If you do pro-bono work for non-profits, or if you're a non-profit looking for some design or ad help, you might want to read these rules of the road first.

1. Larry Asher, Worker Bees, Inc.

2. The good news
You get free work from the best design
and ad firms

3. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

4. American Red Cross

5. Everett Symphony

6. United Way of King County

7. Greenpeace
(Recycle paper. Save trees.)

8. San Francisco Zoo

9. United Way of Vancouver

10. The good news
You get free work from the best design
and ad firms

11. The bad news
The work can be off strategy
The work can be too late to help
The parties can end up mad at each other

12. What they’ll want
Creative opportunities
Your name on their client list
Chance to meet some big dogs
Out-of-pocket dollars
Streamlined process (no committees)

13. What you’ll want
Great, compelling, effective work
Adherence to budgets and schedules
Some passion for your cause

14. Finding volunteer firms
Track down work you admire
Consult PSBJ Book of Lists
Prepare a convincing presentation

15. Short list questions
Can we see your work?
Can we get some references?
Can we meet the team?

16. Phinney Bischoff Design House

17. Ready to begin?
Mandatory: Start with a creative brief

18. CREATIVE BRIEF
DATE: October 7, 2006
CLIENT: The Salvation Army
JOB TITLE: Great Falls Post Card
JOB NUMBER: 4600-008
ASSIGNMENT What, succinctly, are you asking us to do?
Create a post card to generate traffic to the Bargains and Treasures store in Great Falls, Montana. The
store has been refurbished and the traffic generated by the promotion is intended to raise awareness of the
store’s new appearance. The card will use existing “poster” art and will have two coupons instead of one.
Room for the second coupon will be made by eliminating the events calendar. Second side is still one-
color. This will be only one drop, so need a recommendation as to which of the three pieces of art to use.
Mail face will carry two coupons, in lieu of a single coupon and the calendar. Quantity will be 10,000 or
15,000.
AUDIENCE Who is this effort aimed at? What are they like?
Target audience is consumers in the Great Falls area, with household income of $50,000 or less. They are
likely to have children and/or be on a fixed income. Prospects are cost-conscious thrift shoppers. They may
not be aware of the store, despite its close proximity to WalMart. Even if prospects have shopped there
before, they may not be aware that the store has been updated inside.
OBJECTIVE What specific results are we after, when must they be achieved? What do we want the audience to do?
Coupon redemptions and gross sales will be used to measure the impact of the mailing. The card should
help drive the audience to visit the store and use the Free coupon, and either use the Discount coupon on a
return visit, or give the second coupon to a friend.
SITUATION What’s the current environment--especially with respect to competitors?
With WalMart next door, and other low price competitors in the area (like Target), prospects need an
incentive to shop the ‘even lower’ prices at The Salvation Army. Despite a good location, the store has low
visibility. And shoppers who have visited in the past may have been discouraged by the condition of the
store. November and December are typically slow months for thrift sales as people shift their expendable
income to gift buying.

19. What a brief covers
What are you asking us to do?
Who’s the audience?
How will we know we succeeded?
What’s the situation?
What’s the right tonality?
What’s the strategy or takeaway?

20. Strategy how-to
You should _______________________
_________________________ because
________________________________.

21. Strategy how-to
You should visit the
Salvation Army Thrift Store because
you’ll get a free gift just for coming in.

22. While they’re working
Give as much time as you can
Help line-up production resources
Be willing to sacrifice service for
creative quality

23. The moment of truth

24. Presentation protocol
Have everyone who can say “no” present
Be clear and specific with concerns
You don’t have to love it
Consensus isn’t necessary
If you get stuck, bring in a mediator
If it’s a no-go, give a chance to start over

25. The happy ending
Be generous in giving credit
Assist your volunteer firm with their
self-promotion
Repeat as necessary

26. Want to know more?
www.svcseattle.com/probono