Will Carol Work for Us for Free?

           

Pro Bono list for 2011

1. TBA                          CASA of Peoria, IL

Pro Bono List for 2010:

1. January 6                      De La Salle Middle School at St. Matthew's,  St. Louis, MO
2. April 17                       Christ Child Society, Albany, NY NY                                           
3. June 25, 26                 National Hemophilia Foundation, Newark, NJ                           4. TBA                             The Anti Defamation League, St. Louis, MO 
5. March 26                    The Louisiana Hospital Association, Baton Rouge, LA
6. April                            Washington University Nonprofit Management Program
7. August 9                     Texas Literacy Association, Austin, Texas
8. November 2                Altrusa, St. Louis  
9. September 23               AFP St. Louis
10. Dec. 2                         Hannibal's Ladies Club
11. May  11                       CSPRC, St. Louis, MO
12. August 6                      YWCA Burlington County, NJ

Pro Bono List for 2009:

1. Feb. 3, 4                     Lakeshore Excellence Foundation, Stevenson, MI
2. January  31               Epilepsy Foundation of San Francisco
3. February 25-28          Centre for Philanthropy of Bermuda, Bermuda
4. July 21-23                 AFP Washington, DC
5. March                        Career Discovery and Advancement, South Technical School
6. October                      Funeral Consumer's Alliance, Burlington, VT
7. May 12, 13                  United Way of Franklin County, MA
8. November 5, 6            Impact 100, Cincinatti, OH
9. Fall                             Altrusa, Columbia, MO
10. June                        American Public Garden Association, St. Louis, MO
11. June 6                     Shaping Destiny, Houston, TX
12. June 24                    Lindenwood University, St. Louis

Pro Bono List for 2008:

1. June                       Doorways, St. Louis  Board Retreat
2. January                  St. Elizabeth Hospital, Belleville, IL, Keynote
3. April                         Washington University Nonprofit
                                    Management Program, Keynote                                                         
4. February 22.           Ladue School  Educational Foundation, Board Retreat
5. Sept. 27                   National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia
6. June 11                   AFP Peoria, keynote and breakout
7  May 12                     Parkinson Disease Foundation, St. Louis
8. February 27             Volunteer Hampton Road, Norfolk, Virginia, workshops
9. May 15                     Women's Network, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Columbia
                                     Missouri
10.December               AFP Nebraska
11. June 21                  Missouri Women in Trades-retreat
12.April 30                   National Council on Alcohol and Drug  Abuse-Retreat

Commonly asked questions

Question:  How many free gigs do you do a year?

Question:  Are there any restrictions?

Answer:  Of course. If I get a full-paid job, I get to back out with-in three weeks of the scheduled date, so if you aren’t flexible, you are better off just either paying me out of your budget, looking for grant money, asking a board member to fund my visit or seeking other funding to bring me in. If I have to cancel, I will try to get you a replacement, but can’t guarantee it and if you are printing a program book, this might not be the right best route for you.

Question: Do you cancel very often?

Answer:   About 50% of the time I have to reschedule. A few times its taken 6 months of schedule changes between board commitments and my schedule to get a pro bono job completed.

Question: Are there any exceptions to your cancellation policy?

Answer: Only one. And that is if I am doing a keynote to an audience of more than 200. I realize it is very difficult to publicize your event. The other reason is that I totally ADORE doing large keynotes. Just chatting with 2000 of my nearest and dearest is my idea of a really, really good time. The one caveat is that I be allowed to sell books and that your recruit some volunteers to assist me. In return, they will of course receive the books of their choice.

Question:  What kind of work are you willing to do for free?

Answer:  I do the same kind of work pro bono as I do for full fee-keynotes, board training, retreats and consulting.

Question: If you do a free retreat for us, do we get the same quality of work as if we were paying full freight?

Answer:  Yes and no. All the prep work is the same. I work absolutely as hard during the retreat, but you are responsible for writing a final report.

Question:  Will you work for less than your customary fee?

Answer:  No. It's fee or free. I believe my fees are reasonable and fair. If you can’t afford me, I would be glad to recommend another speaker, consultant or facilitator who is less expensive. I’m frequently asked, “Are they as good as you are?” I always want to say, “Well, of course not.” Usually, I bite my tongue and say, “Well, they are just starting out and that is why they charge less.” Ultimately, you have three choices: 

1. Find the money and I’ll be on the calendar for you for sure barring a catastrophic occurrence, (I’ve only missed one and it was because of a hurricane on the East coast that grounded flights so that I couldn’t get to the West coast); 

2. Be flexible, and I’ll work for you for free; 

 3. I’ll give you the names of less experienced, less expensive folks.

Question:  We do have some money in our budget for an honorarium. Suggestions?

Answer: If you have put aside a certain amount of money for an honorarium that is less than my fee and you are getting my services for free, why don't you put the money into purchasing some of my books so that you can reinforce  our work together, your participants can take the message home and I can maintain all my bad habits like shopping and feeding my family?

Question:  Why are you willing to do this?

Answer:  I love what I do. I’m an old social worker and I’m a lousy businesswoman.

Question:  Will you pay your own expenses for an out-of-town job?

Answer:  I don’t love it that much and I’m not that bad a businesswoman!

Question: Are there any places you are just dying to work?

Answer:  I love Santa Fe and Marshalltown Iowa and Chicago and New York, I have a . I have always wanted to go to South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore. But I’ve also had a fabulous time in, Peoria, Illinois and Tyler, Texas. Basically, you have a group that wants to make a difference, I’m your gal.

Question:  Are there any groups with whom you refuse to work?

Answer:  Yes. They fall into two categories. Those I respect and don’t agree with and those I think are reprehensible. I’ve gotten calls from the American Rifle Association and Birthright. I respect them but don’t agree with them. I’ve referred them to superb colleagues who are politically in step with them.  I won’t work with groups that are racist or discriminate. The good news is that they rarely if ever call me!

Question:  How do we get on your list?

Answer:  Pick up the phone and call me at 314-991-3018 or e-mail me at Carol@Boardbuilders.com  and let's talk about what you need and see if there is time on my schedule. (my preference is to discuss your needs by phone unless you have insomnia and are thinking about this in the middle of the night or this is an international request and I'm sleeping!)

Question:  What if there isn’t time this year?

Answer:  We Have a waiting list and you can purchase a Board in a Bag and get going on making some changes right now!

Pro Bono List for 2007

1. January                 St. Louis Women's Journal, St. Louis, MO, Keynote
2. January                 Epilepsy Foundation, Stevens Point, WI, Board Retreat
3. January                 ESPW, St. Louis, Consulting
4.  February               Ladue Chapel, St. Louis, MO, Speech
5.  March                   The Association of Fundraising Professionals, St. Louis, MO
6.  August                  George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington
                                   St. Louis, Keynote      
7. March                     Association. for Fundraising Professionals, St. Louis, MO
8. March                     Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission, Lincoln,  NE  
                                    Speaking
9. July                          The Press Club, St. Louis, MO, Keynote
10. August                  Downtown Rotary, St. Louis, MO: Keynote
11. Summer                Family Service of Morris County, NJ. Board Retreat
12. June                      The Association of Fundraising Professional of Dallas, 
                                     Dallas, Keynote   

Pro Bono List for 2006

1   January               El-Salam School, St. Louis, MO, Keynote
2.  January               Down's Syndrome Guild, Kansas City, MO, Board Retreat
3.  February             National Council for Voluntary Organizations,
                                 London, England, Keynote 
4. March                   American Association of Colleges of Nursing,
                                 Washington, DC, Keynote and half day training
5. March                Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts.
                                 Washington, DC, Board Retreat
6.  July                      AHHSA, Baltimore, Maryland, Half day board and staff
                                  training
7.  July                       BoardSource: Edit Policy Manual. Honorarium donated
                                   to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse 
8. August                   George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Keynote 
9.  August                  Build-A-Bear  Workshop Foundation, Retreat
10.September            Peer Counseling Program, Washington U. St. Louis, Retreat
11. September           Jefferson County Developmental Resources Services,
                                   Retreat
12. October                Main Street Georgia, Keynote and half day training

Carol’s Pro Bono Work Schedule For 2005

 1.   February       Missouri Botanical Garden

 2.   February       National Council for Voluntary Organizations, London,
                             England

 3.   February       Association of Fundraising Professionals, St. Louis

 5.   March           American Association of University Women, St. Louis

 4.   March           Art and Soul Café, St. Louis

 5.   March           Fifth Third Bank, Nonprofit Series, St. Louis

 6.   April              University of Wisconsin Extension Services

 7.   April              Junior League, St. Louis, MO

 8.   May              Opera America, Detroit, MI

 9.   June              Solomon Schechter Day School, St. Louis

10.  June              Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc, Richmond, IL

11.  June              Nurses for Newborns, St. Louis, MO

12.  July               Children of the World, St. Louis and Guatemala

Board Builders is a company dedicated to helping nonprofits reach higher levels of success, and to helping board and staff achieve greater joy in their work.