IBM and Bridgespan Act to Enhance the Nonprofit Sector Talent Pool
Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
8.01.2008 - 10:57am ET
News from:
IBM
IBM and Bridgespan Act to Enhance the Nonprofit Sector Talent Pool
IBM Employees and Retirees Business Expertise Could Help Fill Void
(CSRwire) ARMONK, NY and BOSTON, MA. - (MARKET WIRE) - August 1, 2008 - IBM (NYSE:
IBM) and The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit organization supporting
nonprofits with strategy consulting and executive recruiting, are teaming
to address the shortage of leaders in the nonprofit sector by helping
interested IBM employees transition to second careers innonprofits.
More than 640,000 new nonprofit leaders will be needed by 2016 according
to "The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit," a Bridgespan study,
largely due to baby boomer retirement and overall sector growth. At the
same time, nonprofits are under increasing pressure to demonstrate
results, which is leading some to reach out for skills that business
leaders might bring.
"Boomers are planning to work longer than their parents did, and millions
want work that is meaningful, both personally and to society, but the
transition isn't an easy one," says Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of
Civic Ventures, a think tank focused on boomers and work. "This
partnership between IBM and Bridgespan will provide a clear path from the
end of a midlife career to an encore career for the greater good. It's a
great service for employees and a model for other employers to follow."
IBM and Bridgespan's Bridgestar initiative (www.bridgestar.org) will build a
program and online platform to help IBM employees and retirees understand
the transition into the nonprofit sector. The program will include access
to tools and content that help users assess their readiness for the
transition, identify potential opportunities and skills required, apply
for available job opportunities with nonprofits, and receive mentoring.
After the pilot with IBM, the tools and resources developed will be made
available for other nonprofits and corporations to start similar
initiatives.
"A balanced management team that combines the best in for profit
management disciplines such as marketing, human resources, information
technology, and finance with those with top expertise in social service
management, program development, research, evaluation, fund development
and nonprofit governance has enabled us to grow dramatically and deliver
the best service," said Judy Vredenburgh, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Big Brothers and Big Sisters. "As an organization that serves
the welfare of children, it is important that we run it in the most
effective and efficient way possible."
In 2005, IBM launched Transition to Teaching, enabling employees
interested in a second career to become K-12 math and science teachers.
This initiative expands on that and IBM's On Demand Community, a global
volunteer effort in which more than 100,000 employees currently
participate. These employees are sharing their time and talent to improve
their local schools, community organizations and non profits.
"Our employees have a high level of skills and ability in management and
technology that can be applied to serving our communities," said Stanley
S. Litow, vice president of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs,
IBM. "We believe that this transition program is the kind of corporate
leadership and partnership with nonprofits that is necessary to make a
significant difference to society, to the employee and to the company."
According to the Bridgespan Group, identifying and connecting new pools of
talent to sector opportunities is critical to nonprofit organizations'
ability to achieve their missions. Individuals with functional business
skills, such as operations, finance, marketing and communications, and
technology have the potential to be great assets, both as board members
and potential leaders in nonprofit organizations.
"We are delighted to be partnering with IBM to build on the success of the
On Demand Community," said David L. Simms, managing partner of the
Bridgestar initiative. "IBM and Bridgespan share an important objective:
to educate about the nonprofit sector and connect interested individuals
to opportunities to serve. The program we are jointly building has the
potential to reach and influence a very significant talent pool. We hope
that there will be mutual benefit--IBM employees and retirees contributing
their skills and experiences, and nonprofits able to realize greater impact
as a result."
The program is an initiative under IBM's Global Citizen's Portfolio
announced last July by Samuel Palmisano, CEO of IBM. The Global Citizen's
Portfolio is a suite of programs to help employees succeed in a globally
integrated economy. The program expands earlier enhanced transitions
services efforts, including a pilot program with the Partnership for
Public Service to match IBM employees with open jobs in the federal
government. This program builds off of the company's original successful
Transition to Teaching initiative. More than 100 employees are
participating in the Transition to Teaching program, and it has been
adopted by other companies and governments.
Bridgestar
Bridgestar(www.bridgestar.org), an initiative of
the Bridgespan Group, provides talent-matching services, content, and tools
designed to help organizations build strong leadership teams and
individuals pursue career paths as nonprofit leaders. Bridgestar's goal
is to attract, connect, and support senior talent, leading to greater
organizational effectiveness and social impact.
For more information about IBM, please visit www.ibm.com
For more information please contact:
Sandra Dressel
IBM Communications
914-499-6609
Carol Trager
The Bridgespan Group
617-572-2973
www.ibm.com
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