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Poll: Under what circumstances would you consider providing your services for free?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Dec 23, 2023

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Under what circumstances would you consider providing your services for free?".

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Sittie Hane Mama
Sittie Hane Mama  Identity Verified
Philippines
Local time: 21:59
Member (2021)
English to Tagalog
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Poll: Under what circumstances would you consider providing your services for free? Dec 24, 2023

For ProZ Pro Bono only.
 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 15:59
French to English
. Dec 24, 2023

I do translations for free for a non-profit who I also volunteer with doing other stuff. I wouldn't do it for any other. I was thinking of volunteering for Amnesty but a friend said working on the torture TM was too gruesome and I decided to only give money to Amnesty.
I do short translations for free for friends too. Just the other day a friend asked me to translate a poem he'd written for a poetry night. The poem was read in both languages and my version got the most applause which made... See more
I do translations for free for a non-profit who I also volunteer with doing other stuff. I wouldn't do it for any other. I was thinking of volunteering for Amnesty but a friend said working on the torture TM was too gruesome and I decided to only give money to Amnesty.
I do short translations for free for friends too. Just the other day a friend asked me to translate a poem he'd written for a poetry night. The poem was read in both languages and my version got the most applause which made me really chuffed.
And whoever I'm doing free translations for, it has to come at a time when I can fit it in easily. ▲ Collapse


Iulia Parvu
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 14:59
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Dec 24, 2023

The circumstances under which I’ll provide my services for free are my motivation and my availability. Over the years, I’ve done a good number of pro bono translations for some non-profit organizations:

Malaria Consortium
Médecins du Monde
Médecins sans Frontières
UN Volontaires (UNV)
Humana
(…)

I worked a lot with TWB until they decided to impose a CAT tool on you. Curiously enough with 3 of these organizations (Médecins sans Fro... See more
The circumstances under which I’ll provide my services for free are my motivation and my availability. Over the years, I’ve done a good number of pro bono translations for some non-profit organizations:

Malaria Consortium
Médecins du Monde
Médecins sans Frontières
UN Volontaires (UNV)
Humana
(…)

I worked a lot with TWB until they decided to impose a CAT tool on you. Curiously enough with 3 of these organizations (Médecins sans Frontières, Médecins du Monde and Humana) volunteer work turned into jobs. UNV has also recommended me to some UN agencies for paid work. ▲ Collapse
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:59
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Dec 24, 2023

I once did a freebie translation of a website about what was supposed to be a revolutionary new spinal injury treatment, but later found out that the people behind it were being sued by several families for unscrupulous practices.
So, after that I would be very wary about offering a similar service to other people or organisations.
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 15:59
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
If Dec 24, 2023

- If it is quite small (say, less than 20 words), and
- If it would be too much effort to invoice for the job, and
- If it is for a very regular client who often sends large, easy, well-paying jobs, or
- If it it for a brand new client that may or may not become a regular client

Never for medium to large jobs.

Except: I might do something medium-ish for a friend or family member, though thankfully I've not been asked more than twice in twenty years. I... See more
- If it is quite small (say, less than 20 words), and
- If it would be too much effort to invoice for the job, and
- If it is for a very regular client who often sends large, easy, well-paying jobs, or
- If it it for a brand new client that may or may not become a regular client

Never for medium to large jobs.

Except: I might do something medium-ish for a friend or family member, though thankfully I've not been asked more than twice in twenty years. I sometimes do free editing/translation for clubs/societies that I'm a member of. ▲ Collapse
 
Elia Gasparini
Elia Gasparini  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 15:59
English to Italian
+ ...
In need? Dec 24, 2023

If I offered free services for clients who are "in need", I'd be under a bridge by now, with not a single cent in my pockets.

/s, but not too much.
 


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Poll: Under what circumstances would you consider providing your services for free?






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