After Taproot’s MAKE IT MATTER Challenge, we asked each of our four finalists to reflect on their experience participating in the challenge. Below is the reflection from one of our winning teams, Bona Fide Consulting Corps, written by team member Robert Cunningham.
Team: Bona Fide Consulting Corps
Team Members: Robert Cunningham, Heeyeon Park, and Joshua Winata
Connecting folks is what gives me the most pleasure in life. More than that, I consider it important work even in the grand scheme of things: All the greatest inventions of the past century-and-a-half have given us modes to communicate more quickly and effectively, from the telegraph to the telephone and far beyond. My decision to enter the Make it Matter Challenge was rooted in my love of this business we call networking. Here was an opportunity to propose an idea that could connect – on a truly significant scale – the many professionals who want to make an impact in the social services sector with the numerous organizations most in need of their expertise. The Bona Fide Consulting Corps would provide the channel by which pro bono projects could flow towards success. Imagine, a rigorously trained project manager (the fellow) who would be able to provide the cohesive energy for these projects until they were safely anchored in the fellow’s placement nonprofit (if we extend the analogy a bit). Besides delivering millions of dollars in pro bono services each year, the Bona Fide Consulting Corps will create a new generation of leaders who are deeply passionate about creating cross-sector impact! We’re not only excited about the experience – we’re also thrilled about this idea and the potential to truly make a difference for more nonprofits. Connecting people can be one very valuable way to make it matter.
