Choosing a Pledge to Make Your Freelancing More Impactful

As freelancers, we have full control over how we shape our businesses. From deciding when and with whom we want to work, to determining how to use our work to make an impact on the causes that matter most to us, freelancing is all about flexibility in every aspect.

This flexibility also applies when choosing how to use freelancing to create a positive impact. For some, this might mean working on high-impact projects. For others, it could mean pledging to donate a percentage of their income to effective charities.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of pledges we believe are well-suited for freelancers, along with advice on how to choose the right one for you.

What are pledges?

Pledges are personal commitments to a specific cause, action, or set of principles. They go beyond mere intentions, representing a formal promise to contribute time, resources, or skills to bring about positive change.

When you take a pledge, you are expressing your dedication to making a difference in the world, emphasising accountability and responsibility.

While the concept of pledges is broad and can be applied in various contexts, our focus here is on exploring the impactful commitments that individuals, particularly freelancers, can make to contribute to social, environmental, or ethical causes.

Monetary and non-monetary pledges

As with donations, there are monetary and non-monetary pledges.

Monetary pledges typically refer to donating a certain percentage of your annual income to a group of organisations or charities. Non-monetary pledges, on the other hand, refer to donating a specific amount of your time or skills to organisations. These are less common, at least officially, and can be harder to find in causes you care about.

Why freelancers should consider taking a pledge

There are many reasons freelancers should consider taking a pledge. While we could write a separate article on this, here are just a few reasons strong enough to make you consider pledging:

• Demonstrate commitment. Pledges are a tangible way to showcase your commitment to a cause. By publicly aligning yourself with a specific pledge, you communicate your dedication to making a lasting impact in a particular area, whether it’s climate change, poverty alleviation, or another pressing issue.
• Align with values. Pledges often reflect personal values and principles. Choosing a pledge allows you to support causes that resonate with your beliefs, creating a harmonious connection between your work and your ethical or social priorities.
• Create lasting change. Pledges are focused on long-term impact. While one-off donations contribute to immediate needs, taking a pledge shows a deep commitment to solving a specific issue and making a lasting difference.
• Inspire others. Your decision to take a pledge can inspire fellow freelancers, clients, and collaborators to engage in similar initiatives. By leading by example, you contribute to the broader movement of conscientious business practices and social responsibility.
• Build a community. Many pledge programmes foster a sense of community among participants. Joining a network of individuals who share similar values and commitments provides opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective efforts to drive positive change.
• Boost professional reputation. Taking a pledge can enhance your professional reputation, as clients and collaborators increasingly value businesses that operate ethically and contribute to social and environmental causes.

Overview of recommended pledges

The following list is not exhaustive. We are not including every pledge that exists, but only those we can recommend.

Freelancing For Good Pledge

We have partnered with Giving What We Can to create a pledge that we believe is particularly suitable for freelancers. It is a public commitment to donate 10% of your income to the organisations that can most effectively help others until your retirement.

Freelancing For Good Pledge is based on the principles of effective giving, ensuring that each pound donated has the maximum impact. Giving What We Can provides recommendations for the most effective charities in high-impact areas such as animal welfare, global health, and reducing global catastrophic risks.

If 10% sounds like too much to start with, you can take a trial pledge where you decide on the percentage of your income you want to donate and for how long. For example, you could pledge to donate 5% of your income for the next two years, then reassess.

The pledge is not legally binding, and you can revoke it at any time.

Giving For Animals

If you’re passionate about helping animals, the Giving for Animals Pledge by Animal Advocacy Careers is for you.

This pledge encourages you to direct your giving towards charities dedicated to ending animal suffering and making a significant impact in that space.

For instance, if just 100 people committed to donating 10% of their income, they could fully fund an entire animal charity, creating a remarkable impact for animals in need.

Founders Pledge

Founders Pledge is aimed at entrepreneurs and business owners. The list of people who have taken this pledge includes high-profile entrepreneurs such as Dustin Moskovitz (co-founder of Asana), Bryant Chou (co-founder of Webflow), and Niklas Adalberth (founder of Klarna), to name a few.

Although it is focused on entrepreneurs and investors, we’ve included it because, depending on the size of your business, it could be a good option for you.

1% For The Planet

1% For The Planet is for businesses, and the idea is to donate 1% of your annual sales to vetted environmental organisations.

Unlike other pledges, here you need to submit your annual revenue and proof of donation to receive certification. You also cannot fully choose who to donate to - it must be one of the organisations vetted and approved by 1% For The Planet.

If your focus is on environmental issues, this pledge could be ideal.

Pledge 1 Percent

This is the only pledge on our list that allows you to commit to donating resources other than money.

With Pledge 1 Percent, you can pledge to donate 1% of your profit, product, time, or equity. You can pledge all four, just one, or any combination - it’s entirely up to you. You can also adjust your pledge over time. For example, you could pledge 1% of your time at first and then expand to include profits later.

Though primarily aimed at corporations, many small business and agency owners have taken this pledge. Since it offers the flexibility to donate other resources, it’s definitely worth exploring.

We hope this overview has been helpful in guiding you towards the right pledge that aligns with your values and freelance career. By taking a pledge, you’re not only contributing to causes that matter but also shaping your business with purpose and impact.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, don't hesitate to let us know in the comments!