Recent gift from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help 20 area

nonprofits effectively pursue their mission

    SEATTLE, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Taproot Foundation has awarded an
 additional five service grants to King County nonprofits. Recipients
 include Chinese Information and Service Center, Climate Solutions, ECOSS
 (Environmental Coalition of South Seattle), Kids Co., and Senior Services.
 
     Since Taproot Foundation's initial grant round in Seattle in March
 2007, approximately $600,000 worth of pro bono services has been awarded to
 fifteen Seattle area nonprofit organizations. By the end of 2009, Taproot
 Foundation expects to have awarded 100 grants with a total value of $4
 million in professional services. The organization's official kick-off took
 place in early November at a launch party for current volunteers, nonprofit
 grantees, and local funders.
 
     Propelling Taproot Foundation forward is a recent gift of $200,000 from
 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation -- the third largest gift in Taproot's
 history.
 
     "This grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is an incredible
 vote of confidence for the Taproot Foundation," said Matthew O'Grady, Vice
 President, National Expansion, Taproot Foundation. "With it, we'll be able
 to help 20 Puget Sound nonprofits to more effectively pursue their missions
 -- and in turn, these nonprofits will strengthen the Puget Sound
 community."
 
     Awarded over three years (2008 - 2010) the grant includes $100,000 to
 sponsor 20 Service Grants, which will be awarded to Puget Sound nonprofits
 in the fields of social services and education. This initial investment of
 $100,000 from the Gates Foundation will in turn provide an estimated
 $800,000 in capacity-building services for the nonprofit recipients. The
 grant also includes $100,000 in general operating support for the Taproot
 Foundation.
 
     "Nonprofits have the greatest potential for addressing our society's
 most challenging social and environmental problems, but often lack the
 operational resources to be effective," said O'Grady. "The Taproot
 Foundation exists to close this gap and ensure all nonprofits have the
 infrastructure they need to thrive."
 
     Every year, hundreds of nonprofit organizations rely on the Taproot
 Foundation's award winning Service Grant program to provide millions of
 dollars worth of pro bono marketing, HR and IT consulting services that
 better equip them to tackle our society's toughest challenges. Taproot
 partners with corporations, universities, and trade associations to infuse
 the pro bono ethic into every business profession -- increasing the
 resources available to the nonprofit sector. By 2020, Taproot strives to
 have all business professionals consider pro bono work an integrated and
 esteemed part of their careers.
 
     About Taproot Foundation
 
     Taproot Foundation was started in 2001 by Aaron Hurst and strengthens
 nonprofits by engaging business professionals in service. Service Grants
 are awarded to nonprofits in the areas of marketing, IT, and human
 resources and professionals in these for-profit sectors donate about 100
 hours of time over the course of a 5-6 month project. Taproot serves
 organizations in the environment, health, social services, and education
 sectors. In addition to the Seattle office, the Foundation is also serving
 nonprofits in Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.
 
     Taproot Foundation is actively recruiting business professionals in the
 Seattle area. If you're interested in volunteering your time to a local
 nonprofit, please visit http://www.taprootfoundation.org or call (206)
 790-7668 for more information.
 
     About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
 
     Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill &
 Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive
 lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and
 giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme
 poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all
 people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the
 opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle,
 the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates
 Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
 
     Media Contacts: David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry
 
     (415) 693-0583 / news@davidperry.com
 
 
 

SOURCE Taproot Foundation