Doing work for NON PROFIT Organizations...

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DVX100Shooter

Veteran
I was approached yesterday by a local Non Profit organization to produce a short 5 to 10 minute video that shows an overview of what their organization is all about. Their goal is to use this video with their press/media kits to send to potential corporate sponsors to fund various events they have throughout the year and other programs they offer.

Now they barely have any money to begin with and rely heavily on donations. When i gave them my price which was way lower than what I normally would charge they kind of fringed because they knew that was to much for them. Geeez I hate to see their face if I quoted them my full price!

Anyway, do I cut them some slack because they don't have much money to begin with. I mean the video would help attract big companies to get involved with their organization, they just don't have a budget conducive to my charges.

If I give them 1 master DVD, are they allowed to make as many copies as they want? The project would have music on it that either myself or another producer has composed . My work is already copyrighted but I didnt know how that worked in terms of them wanting to make dubs of the master. Should I give them x amount and if they need more they would have to come back to me for them?

If anyone has done any work for a non profit organization, I would be interested in hearing your stories of how you worked everything out and any problems you had in the process!

Thanks!!
 
I've done some stuff for a few NP orgs in my area, and I usually do it for an absolute bare minimum cost or for free.

Obviously, I don't do this for any NP org, but if it's for a good cause I figure that if I can't afford to donate much money to good causes then I can at least donate some of my time/skills/equipment. I see it as a responsibility of being a part of the community, and just as being a human being. Looking after one another and all that.

I will always try and be as relaxed about copyright's when dealing with these organisation too, it's not like they're trying to rip anyone off.
 
My take on it is if you personally believe in the cause, or want to donate your time, then charge them just a token amount, and just let them duplicate as much DVD as they want. If not, then just charge them what you would normally charge any other clients; or decline the job all together. Separate the business side and the charity side of it. It's important to note that just because they represent a charity cause, this doesn't automatically entitle them to a free ride.

I'm personally wary of working with non-profits. Some organizations I've found can be incredibly snooty when it comes to discussing payment, "Oh, but we're a non-profit! How can you possibly charge us anything??" Those people I stay clear away from. Only time I ever work with NP organizations is when I personally know the people in it, those I'm willing to do for free to help out some friends.
 
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We do a lot of pro-bono work for non-profits as well, and always turn over rights to the client. We do charge them a minimum expense over cost for duplication, but they are usually looking for web-content so it doesn't come up often.

The upside (aside from helping out worthy causes) is that we have made a lot of connections. I have probably gotten more paying gigs through people who saw our work for non-profits, or who were affiliated themselves somehow, than any other single source. Remember that a lot of wealthy, succesful business people sit on the boards of these organizations.

But it has to be a cause you believe in, with an organization of people who appreciate what you are doing, so they don't take advantage. We actually find ourselves talking them into letting us shoot events and updating their videos because it will help them. They invite us to attend fundraising events with our kids for free.
 
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