Volunteer: Automated Business Mapping Using AI

This is a volunteer opportunity provided by Taproot Foundation, a nonprofit creating social change through pro bono connections.

RBIJ works with companies to break down barriers for untapped talent through meaningful changes to corporate and public policy, and to advance narrative change. To do so, we currently identify and recruit new businesses — and their leaders — into this space through a robust amount of manual research and data collection/entry, a process we refer to as “business mapping.” For every state where RBIJ works, staff members identify key businesses through specific considerations including: top employers in the state, the largest businesses with headquarters there, chambers of commerce and other industry-specific associations, fair chance employers and those who have attended relevant job fairs, foreign direct investment (FDI), and employers that are mission-aligned. We currently use a combination of internet research, business journal directories and databases, spreadsheets, and RocketReach. While critically important, this process requires a substantial amount of staff time across the majority of the organization and on an ongoing basis. In addition to poor quality and/or inconsistent data, this process also has limited our reach and impact in empowering more businesses to advance justice reform.

RBIJ is an award-winning international nonprofit that works with companies to champion solutions that promote public safety, deliver justice, and strengthen communities. We work to advance change by: Reforming Systems. We empower companies to advocate for critical policy reforms that make the justice system fairer and the workforce stronger. Restoring Opportunity. We equip employers to create life-changing career opportunities that help people rebuild their lives after justice involvement — or prevent it in the first place. Reframing Narratives. We help companies leverage their platforms to build and entrench the narrative that a fair justice system and inclusive economy are good for business. With support for this project, our small team can focus more on further expanding our reach and impact within the business community while empowering them to advocate for justice system reform.

A successful outcome would look like an integrated and automated business mapping system where prospects are identified and tiered based on specific parameters (location, industry, size, mission-alignment) and categorized by engagement likelihood. It would also include the ability to suggest specific engagement opportunities from RBIJ’s offerings. Lastly, it would also look like RBIJ staff having the skills and expertise to sustain the product long-term after the fellowship’s completion. We would measure impact across several key areas: Increased efficiency: We’d expect to see a significant increase RBIJ’s staff time for high-level strategic relationship building and management – reducing time spent on manual research, data entry, and database maintenance. Increased quality and consistency of data mapping: Identify prospects that align with defined eligibility criteria and search parameters, with accurate, actionable contact information. Greater reach: We’d expect this project to significantly increase the quantity of outreach that could be conducted on a monthly scale. Scaled engagement: With a higher volume of outreach, we’d expect to see a higher conversion rate from business prospect to one that is either interested and/or starting to engage with RBIJ. This would directly translate into impact.

Responsible Business Initiative for Justice Mission: The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) works with companies to champion fairness, equality, and effectiveness across systems of punishment and incarceration. RBIJ grew out of a diverse collaboration: lawyers who had witnessed destructive cycles of incarceration first hand, businesses committed to seeing change within their communities, and government leaders working to secure human rights for all. Out of their collective insights, experiences and frustrations, a common vision formed that became our central mission - to build an effective criminal justice system that increases safety, deters violence and is above all fair. Every human, regardless of their circumstances, is entitled to respect, equality, fairness and dignity before the law. This universally accepted norm is enshrined in statutes, regulations, international treaties and a…