Setting Boundaries for Your Pro Bono Work
One cannot live on exposure and promises alone, so how do you set boundaries for your pro bono work?
In my last post, I mentioned that a couple of opportunities cropped up as a result of the content I have been sharing. Some of these opportunities are unpaid and require in-kind donations of my time, but with the right connection, the right vision, and the right strategy, it could be the right opportunity that will eventually pay off many times over.
With that said, what exactly is the right opportunity?
- The Right Connection.
It’s important that the person or organization you will be providing pro bono services to is developed enough to make the experience worthwhile. If they are a complete mess or are only looking to you to complete work they will never pay for, then you’re not really pro bono, you’re just being used.
The right connection should have an established vision of their own; they should have integrity. They should be able to provide some value in return, even if it’s simply constructive criticism or their network. The right connection should show appreciation for the work you’re doing. They should be open to your ideas and they should show some interest in your own progress. The right connection should be a willing reference; they should be your word of mouth. - The Right Vision.
Once you have the right connection, you need to make sure you’re utilizing the right vision and strategy to graduate from pro bono to paid!
You will need the right vision in order to utilize the right strategy. You need to know why you’re providing pro bono services in the first place. Are you looking for experience to improve? Are you looking for exposure of your already developed skills? Are you starting a new business or are you simply trying to give back?
Your why will help you develop the proper strategy. - The Right Strategy.
If you’re starting a new business, you may want to request that they tag or mention you in a social media post or you may want to ask for a signed agreement. You may even want to require that your logo be placed on all marketing and branding content. If the organization you’re helping is a 501c3, you may want to submit receipts for your in-kind donations so that you can write those pro bono services off on your taxes.
If you’re looking to develop your skills, you may want to ask to work under someone you admire in the organization or ask for access to tools that will help further develop your own skills.
In any of the cases above, it’s important to hone in on a strategy to maximize the pro bono opportunity you have. You don’t want to fall into the habit of taking on pro bono work and hoping it will effortlessly turn into something on its own, because oftentimes it doesn’t. So to graduate from pro bono to paid work, you have to be strategic about what you take on, how you take it on, and whom you take work from.
Set limits to how many free offerings or services you can offer in a month. Set limits on how long the free services will continue. You can even require a set number of referrals. Make sure you set clear expectations for what you want in return. If they have services you also need, set a fair exchange and barter services, but always set a clear limit for free deliverables and time.
Another word to the wise, don’t fall into the trap of working for free because you don’t think you can charge for it yet. Don’t work for free because you don’t think your services are worthwhile. Instead, do it for organizations and people you believe in. Do it for visions that align with your own. Do it if you truly believe it will be a worthwhile experience. And of course, do it with set boundaries in place.
