What hourly discount do you give for non profits?

I found this topic here but it was a couple years old. I thought I would start it again.
So, what discount do YOU offer for a charity/non-profit event?

TIA

I would like to hear this too. I find the charity orgs are great about booking way early, and then I am crushed to turn down paying jobs for the weekend the month before. Do you limit how many you do? I've felt very taken advantage of by a church in the past, and don't want that to happen again.

I offer a discount... but it is at my discretion to organizations or events I personally support, just because they are raising funds doesn't mean I need to give a discount meaning a donation from me.

I offer four hours of painting for the price of three and one-quarter hours. And it is generally accepted by the group wanting to book me.

I used to offer a very generous hourly discount as in charging only 45% of my hourly rate - but for the last couple of years I've stopped doing that.

I have one event I've done for years - MS Walk - that I've left at a lower rate than any other events as my sister has MS.

I NEVER work for free, ever.

And I don't discount my rate so much as to feel hard done by if other work comes up...

I will offer 20% off my regular hourly rate. That is only at my discretion as to what charities I want to support. Also, this weekend I quoted $50 an hour for a 10 hour event over 2 days just to get in with my city's business organization. A great place to be. But it was more profitable then imagined. I made $200 in tips for the 10 hours. And the first day people were putting all my tips in the other face painters jar. So, I can imagine what my tips really were.
So sometimes it pays to go after what you want.

I find a lot of people expect us to do freebies! You know, "for the exposure". What do you say to them?

People can die from exposure.

And why do you need to say anything other than... "No thanks."? Just because they are asking doesn't mean you need to explain why you can't/won't do it for free.

Shannon Fennell wrote:People can die from exposure.

HAHA! Love it, Shannon!

I always love when people try to convince me that by painting for free I am helping my business with "free exposure." I like the idea of offering up a discount but only after they've paid full price for a certain amount of hours. I really just offer what I feel like at the time, but really should come up with a system on that. I suppose it depends on the cause, the distance, and what you may be turning down to do it. I'd maybe offer a percentage off, but let them know you'll be putting out a tip jar too....OR charging a small amount per person to help make up your losses.

Oh, I also have this on my FAQ page on my website..."will you paint for free for a charity event?" The answer I give there is something along the lines of how I like to help a good cause, but please understand that being a small business, I can only afford to do so many charity discounts per year, but they are welcome to try me.

I usually give a discount to all non-profits and charities....but it is at my discretion. I have had a call awhile back from a 'semi-friend' about an event. She insisted (up left and backwards) that the event was for charity and on a strict budgets and so they needed steep discounts...I was told I was the 'exclusive painter'. Well, you can see where this one is going... I wasn't exclusive and the other painter was being paid 3x the hourly rate I had quoted!

Every once and a while if business has been truly slow, or if I'm trying out new designs, I'll volunteer for an event if it's:
1) In my neighborhood
2) If it's NOT a weekend
3) If I can work for tips
4) The organization covers my supplies
5) No liquid bling or jewels.
6) Kids get to pick from the 5-6 designs that I am practicing. If the design isn't on my board, I'm not doing it.

from my website:

Will you perform for free for charities?
Due to the many expenses involved in the services that I provide, I have selected one charity that I support for free and need to cover expenses when helping other charities. If you are running a charity event, I can offer discounted rates to cover my costs. See the Services page for more information.

I used to offer a larger percentage, but it is about 30% off of my regular rates now. Don't feel bad about saying no, you could fill your whole calendar with freebies and put yourself out of business fast!

Shannon Fennell wrote:People can die from exposure.

And why do you need to say anything other than... "No thanks."? Just because they are asking doesn't mean you need to explain why you can't/won't do it for free.

.

Ha!

That's why I'm here, the advice is the ounce of courage I was needing! I hate to say no and have a lot of friends doing different volunteer work. I know that finding my loyalties would make it easier.

Oh I'm good at giving kicks in the pants if you need that!!

Shannon - you crack me up!

Charities/non profit have two options:

Instead of $65 an hour I'd charge $50 hour

or I come and and charge ppf of $6. each, then give $2.00 back to the charity. (I usually charge $5.00 ppf, so I'm only 'losing' $1.00 each child)

I advertise 10% off for legally recognized non-profits. Most bite with that.

There are a very few that I've done extremely generous discounts with because they are close to my heart. There is a local animal rescue that I work with that I gave 80% of my PPF profits to and I just did a gig with Planned Parenthood and split the PPF profits 50:50, otherwise, it's 10% off hourly or donated 20% of PPF for everyone else. Most large non-profits have serious budgets for entertainment and can afford my rates.

I work full time for a non-profit and spend another 4-10 hours per week or so volunteering for additional NPO's, so I've got my charity karma riding high without discounting the heck out of my own rates on a regular basis.