movements are building them.
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Mel Ochoa, COO and General Partner at @Landmark, will lead a conversation on what pro bono can learn from these existing models, what’s working, and what’s standing in the way. Participants will explore how to fund pro bono service and build partnerships to carry it further.
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