Philanthropy

Benefits & Challenges of Pro Bono Work

Amy Peveto — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:57 +0000

Benefits & Challenges of Pro Bono Work

Amy Peveto Mon, 04/23/2012 - 9:00am

Depending on your industry, you may at one time or another be asked to do some pro bono (“for the good”) work. These can be opportunities to help both the customer and yourself, but present unique challenges that need to be understood before diving in.

Note: For purposes of this blog post, I’m referring to pro bono work done for non-profit or charitable organizations — not for companies that can afford to pay but don’t think they should have to. That’s a different can of worms.

Benefits

Lending a hand

Whether you’re designing a new website, helping someone file for 501(c)3 status, or providing any other service, there’s a great deal of joy that comes with helping someone else. Non-profits, especially local ones, often start out with so few resources that any help you provide pushes them forward by leaps and bounds.

By doing pro bono work for an organization that couldn’t afford it otherwise, you help increase their reach and hopefully the amount of good they can do for others.

Give to get

It’s selfish but true: if you help someone now, they’re more likely to return the favor later. Helping an organization in need can result in business references, positive word of mouth from the organization, or in payment at a later date once that business has grown.

Similarly, prospective clients or customers will see that you are passionate about what you do, are willing to help others, and still create a valuable product or service even if there’s not much in it for you.

Learn by doing

Working pro bono is a great way to learn:

How non-profit or charitable organizations function from a business perspective.
What different organizations’ audiences need — war veterans, for example, have an easier time using websites with graphical navigation and calm colors.
Whether working with these types of organizations full-time is something you would enjoy.

Challenges

Unfulfilled promises

Any of this sound familiar?

“We’ll put a link to your website on ours.”
“We’ll recommend you to everyone.”
“We’ll pay you back once we get our grant.”

It doesn’t take much asking around to find people who have heard such promises from organizations for whom they worked for free; what’s harder to find are people who have seen follow-through on those promises.

Often this is a result of a lack of the organization’s ability — they really might not ever be able to pay you back, or the references they give aren’t the right match for your company.

This problem can, unfortunately, come from either way. Depending on a company’s culture and workload, some may equate bro bono work with being able to slack off; the final product may be less than what was promised, and everyone comes away dissatisfied.

Scope creep

It’s easy to fall into this trap when doing pro bono work. A small non-profit comes to you for help with copywriting, and somehow you end up helping them organize and promote an event — and you get paid for neither.

Smoothing the process

If you decide to do some pro bono work, there are a couple things you can do to help ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.

Follow your passion

If you’re asked to do pro bono work, or are choosing between two organizations with whom to partner, go with your gut. Is the organization and its mission something about which you can be passionate? Working for free is less frustrating if you enjoy what you’re doing, and your final result will showcase that passion.

Put it in writing

Work together to create a contract or statement of work that includes each party’s responsibilities and a set completion date for all work.

Even if no money is exchanging hands, the process of putting down the project’s elements and any “payment” (i.e., they’ll recommend you to five businesses this year) gives all parties a frame of reference and can provide the gentle pressure needed to make sure everyone does what they say they will, when they say they will.

Get to give

Ask for a small fee for one aspect of the work you’re doing. This can cover at least a little of your time, and vets the organization who wants to work with you — if they’re not willing to pay a little in exchange for a lot, it could be a red flag that you shouldn’t work together.

What’s your experience with pro bono work? Leave your thoughts and additions to this list in the comments.

[Image: Valerie Everett]

The Role of Social Media in the Bastrop, Texas Fires

Amy Peveto — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:20:03 +0000

The Role of Social Media in the Bastrop, Texas Fires

Amy Peveto Mon, 09/12/2011 - 10:20am

If you live in the southeastern part of Texas, you’re no doubt very aware of the fire that started in Bastrop and continues, almost totally uncontrolled, to burn its way across the rain-starved state. It’s a scary time for many, but the power of social media is helping us work together to preserve and recover.

Word of mouth social media

In times like these, when people and property are in danger, getting news out quickly is critical; information spreads much faster through real-time social media channels than it ever could through news programs or online newspapers, and so many are taking to social media networks to disseminate information:

The news that used to take days or weeks to spread can now be sent instantly — more lives and property can be saved, and coordinating donations and volunteers goes more smoothly.

How you can help

The fires are now more than 50% contained, but over 1,500 homes have been destroyed, and over 5,000 people had to be evacuated from the area. Many have lost almost all of their possessions, and Bastrop County has been declared a federal disaster area. And with over 140 separate fires happening in Texas in the last week, we’re not out of the woods yet.

Donate - Shelters in Texas are taking donations of just about everything: clothes (for all ages), food, diapers, toys, games, bedding, towels, toiletries...the list goes on. Check with local churches or charitable organizations to see if they’re accepting donations, or you can make tax-deductible monetary donations of the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund.
Volunteer - Spend some time at a shelter sorting donated items, providing emotional support to evacuees, entertaining children, or whatever the shelter operators need you to do. Open your home to evacuees and their families. If you’re a current or retired firefighter with your own equipment, consider heading into Bastrop to volunteer your services.
Spread the word - The amazing thing about social media is that you don’t have to be near the fires to help. Join one of the Bastrop fire Facebook pages and share those updates with your friends, and encourage them to pass on the latest information/requests for assistance.

I am glad to see that social media is more than just a way to reconnect with friends and family — it’s becoming a way to spread important, live-saving, information with just a click of the mouse.

[Image: KCEN TV]

Submitted by Serious Side … on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 12:11pm

[...] and animal owners or friends of these people turned to social media for help. Messages about horses needing shelter and groups providing information for victims quickly appeared and circulated around Facebook. One [...]

3 Features a Non-Profit Website Can’t Live Without

Amy Peveto — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:47:17 +0000

3 Features a Non-Profit Website Can’t Live Without

Amy Peveto Mon, 08/15/2011 - 10:47am

As Internet usage continues to increase, more potential donors are going to be searching online for donation opportunities. Not only do you want to attract new people to your cause — you also want those who have already donated to stay engaged with you, and continue to donate, volunteer, and spread the word.

While having a custom website may not be an option, here are three features that your non-profit organization’s website can’t afford not to have.

1. Donation form

This may seem like an obvious feature, but you’d be surprised at how many non-profit websites have no way for visitors to donate online. And it could be costing them money.

It’s an unfortunate side effect, but as people have become more comfortable using online payment platforms like PayPal, they have also become more impatient: they want to accomplish a given task, such as shopping or making a donation, quickly.

If visitors to your website must download a donation form, print it out, fill it in, write a check, address an envelope, and mail it, the chances of their actually doing so decreases. But if they can complete that form online, punch in their credit card information, hit the Send button and be done, they’re much more likely to do so.

Takeaway: Make it as easy as possible for your potential donors to become actual donors.

2. Blog

It’s great when an individual decides to donate or volunteer his or her time to join your cause; but it’s even better when that person keeps donating and volunteering, and shares information about you with their friends and family.

A blog is one of the simplest ways to encourage donors and volunteers to stay involved, because it creates a community in which everyone can participate:

A platform for your message - A blog is a fantastic way to spread information about your cause. You can post updates on your fundraising goals, news about new donors, photos of your most recent charity walk, and sending out messages of thanks to your followers.
Social sharing - If a blog post you write resonates with your followers, they may share it on places like their Facebook profile or their Twitter account. Their friends will see your content, possibly read it, and maybe share it with their friends. That one post can get you a lot of free publicity.
Increased traffic - Companies that blog get 55% more visitors than those that don’t. By creating content through a blog, you’re increasing the number of pages about your organization that the search engines can see. These pages will start appearing in search results, and because there are more of them, more people going to find you. And this starts the entire blogging cycle again.

If maintaining a blog is not feasible, consider creating a Facebook Page for your organization. You can invite your supporters to join you, and you can post updates, photos, and information about events, all in one location.

Takeaway: Create a community in which you and your audience can interact and continue to spread your message.

3. Emailing capabilities

If you’re a non-profit, it’s important that you continually keep your organization foremost in your supporters’ minds. A blog is one way to do this, but that requires that your supporters come to you — you should be able to go to them, too. One way to do this is with email.

You can use emails as blog digests (emails have links to your most recent blog posts), newsletters (emails contain updates on fundraising goals, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, etc.), or calls to action (“Volunteer opportunity,” “Donate online today!”).

These messages can be sent directly to your supporters’ email inboxes; just keep in mind the rules of getting permission to email individuals — not following them is a federal offense.

Takeaway: Build a list of your supporters’ email addresses, and use them to communicate your message directly.

How to get started

Is your website performing at is peak, or are you letting donors slip away? What can you do to keep donors and volunteers engaged in and fighting for your cause? Sign up for Digett’s free website analysis and let us help you develop a strategy that includes donation forms, blog creation, email capabilities, and more.

[Image: Mindful One]

Side Effects of Corporate Philanthropy

Mark Figart — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 05:00:00 +0000

Side Effects of Corporate Philanthropy

Mark Figart Sat, 10/14/2006 - 12:00am

It's a rainy Saturday ... a rare occurrence here in the Hill Country, in recent history. As I sit in my office at home and take care of random obligations, I reflect on the various things that Trevor, Roger, Joann, Lori, and I have undertaken taken over the past two or three years that have made an impact on Boerne.

We've tackled a few projects with little or no monetary compensation—and others at highly reduced rates—which hasn't gone undetected on the income statement. But these projects have, on the other hand, helped bring our team together, and they've given us a cause. It's amazing how well we've done financially, given all the time spent on the pro bono stuff, and yet it may be the spirit these projects have engendered that has spurred us to work more diligently and more efficiently on these projects and others.

If you're experiencing morale problems in your own company, you might try getting your team together and figuring out a cause on which, as a team, you can make a positive impact. I'd wager that you'll feel a positive impact yourselves, and you might find, as we have, that it makes you better able to tackle your paid gigs, too.

Philanthropy

Benefits & Challenges of Pro Bono Work

Benefits

Lending a hand

Give to get

Learn by doing

Challenges

Unfulfilled promises

Scope creep

Smoothing the process

Follow your passion

Put it in writing

Get to give

LEAVE A COMMENT

The Role of Social Media in the Bastrop, Texas Fires

Word of mouth social media

How you can help

LEAVE A COMMENT

3 Features a Non-Profit Website Can’t Live Without

1. Donation form

2. Blog

3. Emailing capabilities

How to get started

LEAVE A COMMENT

Side Effects of Corporate Philanthropy

LEAVE A COMMENT