Building Capacity Through Strategic
Pro Bono Partnerships
Connecting corporate talent and skilled volunteers with nonprofits and small businesses through high-impact pro bono projects, from one-day hackathon-style workshops to long-term engagements.
About our program
Launched in 2018, HandsOn Twin Cities’ Pro Bono Advisory Program connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers who bring professional expertise to help organizations grow and thrive. Many nonprofits operate with limited staff and resources, making it hard to access specialized knowledge in areas like marketing, finance, HR, or strategic planning. Pro bono support fills these gaps, strengthening organizations and the communities they serve.
We collaborate with companies and nonprofits to build pro bono experiences that empower employees to use their skills for community impact, while advancing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and engagement goals. When working with a corporate partner, we take a fully customized consultative approach to the creation of an internal corporate pro bono program.
Past & Present Corporate Partners:
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96,421 hours of pro bono service delivered
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4,099 pro bono volunteers engaged
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801 pro bono projects delivered for nonprofits and small businesses
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$18,641,590 value of pro bono delivered
What is pro bono?
Pro bono is a type of skills-based volunteering where professionals donate their time and expertise—like marketing, IT, or HR—to benefit nonprofit organizations for the public good.
“HOTC’s Pro Bono Advisory Team is extremely knowledgeable, supportive, and incredibly easy and fun to work with. We have partnered multiple times with this team and each experience leaves our employees wanting more and eager to learn more ways to support nonprofits with their own skills and expertise. They are our go-to resource for any and all skills-based volunteering!”
Kelly Bukowski, Land O’Lakes
How We Work With You!
Corporate Partnerships
Who it’s for: From local startups to global Fortune 500 companies, we collaborate with organizations to engage employees in meaningful community service that aligns with CSR and employee engagement goals.
What it is: The Pro Bono Advisory Program designs customized volunteer opportunities—from short consultations and hackathons to multiweek or yearlong projects—matching corporate expertise with community needs.
Why it’s important: Corporate talent is a powerful force for good. Investing employee skills and resources strengthens communities, fosters professional growth, and advances lasting social impact.
Connected for Change Sponsorship
Who it’s for: Any company can engage employees in our community Challenge Days. Sponsoring companies receive reserved team spaces and priority for nonprofits they nominate to participate.
What it is: Connected for Change is a day-long, hackathon-style event that brings corporate professionals together to solve real challenges for nonprofits. Each event matches organizations needing capacity-building support with skilled volunteers who offer expertise pro bono. Multiple sessions are held annually across focus areas such as Finance, HR, Marketing, and Technology. Participation is free, providing a meaningful way to apply professional skills for community impact.
Connected Day
Who it’s for: Companies that are looking to engage employees in their own day-long engagement. Companies nominate what nonprofits they want to participate with.
What it is: Connected Day is a day-long, hackathon-style event that brings employees and teams together to solve real challenges for nonprofits. The event matches organizations needing capacity-building support with skilled volunteers who offer expertise pro bono.
Connected for Change
Who it's for: Any organization with a need in the respective functional area can apply to attend. Current HandsOn Twin Cities Members are given priority along with nominated partners of our sponsors.
What it is: Connected For Change (formerly known as Impact Day) is a day-long, hackathon-style workshop that leverages corporate sector talent for social sector needs. We pair nonprofits in need of capacity-building support to a team of experts in their field who give their time pro bono to tackle challenges and develop tangible solutions. We offer four events per year within the following functional areas: Finance, HR, Marketing, and Technology. Participation is free of charge.
Corporate Partner Engagements
Who it’s for: From nonprofits to small businesses across the country, each engagement supports a unique part of the community. These collaborations create opportunities to strengthen organizational capacity and expand impact. To learn more about company-led volunteer projects, visit our Corporate Engagements page.
What it is: Corporate partners in the Pro Bono Advisory Program design customized, high-impact events and projects that leverage employee expertise to meet community needs. Each engagement has defined goals and structure, tailored to both partner and nonprofit priorities. Participation is free of charge and available by invitation through the HandsOn Twin Cities team.
Pro Bono Scoping Workshop
Who it’s for: Any nonprofit is able to attend or access materials free of cost.
What it is: This interactive workshop focuses on the best practices of pro bono and will also guide you through the creation of your own scope of work to help hone your needs, set expectations, and identify the right pro bono volunteer expertise. Participation is free of charge.
Potential Pro Bono Project Idea Submission
Who it’s for: Any nonprofit with a capacity-building need or project idea can share it with us. Whether you’re exploring a new initiative, seeking strategic guidance, or looking to strengthen internal operations, we want to hear from you.
What it is: This form allows nonprofits to describe specific pro bono project ideas for the HandsOn Twin Cities Pro Bono Advisory team. It helps us better understand community needs and respond when opportunities arise—whether through a Connected for Change Day event or a customized engagement with a corporate partner offering skilled volunteer support.
Connected for Change
Who is it for: Individuals with professional expertise in areas such as Finance, HR, Marketing, or Technology are invited to apply to share their skills through Connected for Change. Participation is confirmed once matched with a nonprofit partner whose needs align with their experience and interests.
What it is: Connected for Change (formerly Impact Day) is a day-long, hackathon-style event that brings corporate professionals and nonprofits together for capacity-building projects. Volunteers collaborate to tackle organizational challenges, develop practical solutions, and strengthen community impact. Participation is free of charge and designed to create meaningful connections through skilled volunteerism.
Corporate Engagement Portfolio
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Supporting nonprofits in the Twin Cities through capacity-building pro bono consulting projects. Recent areas of project types are Technology and Marketing.
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Supporting small businesses in the Twin Cities annually through 12-week pro bono consulting projects.
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Supporting small businesses in the Twin Cities, Atlanta, Chicago and the Bay Area through 12-week pro bono consulting projects across several capabilities. Explore our case study as an example of impact.
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Supporting nonprofits with long-term pro bono consulting projects as well as several nonprofits through consulting session events.
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Supported small businesses in the Twin Cities in partnership with Genesys Works to provide holistic pro bono support.
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Supporting nonprofits in the Twin Cities through capacity-building pro bono consulting projects. They are moving to add more projects in additional states they operate in.
Examples of nonprofit projects
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Participated in three Connected for Change Days:
2023 Marketing Day - Media engagement plan.
2024 Marketing Day - Website analytics and auditing, and learning about current best practices.
2025 Marketing Day - Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Conversion tracking, etc.
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Participated in three Connected for Change Days and two 12-weeks engagements with corporate partners in 2025.
2022 Connected for Change: Marketing Day - key messaging and stakeholder personas.
2025 12-weeks project: Farm calculator tool.
2025 12-weeks project: Marketing strategy
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Participated in 2 Connected for Change Days:
2025 Finance, HR, and Strategy Day - HR manual review, assessment, and suggestions.
2025 Marketing Day - Donor assessment, key messaging, and content calendars and templates.
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Participated in three Connected for Change Days:
2024 HR Day - Improve and streamline board recruitment and effectiveness.
2024 Tech Day - Improved website accessibility, website audit, and UX improvements.
2025 Marketing Day - Key messaging, target market research, and marketing strategy.
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Participated in two Connected for Change days.
2022 Connected for Change: Strategy Day - Volunteer recruitment action plan.
2025 Connected for Change: Marketing Day - Influencer Marketing Strategy.
"What an amazing team I had. I told them at the beginning that I might cry, being so stressed out about finances. Now I feel like I'm crying tears of joy.”
Participating Nonprofit
Nonprofits! Did you know?
Our Volunteer Opportunity Database connects more than 800 nonprofit organizations with volunteers eager to make a difference. Beyond traditional hands-on roles, you can also post pro bono opportunities, unlocking incredible skills that can strengthen your organization. Whether you need one-time help, ongoing support, or specialized expertise, our database helps you find the right match. Best of all, registering your organization and posting opportunities is free of charge.
Our work in action!
A Literature Review Prepared for HandsOn Twin Cities
To evaluate effectiveness and provide accountability to partners, clients, and volunteers, we partnered with Wilder Research to develop a review describing pro bono programs and their outcomes.
Supporting Nonprofits: WomenVenture
Xcel Energy partnered with WomenVenture to strengthen the lending experience for women entrepreneurs. Read our case study about this 8-week pro bono project!
The Profound Benefits of Pro Bono Volunteering for Professionals
There are many benefits to volunteers, nonprofits, and small businesses when undertaking pro bono volunteerism. In our blog, we list some of those benefits.
The Andersen Windows & Doors Approach to Pro Bono Volunteerism
Andersen Windows & Doors turned the challenges of the pandemic into an opportunity to innovate, launching a pro bono volunteer program in partnership with HandsOn Twin Cities. Read about it!
Is your company looking to make a bigger impact?
Contact Joy Altmann, Managing Director, Pro Bono Advisory Program.