Toolkit Part 3: Pro-Bono Agreements
The key to running a pro-bono project successfully is to treat the engagement just as you would a paid gig. Would you ever take on a paid engagement without the proper protection for you and your business? Well… I hope not! Agreements are often left out of engagements in which dollars are not exchanged. This is, in part, because of society’s narrow measure of “value” to only be determined by something that is monetary. This is completely false. In any exchange of value, you need an agreement in place to best protect both parties involved. Please note that it is crucial to always include the market rate in your pro-bono agreement in order to indicate the true value of your work. The following is the exact agreement that we use with our pro-bono clients. Much of the content is based off of AIGA’s standard agreement template, but the format and content have been iterated upon over the years by friends, family, and employees. It should go without stating that I am not a lawyer— always seek legal advice from somebody much smarter than me.