If You'd Like Pro Bono Work, Read This
The term "pro bono" comes from the Latin "pro bono publico" meaning "for the good of the public." The term is often used to describe work done in kind or at no cost for organizations that serve the public good, without any monetary compensation. Recently, our firm had a very dissapointing experience working with a local non-profit.
In 2005 we began working with a non-profit organization in Des Moines to promote one of their fundraising events. As an agency, we have a specific set of criteria we use to gauge whether or not to take on pro bono work and this organization met all of them. We were excited about the work to be done and our involvement with the cause.
The body of work to be produced consisted of an event identity, a poster promoting the event, registration forms, print advertising design and placement and the design and production of a wearable item. Oftentimes, when a cause needs production assistance, we will call upon our vendors to donate services. This is one of greater benefits of working with an advertising agency for non-profits, since agencies can leverage their relationships with vendors to help promote the cause. In this case, we called upon one of our print vendors and one of our paper distributors (whom we purchase thousands of dollars worth of printing and paper each year) and they happily agreed to donate paper and printing services in exchange for promotional consideration on the materials. The non-profit organization was ecstatic. In all, the contribution between in-kind work and hard goods donated totalled approximately $8,000 per year.
Both the 2005 and 2006 events were greatly successful. Then March of 2007 came along and we didn't hear from the organization to begin planning. So I called our contact and left a message. A week went by with no reply. Then I called again and left another message. Needless to say, we received a registration packet the other day for the 2007 event which someone else had produced.
We're baffled. Were they unhappy with our service? Our calls and questions remain unanswered. We realize that the organization has the option of working with a different firm or vendor. That's perfectly understandable. But a phone call or message letting us know of their decision would've been nice. It's not only the professional thing to do, but the right thing to do.
The lesson to be learned here is – the most successful non-profit organizations are, at the end of the day, businesses. And their success as a organizations will depend on how well they run as a business unit. Courtesy and professionalism are part of the business equation, and appreciating vendors is a very important component of this.
