Contracting for a charity

[Eirikur]

Would you lower your regular rate when contracting for charity?

A year or so ago I was approached directly by a well known charity, I turned out to be an excellent match. I mentioned my rate and they didn't want to or couldn't offer more than 60-70% of my rate, saying we are a charity, you should consider that, to which my reply was, yes but I'm not a charity. Needless to say I didn't get the contract. (now one year later on, I still see the same role popping up)

[d000hg]

If it was a cause I believed in and a charity I thought did a good job, then probably I would offer a discount. If it was a mega-charity paying huge salaries then no - they clearly pay market rates to get the best people!

[tractor]

Would you lower your regular rate when contracting for charity?

A year or so ago I was approached directly by a well known charity, I turned out to be an excellent match. I mentioned my rate and they didn't want to or couldn't offer more than 60-70% of my rate, saying we are a charity, you should consider that, to which my reply was, yes but I'm not a charity. Needless to say I didn't get the contract. (now one year later on, I still see the same role popping up)

No. I may contribute but I wouldn't reduce the rate.

[FatLazyContractor]

Would you lower your regular rate when contracting for charity?

A year or so ago I was approached directly by a well known charity, I turned out to be an excellent match. I mentioned my rate and they didn't want to or couldn't offer more than 60-70% of my rate, saying we are a charity, you should consider that, to which my reply was, yes but I'm not a charity. Needless to say I didn't get the contract. (now one year later on, I still see the same role popping up)

I would find out what the top brass at the charity take home before I make a decision on the rate.

[VectraMan]

Probably not. They're using the "we're a charity" angle as a negotiating tool, which is fair enough, but that doesn't mean charities are immune from market forces and shouldn't have to pay decent rates to get decent people like everyone else.

I know someone who works in IT for Oxfam, and he does admit that he works longer hours for less money than he would elsewhere.

[Scruff]

I would find out what the top brass at the charity take home before I make a decision on the rate.

Ditto - Have a look at what Save the Children pay their Execs and you wouldn't donate a bean to them, or take a rate cut

(e) 2013 Executive Director remuneration
Emoluments for all permanent Executive Directors employed at Save the Children UK for the year ending
31 December 2013 are detailed below.
Position Name Full Time Annual Salary Actual Gross Salary & Emoluments*
CEO Justin Forsyth £139,950
COO Anabel Hoult £139,950
COO / CFO & Strategic Initiatives Rachel Parr £131,970
Global Programmes Director Fergus Drake £113,300
Fundraising Director Tanya Steele £112,200
Marketing & Comms Director Sue Allchurch £111,920
Policy & Advocacy Director Brendan Cox £106,029
CFO Peter Banks £102,000
HR Director Paul Cutler £100,980

[EternalOptimist]

I think it would be cute.
Your wife and children would be very understanding when you don't take them on holiday but give them a 'Save the xxxx' badge instead

[TheFaQQer]

Would you lower your regular rate when contracting for charity?

Possibly.

I have an ideal rate in my mind. I then add on what I think it would cost in terms of expenses, and add on for any perceived hassle factor. I then deduct based on the client, the role, the technology involved, and how desperate I am.

The result may be a lowering of the rate or an increase. I wouldn't cut my rate just because they are a charity - I give to charity as and when I want to, and they are always of my choice. A forced donation isn't something I'd be too keen on.

[TheFaQQer]

Ditto - Have a look at what Save the Children pay their Execs and you wouldn't donate a bean to them, or take a rate cut

If you look at what the execs of most clients get paid, you'd never consider a rate cut. And yet many people do.

How much do the board of a bank get paid, and how often do banks cut rates? The amount that the permies get paid is irrelevant to your rate, or it certainly should be.

[d000hg]

I think it would be cute.
Your wife and children would be very understanding when you don't take them on holiday but give them a 'Save the xxxx' badge instead

Given that loads of people DO deliberately take low-paid jobs that seems rather cynical. The odds are, if you are the kind of person who would think this is the right thing to do, so is your spouse

Personally I'd be thinking more of a smaller, local charity since I think they are more effective.