Pro bono doesn't mean you support the front man for U2, though the Irish singer embodies the spirit of the phrase with his work for third-world debt relief. Pro bono literally means Ôfor good,' and those of us who engage in it find that the good isn't limited to the good works we do for the charitable causes we support. The good comes back to us . . . in spades.

Pro bono work is good for a number of reasons. In addition to the warm glow of helping your fellow man, it gives you a chance to build a portfolio of work that you know you're capable of but have not yet had the opportunity to engage in. It also gives you the opportunity to get your name (or your work) in front of new audiences, and it provides an excellent opportunity to network with potential future clients.

Here are some tips:

1. Provide a budget
You may be offering to work for free, but that doesn't mean you won't incur expenses. Unless you can get vendors to donate products or services, make sure you talk over expenses with your client before engaging in the project. Most non-profits will see the benefits of the services you are offering and understand that you won't be able to pay for everything. They'll either find room in their budget to pay for out of pocket expenses, or use their leveraging power as a non-profit to have those products or services donated.

2. Reign in your client
In many cases, the beneficiary of pro bono work hasn't had the benefit of working in the fast-paced corporate world. They may not understand that the profit motive imposes strict time restraints, or they may assume that since you're working pro bono, they've got you as long as they need you. Articulate your process early on. Make sure they understand how many hours or how much material you plan to donate and keep them apprised of your progress just as you would any other client on any other project.

3. Put your B-Team on it
Good coaches put their most promising (but least experienced) players in during the final quarter of games with a ridiculously large point spread. You should do the same with your pro bono project. Pro bono work is a good way for you to test the talents of new or inexperienced players; put them in positions of responsibility and they may become all-stars on your next paying project.

4. Treat it like a real project
Since money isn't changing hands, you may find it tempting to put your pro bono work on the back burner when you've got bigger fish to fry. Big mistake. Procrastination could very well double the hours you budgeted, dragging the project out and costing you money. Be disciplined and schedule your pro bono work just as you would a paying project.

5. FinallyÉ Toot Your Horn!
You may have heard that good things come to those who help others, but you'll wait a lot longer if you don't toot your own horn. Sending out press releases, posting information about your company in communications with the charity's board, and calling out your good works on your Web site will not only give your organization the recognition it deserves, it will help promote the charity you're working with.

If you're lucky, it may even inspire your colleagues and competitors to find their own charitable causes to take part in . . . and that's good for your entire community!

Brent Dey is a writer, producer and creative thinker specializing in catchy taglines and effective communications for Fortune 500 companies. Learn his backstory at www.brentdey.com or by dialing (404) 531-4206.