Fast forward to today. More then a year has passed and I have completed web sites for other organizations some of them being paid projects. Yet this project is still left uncomlete. I’m kind of skeptical now - should I charge the client? Should I impose a fee on the client for overdue materials? I see all sorts of opportunities the community can gain from the web site but I don’t have anything I can work on.

It’s quite ironic that you would expect me to blow off the project, but instead it’s the owner!

If you do take on charity work I agree with the many in here who indicate it ought to be treated as a normal project and scheduled accordingly.

~cheers

but in the end, it should be about providing something to improve the life of another.

Any new business that does charitable work is almost always doing it to promote their new business. (ie. To improve their own life) I’m not saying that is right, but that is reality.

I almost hate myself saying that because charity work should (in the perfect world) given from the bottom of the heart or because you truely believe in the charity and the work they are doing… but I am a realist—and this is business.

Let’s all try to remember what charitable work is all about. Sure it has some marketing and business advantages, but in the end, it should be about providing something to improve the life of another.

Never give your work away to get a contract. Any company that demands work to get a contract is sleazy and you don’t want to work for them anyway.

Marketing & Sales is work that you will never get a contract to do for yourself and pointless if it is not “FOR” the client - so does that mean you won’t do it. As kenzsa points out you need to see if it’s an OPP or NOT… It is pretty common for large ORGs to request bids with comps and you’ve got to play to win.

Never give your work away to get a contract. Any company that demands work to get a contract is sleazy and you don’t want to work for them anyway.

I’m not sure that I agree with this, but I do understand the principle. It all depends on what precisely it is they are asking you to do.

For example, how many hours do people work on tenders with the possibility of not being paid for the work. Or how many times has a graphic designer been asked to provide a “concept” for a job that if the concept is successful could net them many thousands. Same with Architects vying for large jobs.

Has anyone asked a tax agent if performing work for a Charity is tax deductable? I bet it is…. If its not, as someone said earlier there are often advantages for the business to do the work that they just aren’t thinking of right now (when the $$ are foremost in the mind). I almost hate myself saying that because charity work should (in the perfect world) given from the bottom of the heart or because you truely believe in the charity and the work they are doing… but I am a realist - and this is business.

In turn, they are going to promote my company in their quarterly e-newsletter. It goes out to 800-900 volunteers, marketing experts and designers. I am hoping to get people visiting my site. I have a newsletter sign-up form on every page. I then have a true opt-in I can promote my own company. So, I would say that paying $200 and some of my spare time is worth getting in front of a potential 800+ people. The key is to listen to i-devs above along with working with the charity before you start the work to establish a trade that has the potential to establish qualified leads.