Pro Bono like a Pro
Share This Blog Post:
Setting clear expectations when offering your services for free is the key to pro bono work that benefits you and contributes to the greater good.
Offering your services for free, aka pro bono, is a really good strategy for both new and established professionals to grow a business. Pro bono work gives you an opportunity to connect with new people or work with new organizations you typically wouldn’t work with. It also gives you an opportunity to try-out new products or services. And it gives you a great deal of exposure in the marketplace to increase your client base.
The term pro bono, shortened from the Latin pro bono publico, means “for good” or “for the public good.” Doing pro bono work often means doing it for a nonprofit or a socially conscious organization, and in many cases, it’s for a cause you believe in or for public service. So I believe every professional should make time for pro bono work. But every organization that requests pro bono services should be prepared to articulate a return on that investment.
While we are in business to make money, the bible does speak about the law of sowing and reaping. Giving is a fundamental kingdom essential to attaining godly prosperity. However, the bible also speaks of making the most of every opportunity and that a gift makes room for you. Accordingly, the general rule of thumb in pro bono work (unless it’s for your mother) is that you give your services away in exchange for a return benefit. Pro bono work should be a collaborative endeavor that should generally be mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
When all the parties are on the same page about the collaborative nature of the work, then pro bono assignments are often successful. If not, it can lead to hurt feelings, division, distractions, and downright disgust. Pro bono clients can quickly eat away at your business by draining your time, energy, and connections, leaving you with little to offer paying clients. In pro bono assignments, it’s important to set clear boundaries so that you have sufficient time to dedicate to your paying clients to keep your business profitable and avoid becoming a cheap alternative.
To do pro bono like a pro, here are a few tips:
1. Set clear expectations. Pro bono clients should be clear on what you will and won’t do, roles and responsibilities, deadlines and details to ensure successful completion of the assignment. Your name is on the line despite the fact that it’s pro bono and so you should exercise due diligence to get things done in excellence. Without clearly documented expectations, the client may demand more work than you intended, costing you time and money.
2. Never take on multiple pro bono clients. The need for more exposure and build a larger portfolio will result in zero money coming in. Instead, take on only one pro bono client at any given time to properly balance paying and non-paying clients. This also maintains the integrity of your business and prevents it from being viewed as a low-cost option, rather than a value-added necessity.
3. Pro bono projects should always have an agreed upon date of completion. Even if it’s the type of project that doesn’t have a clear finishing point, such as marketing services for a non-profit organization, agree upon a certain amount of time your services will be available. Otherwise, you may find yourself managing a project for months after you thought it would be over.
4. When offering your services for free, the expectation is that your business will get something in return. This may include such things as a product display table, referrals, testimonials, free advertising, or access to a customer database. Before taking on a pro bono client, define the mutual benefits and be clear on what it is you expect to gain. If the benefit to your business is not obvious, then it’s probably not in your best interest to take the work. Don’t be afraid to have these conversations; your client knows that you’re a business person and that you expect some kind of return on your investment.
The issues surrounding pro bono work are wide and deep, and opinions about it vary from person to person and from one organization to another. Consider the pros and cons of doing work for free, and stay true to your values. Ultimately, “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17).
Join the Conversation + Share Your Comments
