Design is an activity, which affects human consciousness, and the way people think and act. It also affects their value system, and you should take that seriously.
— Milton Glaser
Whether you in design, research or any other industry, one should make time for pro bono activities. There is a common misconception that all nonprofit work is unpaid but ultimately it is up to you to determine select the type of pro bono work that aligns with your values.
Some designers believe in working for free while others work with a reduced rate, and even others consider alternatives such as trading services/benefits. Treat the project no differently than you would a client project, and make sure to clearly define the scope and budget (in terms of time spent on the project). Besides working on pro bono projects, consider careers that are meaningful to you by browsing the opportunities below:
Design Gigs for Good — by Mollie Ruskin and Sarah Fathallah, job postings at the intersection of design and social impact
Escape the City — a job and volunteer board for social impact or off the grid opportunities
Idealist — a social impact career job board filtered by your area of interest
Impact Design Hub — jobs, articles and news related to social impact
Design for X — connecting designers and entrepreneurs with social ventures
AIGA Design for Good — a collected list of resources with non-profit organizations and programs that connect with creatives
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