Professional Growth with Purpose: How TAP Invests in Its Volunteer Consultants

At The Acceleration Project (TAP), volunteering is a two-way exchange. Consultants lend their time and expertise to support small businesses in under-resourced communities, offering strategic guidance in operations, finance, marketing, growth, and more. In return, they gain access to a robust professional development platform that includes live trainings, curated resources, peer networking, and opportunities to build both existing and new skills.

All consultants are invited to participate in professional development sessions offered throughout the year. New cohorts receive five dedicated onboarding sessions, while advanced trainings are open to the full consultant community. Recent offerings include:

This hands-on session helped consultants explore how artificial intelligence can be practically applied to small business environments. They learned to navigate generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude and practiced prompt engineering to produce compelling marketing content, analyze spreadsheets, and automate operational tasks. The session highlighted low-cost tools that small businesses can realistically adopt, and included discussions of ethics, privacy, and real-world use cases from the field.

Focused on learning how to protect sensitive data and guard against phishing, smishing, and credential harvesting, this session provided nonprofit-specific context and clear takeaways. Consultants were trained to identify threats, recommend password and data handling protocols, and coach clients on basic cybersecurity hygiene.

In this interactive session, consultants were trained to lead thoughtful discussions around brand identity, positioning, and storytelling. The goal was to help entrepreneurs move beyond generic messaging and build authentic emotional connections with their audiences.

What makes these sessions so effective is TAP’s commitment to consultants training consultants. Each session was led by a fellow TAP professional, reinforcing the power of peer learning within a highly experienced network.

• AI Training: Led by Anne-Cécile Guillot Bellisario (Simplify Digital) and Lynn You (Etsy)
• Cybersecurity: Created by TAP’s internal tech team
  
• Branding Session: Facilitated by TAP consultant and branding expert Jodi Robin

These trainings do more than strengthen TAP’s consulting impact. They offer consultants a platform for continued growth, whether they are exploring new directions or seeking to stay professionally sharp.
​
“We’ve built TAP to be a place where impact and development go hand in hand,” says Amber Yusef, TAP’s Senior Director of Talent Operations. “Our consultants deliver meaningful support to small business owners, but they also gain confidence, clarity, and real-world experience that supports their own goals, whether that’s returning to the workforce, shifting careers, or staying professionally active.”

TAP has evolved since its 2012 founding as a platform to support professionals reentering the workforce. Today:

• 60% of TAP consultants hold full-time or part-time jobs
• 62% hold advanced degrees
• Consultants bring experience from firms like Google, American Express, Nike, and more

While working with TAP, many consultants discover new interests or gain clarity that leads them to pivot into new industries. TAP provides the structure and stimulation to support these transitions while creating meaningful social impact.

If you are a professional looking for a skill-based volunteer experience that grows with you, now is the time.
Apply to join the next TAP consultant cohortBuild your future while helping others build theirs.
[Apply]