Comments on: The Art of Giving http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/ Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:23:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Anonymous http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-125368 Anonymous Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:59:45 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-125368 There is a great grassroots org called Save'NDonate that has just launched a website which allows users to register their charity or org and then shop online, with 100% of what is advertised going directly to the cause. They have several hundred merchants and actually address the 'giving often' mantra. They are FREE to use. great concept!!! There is a great grassroots org called Save’NDonate that has just launched a website which allows users to register their charity or org and then shop online, with 100% of what is advertised going directly to the cause. They have several hundred merchants and actually address the ‘giving often’ mantra. They are FREE to use. great concept!!!

]]> By: Eric Shmookler http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-121969 Eric Shmookler Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:01:28 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-121969 Nice article. I just established an automatic monthly donation to my favorite charity. Thanks. Nice article. I just established an automatic monthly donation to my favorite charity. Thanks.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-119366 anonymous Thu, 07 Dec 2006 23:52:38 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-119366 I work for a charity and we are having our website redesigned pro-bono at the moment. It is a huge help and in the long run will aid our ability to raise more funds because we will look more professional. Donations of time and expertise are extremely valuable to our work becuase it allows us to set up systems that improve our efficiency and our ability to stand out from the crowd in the huge charity sector. I work for a charity and we are having our website redesigned pro-bono at the moment. It is a huge help and in the long run will aid our ability to raise more funds because we will look more professional. Donations of time and expertise are extremely valuable to our work becuase it allows us to set up systems that improve our efficiency and our ability to stand out from the crowd in the huge charity sector.

]]> By: soft_train http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-117105 soft_train Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:36:39 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-117105 Charities benefit in a huge way when professionals offer their services for free... Set realistic expectations, then deliver on your promises. You get to feel good about helping someone else and it helps you build connections in the community. You'd be surprised at the calibre of people you end up working with - and the opportunities that open up! Charities benefit in a huge way when professionals offer their services for free… Set realistic expectations, then deliver on your promises.

You get to feel good about helping someone else and it helps you build connections in the community. You’d be surprised at the calibre of people you end up working with - and the opportunities that open up!

]]> By: shadowbox http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-112178 shadowbox Thu, 30 Nov 2006 21:59:35 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-112178 Tried pro bono and have the grey hairs and heart disease to prove it - I'd never do it again and happily fall back on the 'writing a cheque' option, at least with regard to my business and charities. Outside of business, I donate some time to fund raising for a couple of charities, but restrict it to organising or helping out at events, and definitely <em>not </em>offering free web design services. Tried pro bono and have the grey hairs and heart disease to prove it - I’d never do it again and happily fall back on the ‘writing a cheque’ option, at least with regard to my business and charities. Outside of business, I donate some time to fund raising for a couple of charities, but restrict it to organising or helping out at events, and definitely not offering free web design services.

]]> By: dhecker http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-111918 dhecker Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:29:25 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-111918 In the end I would say this: 1. Pro Bono work IS problematic, annoying and frustrating, for sure. 2. Pro Bono work IS very satisfying, generous, and worthwhile. In the end I would say this:

1. Pro Bono work IS problematic, annoying and frustrating, for sure.

2. Pro Bono work IS very satisfying, generous, and worthwhile.

]]> By: wwb_99 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-111908 wwb_99 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:50:37 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-111908 Valid point about the potential nightmares of Pro Bono projects. I do content that, like any project, you must set expectations and such up front and in writing or you can easily get into bad scope creep situations. The benefits are both psychological/moral and practical, especially for pro bono work. You can add that site to your portfolio. You can also take the chance and work with technologies and techniques you could not use in a production environment. Thereby using the work as a learning/experimenting experience. Valid point about the potential nightmares of Pro Bono projects. I do content that, like any project, you must set expectations and such up front and in writing or you can easily get into bad scope creep situations.

The benefits are both psychological/moral and practical, especially for pro bono work. You can add that site to your portfolio. You can also take the chance and work with technologies and techniques you could not use in a production environment. Thereby using the work as a learning/experimenting experience.

]]> By: jont17 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-111638 jont17 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:17:35 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-111638 I think it's difficult to work on a project for nothing. There is no budget and the client can't complain if the work isn't up to scratch. I think you get much better results from projects where both sides know exactly what the score is and have the same interest in getting a good result. It's the same problem that you get working for friends at 'mates rates'. Also, is all this giving just to make us feel better inside or is there a business benefit? I hate to seem cynical.. but I am so that's how Icome across! I think it’s difficult to work on a project for nothing. There is no budget and the client can’t complain if the work isn’t up to scratch. I think you get much better results from projects where both sides know exactly what the score is and have the same interest in getting a good result. It’s the same problem that you get working for friends at ‘mates rates’.

Also, is all this giving just to make us feel better inside or is there a business benefit? I hate to seem cynical.. but I am so that’s how Icome across!

]]> By: dhecker http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-111418 dhecker Thu, 30 Nov 2006 02:22:15 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-111418 That's really true. I have a friend who is very wealthy, and also a great programmer. Every now and then I get involved in a new pro bono project and I ask him if he'd like to contribute. He reminds me that pro bono projects are always a nightmare, and that he prefers to just write a check. I agree that those freebie projects are always tough, but I expect that and I try and get a contract in place to contain things. In the end, money is nice by professional skills are also at a great premium!! In-kind donations can frequently be much more valuable than people realize... That’s really true. I have a friend who is very wealthy, and also a great programmer. Every now and then I get involved in a new pro bono project and I ask him if he’d like to contribute. He reminds me that pro bono projects are always a nightmare, and that he prefers to just write a check. I agree that those freebie projects are always tough, but I expect that and I try and get a contract in place to contain things. In the end, money is nice by professional skills are also at a great premium!! In-kind donations can frequently be much more valuable than people realize…

]]> By: wwb_99 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/11/30/the-art-of-giving/#comment-111287 wwb_99 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:47:25 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=1799#comment-111287 Milos points out a very great gift to give--in kind donations. Anyone can write a check. But most charities cannot afford to get their hands on a top-quality design firm to do their website, or quality developers to tweak their line of business applications. This is where we, the techie community, can step in effectively by donating time to building and helping charities operate. Milos points out a very great gift to give–in kind donations. Anyone can write a check. But most charities cannot afford to get their hands on a top-quality design firm to do their website, or quality developers to tweak their line of business applications. This is where we, the techie community, can step in effectively by donating time to building and helping charities operate.

]]>