Consultants – Give Back Memphis

Who are our consultants?

Experienced, often retired professionals, seeking opportunities to apply their skills through pro bono projects with non-profit organizations.

Why participate?

To apply your skills in a way that makes a meaningful difference in the community.
To join a team of fellow Give Back Memphis consultants.
To strengthen your commitment to a cause that matters to you.
To continue to enhance your professional skills and personal interests through civic engagement.
To create something new with people who value your perspective.

Testimonials

What consultants say about our volunteering opportunities

Bright, Experienced, and Insightful

Working as a consultant for Give Back Memphis is truly a two-way street. While you make important contributions to the non-profits with which you are associated, each consultant gets a great deal back. You have the opportunity to work with bright, experienced and insightful people. The projects on which you work are not just interesting. Each has its challenges. In addition, as regards GBM itself, you get the satisfaction of working with a really innovative organization. For anyone who is retired or simply has time, this is a great place to channel your time and energy while making a meaningful contribution to the community.

Allen Blair, Attorney

Blair Mediation

A Fire Inside

Working as a volunteer consultant with GBM has been enjoyable, but the main reasons to do it are that it is a stimulating way to stir up your skills and experience, while making a contribution to the community which is more immediate and relevant than simply writing a check. I have been privileged to work with some innovative new projects in need of a little foundational direction and some long-standing groups that have neglected their organizational structure for quite a while. All that with colleagues who were great to work with and “clients” who are receptive and appreciative. As the old saying goes, there may be snow on the roof but there is still a fire inside.

James B. Jalenek, Attorney

Deeply Satisfying and Rewarding

My experience as a GBM consultant has been deeply satisfying and rewarding. Memphis nonprofits serve all segments of our community in a variety of ways. By providing expertise developed over years of business/nonprofit experience on a pro bono basis, I get the satisfaction of helping a valuable community asset while also getting the opportunity to interact with talented and dedicated leaders from whom I can learn. To continue this valuable work, GBM needs more individuals that will donate their time, talent, and treasure. I would highly recommend that you consider becoming part of the GBM team.

Gib Vestal

A Worthwhile Experience!

I am so happy that I had the opportunity to work with Give Back Memphis and their client. What a worthwhile experience! The project exposed me to an important and valuable local organization that I knew nothing about, and I am so glad that I had the chance to learn about the many vital services they provide to our community. I felt proud to support their work.

Adrienne Timberlake, Account Supervisor

Archer Malmo

Engaging, Challenging, Rewarding

Give Back Memphis treads where others dare not go. It is an unbelievable network of executives and business experts who believe that nonprofits can transform communities if given the right opportunities, resources, and leadership. For the past four years, I found the projects engaging, challenging, and most rewarding.

Michelle Fowlkes, former Executive Director

Memphis Library Foundation

A Real Contribution

It is rare in my experience as a consultant to find an opportunity to make a real contribution to the betterment of an important nonprofit, and at the same time feel like I have paid back at least some of the debt I owe to the community that has been so good to me for so long. That is the feeling I had working through Give Back Memphis.

Jeff Sanford, Principal

Jeff Sanford Consulting

Doing What I Do Best

Being a professional consultant for Give Back Memphis has been a wonderful opportunity to use my professional skills and expertise after retirement. Nonprofits generally have a lean staff and don’t always have access to the resources they need. By providing pro bono accounting services, I can have a positive impact on our community by doing what I do best, which in turn, allows the organization to fully focus on their mission.

Trish Pontius, CPA

Targeted and Technical

It is a real pleasure to be able to help community organizations grow and become more effective in serving our city. Though my consulting role was targeted and more technical in nature than it was visionary, it gave me the opportunity to be of help and learn about two significant non-profits.

Holley McGehee

How does it work?

01.

Give Back Memphis recruits volunteer consultants on an ongoing basis.

02.

The vetting process involves an interview with the prospective consultant and an application to learn more about their professional trajectory and interest in volunteering.

What's the commitment?

Each project

Consulting projects can range from two to six months.
On average a consultant can expect to spend 10-20 hours each month on a project.

Long-term commitments

Twice a year consultants meet to help improve Give Back Memphis’ processes and offerings and to share experiences.
We have found that consultants often establish a deep connection with their clients and continue to make themselves available.