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The Big Picture: A lawyer from Washington, DC with more than a decade of experience in nonprofit law, Beth Davidson volunteered to help Bluebonnet Data — a new nonprofit that recruits, trains, and organizes people with coding and data science skills to volunteer on progressive causes — incorporate as a 501(c)(4) organization.
- Beth has also volunteered through We The Action five other times since 2018, including working with the Election Protection Coalition to help protect the vote.
- If Bluebonnet Data sounds like an organization you’d like to support, keep reading to learn about an opportunity to volunteer!
A passion for service: Beth says she’s been volunteering since she was in law school and feels like doing pro bono work is a fundamental part of being a lawyer.
- “Pro bono work has always been really important to me,” she says. “As lawyers, we have a very specific set of skills that we can use to make a big impact. Whether it’s nonprofit law, IP, transactional work, litigation, tax, or consumer finance, lawyers can provide pro bono help in any field.”
Opening new opportunities to make a difference: Becca Blais, Executive Director at Bluebonnet Data, says that Beth’s attention to detail and passion has allowed them to explore new financial opportunities and mobilize volunteers who otherwise might not realize the value of their skills.
- “Many people with a coding background think there’s only two paths for them: through Silicon Valley or working for a big bank,” Becca says, but Bluebonnet is working to change that.
“A mentor to the organization”: While Beth’s legal support was critical to helping Bluebonnet flourish, Becca says that Beth also filled a more unexpected role for Bluebonnet’s leadership team: a mentor.
- “We had an immediate connection with Beth,” Becca says. “Beth was genuinely invested in our success. She really took the time to understand who we are and guide us through the process."
- Becca says that Beth’s guidance “totally changed the way [they] operated” as they mobilized data-focused volunteers into projects fighting for voting rights, elevating underrepresented voices, combating climate change, and more.
Small commitments, big impact: Like any lawyer, Beth says she sometimes struggles to find the time to volunteer, but We The Action helps her find projects that don’t require a major time commitment.
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