2025 was a defining year for pro bono.
As nonprofits navigated a fast-changing environment, demand for expert capacity-building support grew exponentially. This year made clear that pro bono expertise—delivered at the right time—can be a powerful, essential driver of nonprofit success.
That belief shaped Taproot’s work in 2025. Alongside nonprofits, skilled volunteers, and collaborators across the sector, we focused on elevating pro bono as essential infrastructure for a rapidly changing world.
Here’s a look back at what made this year so meaningful at Taproot:
A Breakout Year for Nonprofit Capacity Building
As demand surged for skilled support, Taproot supported more nonprofits than ever before—over 1,700 organizations nationwide. Pro bono wasn’t just “extra help”—it was core capacity for organizations navigating growth, complexity, and rapid change.
Quality Service, Delivered at Scale
Taproot delivered more than 95,000 hours of skilled volunteer service, up from 64,000 hours the year before. This support helped nonprofit teams strengthen their operations, make informed decisions, and stay focused on the communities they serve. This growth also reflects what nonprofits continue to tell us: expertise, is addition to funding, is essential for effectiveness.
IGNITE: Bold Conversations and Big Ideas, Together
At IGNITE, Taproot brought together nonprofit leaders, corporate partners, and field builders to help co-create the next era of pro bono service. More than an event, IGNITE was a space to test ideas, surface real challenges, and reimagine how skilled service can better support nonprofits over the long term.
Shaping the Conversation Through Research and Insight
This year, through efforts like Taproot’s Nonprofit Pulse Survey and spearheading new work at the intersection of pro bono, human skills, and learning & development, we generated insights that are helping the field move from anecdotes to evidence about what strengthens nonprofit capacity.
Building a Next Gen Marketplace for Skilled Service
Behind the scenes, we continued to strengthen Taproot’s offerings, making pro bono more accessible and actionable for nonprofits. We are improving matching between nonprofits and Pro Bono Consultants, embedding AI responsibly into our programming, and refining the experience for nonprofits and skilled volunteers alike. The result: more high-quality engagements and stronger outcomes.
Together, these efforts reflect a year of growth, learning, and shared commitment to nonprofit capacity. And we’re deeply grateful to those around us—from the organizations who invited us into critical moments, skilled volunteers who brought their expertise and care, to collaborators across the field who helped strengthen pro bono service. Your participation is what makes pro bono not just possible, but powerful.
Looking ahead
As we gear up for 2026, Taproot’s focus remains clear. Everything we do—our programs, our research, our platforms, and our partnerships—is in service of one mission: ensuring nonprofits have access to the pro bono skills and solutions that drive their success.
Service is having a moment. With America 250 elevating a national Year of Service and the United Nations naming 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, the opportunity ahead is real—and urgent.
We’re entering the new year with momentum, clarity, and deep gratitude for a growing community dedicated to the power of pro bono. And we’re excited to continue building what’s next—together.
Are you ready to plug into Taproot’s work and join the pro bono movement? Get started now.
