WE'VE MOVED!
We are proud to announce our NEW community destination. Engage with resident experts and fellow entrepreneurs, and learn everything you need to start your business. Check out the new home of StartupNation Community at startupnation.mn.co
We are proud to announce our NEW community destination. Engage with resident experts and fellow entrepreneurs, and learn everything you need to start your business. Check out the new home of StartupNation Community at startupnation.mn.co
Options
Are you running a Business or a Charity?
yourNAMEinDotCom
subscriber Posts: 17
Has it happened to you that the more charity you give, the more people want?It`s like word gets around that you`re a giver and before you know it, everyone comes knocking on your door for some kind of help that according to them "only you can give." While you may enjoy helping people, at the end of the day, you`re running a business and you need to turn a profit. So what`s your limit?Aleem
Sign In or Register to comment.
Comments
It`s great that you give back to the community, but it can be difficult to volunteer and run a business.
When I went through something similar, I looked at my life plan and designated exactly how many hours I could donate to charitable causes whil managing my business.
When I reached my limit, I told new charitable requests that I just didn`t have any more time left, but I`d be happy to provide a discounted fee on services and/or referrals to other vendors. This way, I`ve been able to say "No" when necessary while still volunteering my time and running my business effectively.
Hope this helps,
Melanie
For Every project I have done without up front cost to a client.....always a client and never charity. I have reaped numerous benefits.
I like being that person who people send my way. I like giving someone a hand up in life, if i can. I also like to make money and build upon the business`s i have created.
Charity is different than goodwill. I think of the word opportunity when someone send someone my way. I think of the words relationship, building a community, giving a hand up...I think of Success. You have to have people around you to support your success if you want to stay there.
Erin
I get numerous requests each month for pro bono design services (some from for-profit companies that get an immediate "no."), and that`s been the case for the last 30 years. Coming from a family that has a history of being very involved in philanthropic causes, I had to give myself permission to say "no," without feeling bad about it, to the majority of causes approaching me asking for free design work.Part of that permission was setting up limits for myself in regards to what types of nonprofit organizations I will provide with pro bono services. Education organizations, nonprofit grassroots, performing arts groups, children`s causes or issues in which I have a strong personal interest (such as smaller AIDS organizations), are the only projects I will consider. I will also only take on a limited number of such projects each year.My primary goal in doing pro bono work is to improve the graphic/visual presence of an organization or event in the very competitive nonprofit "market." There is a great deal of personal satisfaction in seeing the public awareness of a group or cause increase. All I ever expect in return is a "thank you." Additional credit for my efforts is a bonus, and ongoing benefits are always a pleasant surprise. For any design student, or designer starting out their career, executing pro bono work is a great way to get some "real world" portfolio examples, while assisting a cause you personally deem worthy or important.Donations, or pro bono work, can be a valuable investment in your community and impact the perception of your business in the marketplace. As a business owner you just need to be aware of your limits. A couple great reads about this topic are Kenneth Cole`s Footnotes: What You Stand For Is More Important Than What You Stand In and Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner`s Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good: The Madcap Business Adventure by the Truly Oddest Couple.- J.
LogoMotives2007-1-26 22:36:59
The flip side I guess is that I can use their success stories to further build my reputation.
I would like you to email me to discuss my website, which is a charity/foundation I have started & not sure how to get it off and running. After extensive research, I have found a need for this particular charity org, because I found myself in the same need of help recently. Please see Cancerdebt.com and let me know my chances of getting on your list or some help or advice. Thank you in advance for any help you may provide.baileysays2007-2-6 12:27:29
until I recently created my business I freely offered advice to my
friends and their children on how to improve their odds for getting
accepted to college. And now that I have created a business, those
close to me think I should automatically work pro bono for them also
since they know me. Its hard for me to refuse since I know their kids,
and I want to see them do well, it is hard for me to say no.
The flip side I guess is that I can use their success stories to further build my reputation.Ask
those who expect free services if they perform their work for free.
Tell them your office, phone, computer, car and everything else you use
in your business costs money. They`re willing to invest in an
education. You`re business is making sure their investment is
maximized.
That is an excellent point..........Thank you! I wish there were more people out there that understood that. I`ve been having additional health problems so it took awhile to back on the computer. If you know anyone or have an idea how to get a Profit for Non Profit business off the ground, I appreciate any help. My website is Cancerdebt.com, I truly believe there is a desperate need for this charity/website.
Thx