More than 640,000 new nonprofit leaders will be needed by 2016 according to"The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit," a Bridgespan study, largelydue to baby boomer retirement and overall sector growth. At the same time,nonprofits are under increasing pressure to demonstrate results, which isleading some to reach out for skills that business leaders might bring.

"Boomers are planning to work longer than their parents did, and millionswant work that is meaningful, both personally and to society, but thetransition isn't an easy one," says Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of CivicVentures, a think tank focused on boomers and work. "This partnershipbetween IBM and Bridgespan will provide a clear path from the end of amidlife career to an encore career for the greater good. It's a greatservice for employees and a model for other employers to follow."

IBM and Bridgespan's Bridgestar initiative (www.bridgestar.org) will builda program and online platform to help IBM employees and retirees understandthe transition into the nonprofit sector. The program will include accessto tools and content that help users assess their readiness for thetransition, identify potential opportunities and skills required, apply foravailable job opportunities with nonprofits, and receive mentoring. Afterthe pilot with IBM, the tools and resources developed will be madeavailable for other nonprofits and corporations to start similarinitiatives.

"A balanced management team that combines the best in for profit managementdisciplines such as marketing, human resources, information technology, andfinance with those with top expertise in social service management, programdevelopment, research, evaluation, fund development and nonprofitgovernance has enabled us to grow dramatically and deliver the bestservice," said Judy Vredenburgh, President and Chief Executive Officer ofBig Brothers and Big Sisters. "As an organization that serves the welfareof children, it is important that we run it in the most effective andefficient way possible."

In 2005, IBM launched Transition to Teaching, enabling employees interestedin a second career to become K-12 math and science teachers. Thisinitiative expands on that and IBM's On Demand Community, a globalvolunteer effort in which more than 100,000 employees currentlyparticipate. These employees are sharing their time and talent to improvetheir local schools, community organizations and non profits.

"Our employees have a high level of skills and ability in management andtechnology 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 corporateleadership and partnership with nonprofits that is necessary to make asignificant difference to society, to the employee and to the company."

According to the Bridgespan Group, identifying and connecting new pools oftalent to sector opportunities is critical to nonprofit organizations'ability to achieve their missions. Individuals with functional businessskills, such as operations, finance, marketing and communications, andtechnology have the potential to be great assets, both as board members andpotential leaders in nonprofit organizations.

"We are delighted to be partnering with IBM to build on the success of theOn Demand Community," said David L. Simms, managing partner of theBridgestar initiative. "IBM and Bridgespan share an important objective: toeducate about the nonprofit sector and connect interested individuals toopportunities to serve. The program we are jointly building has thepotential to reach and influence a very significant talent pool. We hopethat there will be mutual benefit--IBM employees and retirees contributingtheir skills and experiences, and nonprofits able to realize greater impactas a result."

The program is an initiative under IBM's Global Citizen's Portfolioannounced last July by Samuel Palmisano, CEO of IBM. The Global Citizen'sPortfolio is a suite of programs to help employees succeed in a globallyintegrated economy. The program expands earlier enhanced transitionsservices efforts, including a pilot program with the Partnership for PublicService to match IBM employees with open jobs in the federal government.This program builds off of the company's original successful Transition toTeaching initiative. More than 100 employees are participating in theTransition to Teaching program, and it has been adopted by other companiesand governments.

Bridgestar

Bridgestar (www.bridgestar.org), an initiative of the Bridgespan Group,provides talent-matching services, content, and tools designed to helporganizations build strong leadership teams and individuals pursue careerpaths as nonprofit leaders. Bridgestar's goal is to attract, connect, andsupport senior talent, leading to greater organizational effectiveness andsocial impact.

For more information about IBM, please visit www.ibm.com

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