Pro Bono Marketing Heart Check

With the economy muddling along and business at a startling ebb, many agencies are finding time to provide pro bono work to favorite charities. I know MarketGarden has done a fair amount of pro bono work over the past year, and I'd like to offer some reflections on the experience.
In general, people who work for free tend to consider their contributions in kind as having some amount of value. And, even though payment may not be in cash, other forms of payback can be every bit as rewarding. Especially when no payback is expected.
I got a gift card from one charity I did a lot of work for, and although it nowhere near covered what I put into the job, the gesture was very much appreciated, and the recognition and thanks that came with it were gratifying indeed. On another occasion, the organization I had serviced for free invited me to contact some promising prospects among their list of friends and donors. They even made the introductions, which aided in advancing the discussions.
Another charity was rather less appreciative. I can only guess that when you live off of charity, you sometimes grow numb to the sacrifice people make to advance your cause. In this instance, when I finally did request a sample of some of their material I found useful to a project I was working on, I had to ask several times, and there was a delay. They finally did come through, but it created an awkward moment. So, if you're on the charity side of this deal, please don't lose sight of the wind beneath your sails. Not that we're due anything for volunteering, but just be sensitive. It doesn't take much to express an ounce of thanks.
On the other hand, I have worked among groups of volunteers and heard much grumbling from the troops about not being appreciated enough, or finding offense when their contributions are questioned or modified whatsoever in the slightest. Just because you volunteer your time or effort on a project, doesn't mean you get to be the king or queen of everything. There's a reason it's called charity work. The organization retains the right to make changes or reject your wonderful stuff. If you are doing pro bono work because you need some sort of ego stroke, you're better off seeing a counselor. Expect nothing. Give from the heart. Check 2 Corinthians 9: 7. God loves a cheerful giver.