Pro Bono for Small Businesses

A Target program in partnership with HandsOn Twin Cities.

About the pro bono program

Target has committed to providing robust capacity-building support to small businesses across a variety of functional areas, outlined below. Target has partnered with HandsOn Twin Cities to lead the development and implementation of this program.

The program started in July 2020 and, since then, Target has partnered with over 150 businesses. We invite you to share the challenges your business is facing and the needs we can help with, to support your continued success and vitality. Explore the below case study for an example of program impact.

What is pro bono?

Pro bono refers to the donation of professional skills (in business functions such as: HR, marketing, IT, legal, etc.) to organizations as a way of giving back to the community.

Cohort: 2025

Program details:

  • The heart of the program is the pro bono project, which runs from mid May - early August

    • Each selected business will participate in one pro bono project

    • Each project will last up to 12 weeks, delivering up to 200 hours of pro bono consulting

    • Participating business owners are key collaborators on their projects, dedicating 2 -4 hours, per week, to project work

  • Program is virtual

Eligibility:

  • Invited alumni of Target’s Accelerator Programs

  • 1+ years of active sales

  • In good legal standing

  • Able to manage a robust, 12-week project

  • Has reliable access to a computer and comfort with basic technology skills

    • e.g. joining web meetings, email/calendaring, editing documents

  • Project needs must fit within available expertise

    • See list of project types below, listed by business function

Application process & timeline:

  • To apply, businesses must complete both an online application and an assessment call

    • Applications are open on a rolling basis until February 3rd, 2025

  • Upon completing the application, you’ll be directed to schedule an assessment call, which must be completed by 2/7

  • Applicants will be notified by end of February

  • Prep work: Selected small businesses will have 2 - 4 hours of prep work in March, including training and project scoping

  • Time commitment: 2 - 4 hours per week during project timeframe, 5/12 - 8/1

Pro Bono Projects:

Below are available pro bono projects, listed by business function. Click the arrow to see the specific focus of each project type.

Selected businesses partake in one project addressing a business challenge or opportunity of their choosing. Projects are customized, and tailored to the needs of each specific business.

In the application, businesses can detail up to 3 potential projects to be considered.

Finance Projects

    • Assistance with managing financial books and records

    • Establishment of best practices for office records, including systems to maintain accurate records

    • Setting forecasts/budgets and system development/best practices for efficiently tracking expenses

    • Identify and create opportunities to use data and reporting to deliver business insights

    • Technical assistance with common business tools such as QuickBooks, Microsoft Office Suite, visualization software, etc.

    • Review of insurance policies and discussions on what insurance terms mean and what each policy covers

    • Development of best practices for identifying and filing claims

    • Reviews of certain insurance claims

    • Complete risk assessment of equipment and process controls to protect employees and customers from injury in business spaces (store, warehouse, etc.)

    • Review environment, processes and training to ensure compliance with OSHA regulations

Marketing Projects

    • Research to uncover a deeper understanding of your customer, inclusive of demographics, income brackets, value drivers, shopping trends

    • Define what you stand for, the promise you make that differentiates you from the competition

    • Includes support with logo, color palette, and typography to be leveraged across materials

    • Develop a plan to guide your social media marketing and evaluate success across social platforms, inclusive of best practices/training on social media marketing

    • Develop a plan to drive awareness or engagement with your target audience, including where and how to reach them and how to measure success

    • Develop marketing materials/collateral such as: branded ppt deck, flyers, etc. - requires brand guidelines

    • Develop a plan on digital tactics to drive traffic, engagement and/or repeat visits, inclusive of review of best practices/training

    • Develop strategy to promote a new website/app, inclusive of KPIs

Operations Projects

    • Building, remodeling, process, systems and programs

    • Architecture, engineering, space planning

    • Interior planning inclusive of: graphics, fixtures, etc.

    • Site and asset maintenance and repairs, energy usage, building sustainability practices

    • Sourcing and negotiation best practices

    • Optimal ordering and hands-on strategies

    • Predictive modeling and forecasting

    • Supplier performance and management

    • Replenishment planning and execution, including last mile and direct vendor ship for fulfillment

    • Warehouse management and operations, including quality practices, labor planning, and capacity utilization

    • Transportation logistics, including planning, carrier management

    • Best practices around development of retail, office, and warehouse space, inclusive of: identifying and securing sites, property evaluation, etc.

    • Customer service/call center management and activation

    • Invoicing best practices

    • Gift card services

Technology Projects

    • Build new or enhance existing website with features like products/services, search capability, and eCommerce plug-ins

    • Assess current website and ensure it’s easy for customers to navigate (e.g. menu bar, order of pages, etc.)

    • Create polls/survey/feedback tools and display summary of activities

    • Review technology stack and recommend technology solution(s), providing tools and training guidance

Legal Projects

(Minnesota businesses only)

    • Review contracts (e.g. business/entity formation, real estate transactions, service and license agreements, sponsorships), inclusive of negotiation and drafting

    • Advice on matters relating to unionization and union organizing, payment of wages, discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, protected leaves of absence, wrongful termination, the rights of undocumented workers and independent contractors, immigration support

    • Advising on criminal background checks and drug testing in employment

    • Advice on trademark, patent, copyright, licensing, software, and IP ownership considerations

    • Assessments and scenario planning, particularly regarding future decisions where there are high amounts of uncertainty.

      • This can include facilitation expertise in designing and leading these sessions (e.g., company has a need to know when schools are likely to be in person in order to plan fall schedule, identify company’s top 3 risks over the next 12 months).

Food & Beverage (F&B) Projects

    • Competitive landscape within F&B inclusive of industry trends, competitor price points and differentiators

    • Planning/strategy, pricing and assortment

    • Review of the R&D, ingredient sourcing/cost analysis, recipe review, or sustainable sourcing

    • Replenishment and fulfillment strategies, inclusive of: inventory management and planning, warehouse operations, transportation, cold chain/temp-controlled logistics

    • Selling processes and retail support, in-store experiences

    • Ensuring FDA compliance, safety/quality compliance requirements  

General Merchandising Projects

    • Fundamentals: review product development process, retail math & product planning/pricing

    • Design focus: Reviewing existing product design, aligning product design to product usage and existing brand identity

    • Sourcing strategy:  Support with vendor relationships (excludes connections), including reviewing best practices, vendor matrix/RFI (request for information), compliance of materials, sustainability practices overview

    • Conduct market analysis/competitive research (product focused)

    • Recommendations on assortment plan, including new revenue streams

    • Build pricing model and consult on pricing strategy

    • Develop a Line Plan inclusive of: optimal product offering, inventory best practices (pricing, markup, units, etc.)

    • Structural Packaging Consult: advise on dielines, specs, format – requires brand identity

    • Packaging Material Sourcing Process: high-level overview, inclusive of recs on vendors, RFI (Request for Information) – excludes connections

    • Plan development for in-store selling supporting one or a few of the following: promotion, space on shelves, shelf presentation, buyers journey, sales plans, strategy build, competition

Human Resources Projects

    • Review current recruitment methods

    • Advise on optimal staffing/org chart, provide insights on industry/local norms of recruitment/retention strategy

    • Review of current compensation packages

    • Competitive analysis of comparable compensation packages & recommendations

    • Assist in designing and developing training objectives and programs based on business objectives

    • Review processes and concepts to facilitate succession planning needs and develop plans for future readiness

    • Review inclusion policies from recruitment through employee tenure and make recommendations

    • Review of HR operations best practices, inclusive of tools, routines and common policies

    • Support developing SOPs/documenting policies

Applications have closed.

For eligibility questions, reach out to joy@handsontwincities.org