The context and problem
In general, the charity sector is ethical and transparent. But, when it comes to outsourcing projects, many briefs are published without a budget or budget range. This is like a job advert without a salary or salary range. It’s not right.
In fairness, it’s not entirely the charity's fault. Back in 2019, our discovery explored the relationships between charities and digital partners. Time and again, we heard charities say they struggle to understand the cost of digital products and services.
This is understandable. Agencies rarely published their day rates, service fees and final project costs. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation.
How Dovetail is helping shift attitudes
As a result of the discovery, Dovetail was born. It started out as a simple list of ”tech for good” agencies, suggested by charities, with agencies required to publish day rates or typical project budgets. This was our way of enabling transparency, encouraging conversations about costs.
Now, over 200 digital partners are listed. To be listed, they must publish their upper and lower day rates and guide lower and upper project budgets.
Dovetail has solved the problem, but it’s helped shift the dial and move us in the right direction. At the very least, when a charity is looking for a partner, they have some data to help them filter and create a shortlist of suitable partners. Ones that better fit their budget requirements. We’re also seeing charities publish the budget or a budget range on their briefs in the vast majority of cases.
It’s about far more than budgets
It’s worth noting that finding “fit” with a digital partner is about far more than just budget. Here are some principles of fit worth reviewing, and things to take into account when shortlisting and evaluating partners.
Beyond Dovetail, we’re seeing more organisations and freelancers publish day rates, service costs and project fees on their websites. Here’s a list of agencies and freelancers who are open about what they charge.
What we should do more of
For charities, there are two important things:
- Include a budget or budget range on all briefs and RFPs. If you need some help, talk to people at other charities for advice. We also have some notes here on how to set a budget.
- Demand more transparency from potential partners. Ask them how they charge and what they’ve charged for past projects they’ve delivered.
For agencies and freelancers, let’s talk more openly about day rates, service fees and project costs. This last one is hard. It’s not easy to put a number on the cost of a project. There are often emerging needs, different phases of delivery, and complex problems to solve.
But if we can find a way, we’ll really help to educate charities about the cost of digital, and there will be fewer reasons for not publishing budgets on briefs and RFPs.