Why Local Charities Should Rethink the "Everything for Free" Mindset

If you’ve ever worked with or around local charities, you may have encountered a common refrain: "We’re a charity, so we shouldn’t have to pay for this." It’s a sentiment that seems well-intentioned at first glance. After all, charities exist to help others, often operating on limited budgets.

But there’s an uncomfortable contradiction here—many of the people advocating for these free services are drawing a paycheck from the very charity that claims it can’t afford to pay for external support.

Let’s unpack this a little.

The "Charity Card" Trap

When charities lean too heavily on their non-profit status to avoid paying for goods or services, they unintentionally send the message that their cause deserves priority above others—without consideration for the time, expertise, or resources they’re asking for.

For small businesses, freelancers, and even other organisations that partner with charities, this creates a dilemma. Saying "no" makes them feel unsupportive, yet saying "yes" can devalue their work.

The truth is, businesses (especially small ones) aren’t charities. They can’t afford to give away their time or products for free without it affecting their own livelihoods.

The Hidden Hypocrisy

Here’s where things get tricky: Many charities that plead for freebies pay their staff salaries. And they should—good work deserves fair compensation. But if employees and leadership within these charities expect to be paid for their expertise, shouldn’t they respect the same principle when seeking outside help?

It’s not about begrudging anyone their paycheck—it’s about recognising the value of others’ work, too.

Entitlement Undermines the Mission

There’s also a larger cultural issue at play. When organisations operate from a place of entitlement, they risk alienating the very people and businesses that could help them most. Instead of building genuine partnerships, they create a transactional dynamic where goodwill is taken for granted.

And here’s the kicker: when charities approach every transaction with "we’re a charity, so this should be free," they devalue their own mission. By demonstrating that they don’t see the worth in paying for quality services, they inadvertently diminish their own credibility.

How to Build Better Relationships

This isn’t about shaming charities—it’s about rethinking the way they approach partnerships. Here are a few ways charities can shift the conversation:

Respect Professional Boundaries
Acknowledge that professionals, even those who deeply believe in your cause, have their own financial obligations. Offer to pay what you can, even if it’s not full price, or explore trade options that genuinely benefit both parties.
Be Transparent
If your charity is truly in financial hardship, communicate this openly and explain how the service will directly impact your mission. People are more likely to help when they see the value their contribution brings.
Separate Personal Values from Organisational Culture
Just because your charity helps others doesn’t mean it’s exempt from valuing others’ work. Your organisational culture should reflect fairness, not entitlement.
Champion Mutual Support
Build reciprocal relationships where you support businesses and freelancers who support you. Share their work, recommend them to others, or create opportunities for mutual growth.

The Big Picture

Charities play a vital role in our communities, and many do incredible work. But a mission-driven organisation can’t succeed long-term if it alienates its partners through a culture of entitlement.

Fairness, respect, and collaboration should be at the heart of every charity’s relationships. Because when everyone feels valued, the ripple effects go far beyond just one good deed—they create a thriving community where everyone can do their best work.

Let’s move away from "everything should be free" and toward "how can we work together to make a bigger impact?" The results might surprise you.