Differences in pay and negotiating power
The project plan must address this risk clearly. Good intentions alone do not solve it.
Working responsibly
Useful work should not require hidden risk
We consider differences in pay and power, unfair outsourcing, requests for free work, work presented as a job when it is not, access barriers, and people having less power to negotiate.
Why this page exists
Responsible work starts before a project begins
A good mission does not excuse unclear pay, unsafe clients, work growing beyond what was agreed, weak support, privacy failures, or work used without permission.
Risks we consider
Power and work risks are real
Unfair outsourcing
The project plan must address this risk clearly. Good intentions alone do not solve it.
Unpaid work requested before an agreement
The project plan must address this risk clearly. Good intentions alone do not solve it.
Work presented as a job when it is not
The project plan must address this risk clearly. Good intentions alone do not solve it.
Equipment and access gaps
The project plan must address this risk clearly. Good intentions alone do not solve it.
Unclear work limits, ownership, or feedback
The project plan must address this risk clearly. Good intentions alone do not solve it.
Shared rules
What everyone should know before taking part
- Agree on the work before it begins
- Say clearly whether and how the work is paid
- Do not imply a job offer
- Collect only needed information and ask permission
- Write down ownership and public credit
- A person remains responsible for important decisions
- Agree on how work will be reviewed and accepted
- Provide a way to report concerns or leave safely
Work with clear support
A clear path from a request to finished work
- 1
Review the organization
Check whether the project is suitable, who owns it, the risks, and the responsible contact.
- 2
Agree on the work
Define what will be made, needed access, the timeline, budget, and how results will be checked.
- 3
Choose the right builder
Confirm skills, availability, protections, and the builder’s choice.
- 4
Write down the terms
Agree on all project terms.
- 5
Complete supported work
Use review points, feedback, and ways to raise problems.
- 6
Finish and review
Record what was made, the result, limits, ownership, and next step.
Responsibilities
Accountability has named sides
DoGoodie
Review whether a project is suitable, explain the process, protect builders, keep only needed records, and avoid promising support that is not available.
Organization
Provide a responsible contact, lawful goal, needed access, timely feedback, and respect for the agreed work, pay, ownership, and permission.
Builder
Work honestly within what was agreed, explain limits and important tool use, protect information, raise risks, and document the work without exaggerating its impact.
Project manager
Coordinate access, review points, decisions, feedback, risks, and the end of the work; prevent work from growing beyond what was agreed and raise concerns when needed.
Project terms and ending the work
Every project must define these items
- What the work includes and what will be made
- Timeline and review points
- Whether and how the work is paid—or a clear statement that it is an unpaid learning activity
- Who owns the work and who may reuse it
- Public credit and permission to publish
- Needed access, equipment, and responsible contacts
- Privacy and how information is handled
- How the work will be reviewed and accepted
- How the work ends and a safe way to leave
Feedback, credit, privacy, permission, and leaving
Protection continues until the work ends
Feedback
Review points and useful feedback are agreed before work begins. Silence does not mean the work has been accepted.
Public credit and privacy
Public credit, use of another name, access to private information, and reuse of work require clear written terms and permission.
Leaving safely
A participant can raise a risk, pause, or leave through a clear process without retaliation.
Reporting a concern
Use a separate form for treatment, behavior, or privacy concerns
What participation does not mean
Project work is not automatically a job
- DoGoodie is not your legal employer, a staffing agency, a law firm, a certifier, or a regulator.
- A small test is not automatically a job, continuing work, or a route to Network membership.
- Not every project is paid or available. Any unpaid learning activity must be clearly described and voluntary.
- These pages do not decide anyone’s employment status or replace legal advice for a specific project.