What Global Pro Bono Network does

Global Pro Bono Network (GPBN) is an international nonprofit membership network founded in 2013 by BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and Taproot Foundation to connect professional pro bono intermediary organizations worldwide. As of April 2026, GPBN comprises 60 member organizations spanning 36 countries, plus 3 regional and 7 global members. Its core offering is the network itself, enabling knowledge sharing, mutual support, and collaboration among pro bono providers through a portfolio of programs including the annual Global Pro Bono Summit, Regional Pro Bono Summits (Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America), Global Pro Bono Week (held each October), and the Global Pro Bono Academy online lecture series. The network also operates a Membership Directory and a Multi-National Pro Bono Program (MNP) framework that allows corporations to coordinate pro bono engagements across multiple countries simultaneously through member organizations.

GPBN operates as a coordination and knowledge-sharing network rather than a technology company; there is no proprietary software platform, no API, and no app. Delivery is event-led and content-led: case studies, interviews, reports, videos, and publications are distributed via the globalprobono.org website and social media channels. Members are admitted through a formal application, interview, and board approval process, and membership is free of charge. The organization shifted to a decentralized governance model in 2017, with a board elected from member organizations every two years; the 2026-2028 term seated five new board members representing Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America.

Revenue and pricing: GPBN generates no fee revenue from members and discloses no membership dues, pricing, or commercial pricing model. Operations are sustained through strategic partnerships with foundations (BMW Foundation, Taproot Foundation, YouChange) and government support (French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, partner since 2018). The network's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with member acquisition flowing from referrals, annual summits, regional events, and Pro Bono Week activities.

Name

Global Pro Bono Network

Legal name

Global Pro Bono Network

Website

https://globalprobono.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global Pro Bono Network is a 2013-founded international membership network connecting 60 pro bono intermediary organizations across 36 countries, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration through summits, regional events, and publications, supported by foundation and government partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pro Bono Network Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Pro bono network
• Nonprofit coalition
• Volunteer intermediary services
• Civic engagement network
• Corporate social responsibility programs

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Network Operations: GPBN operates as a membership-based network with no stated membership fees. The organization is supported through partnerships with foundations (BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, Taproot Foundation) and government bodies (French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) that provide strategic and financial support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Global Pro Bono Network (GPBN) is a membership-based international nonprofit network that connects pro bono intermediary organizations across 36 countries. It facilitates knowledge sharing, mutual support, and collaboration among its 60 member organizations through events such as the Global Pro Bono Summit, Regional Summits, Global Pro Bono Week, and the Global Pro Bono Academy, along with publications, case studies, and a Multi-National Pro Bono Program framework.

Product overview

Global Pro Bono Network operates as a global membership network connecting pro bono intermediary organizations rather than a traditional software product company. The core offering is the network itself, which provides a unified platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among pro bono providers. Supporting programs include the annual Global Pro Bono Summit, Regional Pro Bono Summits, Global Pro Bono Academy (online learning series), and Global Pro Bono Week (annual celebration). The network also provides access to a Membership Directory of 60 organizations across 36 countries, along with resources including case studies, interviews, videos, and publications. A key service is the Multi-National Pro Bono Program (MNP) framework enabling corporations to deploy coordinated pro bono initiatives across multiple countries through member organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Pro Bono Network Membership The core membership network connecting pro bono intermediary organizations across 36 countries, with 60 member organizations facilitating knowledge sharing, mutual support, and collaboration among pro bono providers globally. Membership is granted through a formal application, interview, and board approval process.
• Global Pro Bono Summit Annual invitation-only summit bringing together pro bono leaders, network members, corporate partners, foundations, and specialists to meet, discuss, and share best practices. The summit rotates globally across cities such as New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Singapore, Mumbai, Lisbon, and Tokyo.
• Regional Pro Bono Summits Regional events organized by Network members within Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America, providing learning and exchange opportunities with greater accessibility than the global summits.
• Global Pro Bono Academy One-week online series of lectures and sessions showcasing pro bono intermediary organizations worldwide, providing up-to-date information and knowledge related to pro bono across the world.
• Global Pro Bono Week Annual celebration held every October since 2013, providing members with opportunities to organize events for raising awareness about pro bono and inspiring others to participate.
• Pro Bono Resources Library Comprehensive library of educational materials including case studies from various countries, interviews with pro bono leaders, videos, and reports/publications on pro bono best practices.
• Multi-National Pro Bono Program (MNP) Framework for coordinating multinational pro bono projects performed by different branches of global corporations in cooperation with GPBN member organizations across multiple countries simultaneously.
• Membership Directory Directory of Global Network Members comprising 60 organizations from 36 countries plus 3 regional and 7 global members, providing access to pro bono intermediary organizations worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 member organizations from 36 countries connected through the network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and founding.

• French Ministry for Europe and Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Supports international cooperation and initiatives contributing to civil society reinforcement internationally. Acknowledges GPBN as a capacity builder and supports network development and structuring.
• BMW Foundation Herbert QuandtfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Founding partner of GPBN. BMW Foundation supports the network to foster a global support network for the field of pro bono service. The foundation provides strategic leadership and governance through the Partners Council structure.
• Taproot FoundationfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Founding partner of GPBN. Inspired the creation of independent NGOs worldwide to develop pro bono programs. Provides thought leadership and best practices frameworks that inform the network's approach.
• YouChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes social justice and development by creating social innovation networks for co-operation across sectors within China. Activities include research, pilot projects, grant making, and social value investment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PILnet: PILnet is a global pro bono network that mobilizes lawyers and law firms for civil society, with member firm relationships across multiple countries. It is the closest functional parallel to GPBN in a different professional vertical (legal vs. general business).
• NetHope: NetHope is a coalition of ~60 international NGOs that share capabilities, convene, and collaborate on shared infrastructure for the social sector — structurally the closest analog to GPBN in NGO-to-NGO cooperation.
• Pyxera Global: Pyxera Global is a US-based pro bono and corporate-engagement intermediary that runs multi-country corporate pro bono deployments. GPBN's new Board member Carolina Gowland joins from Pyxera, evidencing operational overlap in multinational pro bono execution.
• Taproot Foundation: Taproot Foundation is a founding partner of GPBN and operates as a pro bono intermediary in the US, the original model that inspired GPBN's global network of member organizations. Both connect skilled professionals to nonprofits.

Broad incumbents

• Points of Light: Points of Light is a global nonprofit operating a large volunteer-service infrastructure and convening network (including Global Pro Bono Week adjacencies). Comparable as a global membership/convening body around civic service and corporate engagement.
• Ashoka: Ashoka operates a global network of social entrepreneurs and changemaker-support organizations with presence across dozens of countries. Comparable as a globally federated non-governmental network connecting mission-aligned intermediaries.
• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): VSO is a long-established global volunteer-deployment organization present in many of the same emerging markets GPBN serves. Comparable as a global infrastructure for skills-based volunteering and development cooperation.
• BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt: BMW Foundation is a founding partner and strategic funder of GPBN and also runs its own global Responsible Leadership Network. Comparable as a funder/convenor in the global pro bono and social-impact space.

Emerging players

• PeaceNexus Foundation: PeaceNexus funds and convenes intermediary organizations working in peacebuilding across multiple regions. Comparable as a foundation that invests in and connects a portfolio of field-building NGO intermediaries in multiple geographies.

Regional players

• Service Grant Japan: Service Grant Japan powers the GPBN website and is a Japan-based pro bono intermediary; it represents the kind of regional member organization inside GPBN's network and operates comparable volunteer-matching programs in Asia.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hashtag/GlobalProBonoNetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globalprobono

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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