What I’ve Learned About Giving Back (Quietly, and Often)

Published: May 2025 — ~3 min read

People talk a lot about “giving back” like it’s a milestone—something official, something you do when a nonprofit calls or a cause goes viral. But for me, it’s always been part of the rhythm. Not a headline, not a case study—just something I do.

I’ve worked on projects where I didn’t send an invoice. I’ve helped people get their ideas off the ground, fixed urgent issues for small teams, and supported community work with my skills. I didn’t call it “pro bono.” I just knew they needed help—and I had the ability to step in.

1. You Don’t Have to Call It Charity for It to Count

Some of the most meaningful work I’ve done wasn’t part of a contract. It was helping someone launch an initiative, clean up a broken site, or build a small tool to save time. No pitch decks. No statements of work. Just, “Yeah, I can help with that.”

I don’t always label it. I don’t always list it. But it matters. And it counts.

2. Your Expertise Can Be a Lifeline

When someone’s trying to build something with no budget, no tech background, and no idea where to start, even one hour of focused help can unlock everything. I’ve seen it firsthand—how a quick solution or clear explanation can remove barriers and reignite momentum.

You don’t need a massive platform to make a difference. You just need to meet someone where they are.

3. Quiet Giving Is Still Powerful

I follow a value system that emphasizes doing good without fanfare. That’s shaped how I work, how I support others, and how I decide what to say yes to. It’s not about getting credit. It’s about showing up when it counts.

I don’t make public lists of the projects I help with. Most of the time, it’s between me and the person I helped—and that’s exactly how it should be.

4. Not Every Project Needs to Be Paid to Be Worth It

There’s a lot of pressure in tech to optimize everything—to turn every skill into income, every hour into a billable block. But not everything has to be transactional. Some work is valuable simply because it helps someone move forward.

Those moments matter just as much as the ones with big budgets and formal timelines. Sometimes more.

5. Giving Back Is a Practice, Not a Phase

I don’t think of giving back as something I’ll “get around to.” It’s something I already do—informally, when it makes sense, and when the need is real. And it’s something I want to keep making space for as I grow in my work.

Whether it’s a quick fix, a full build, or just showing up to support someone’s vision, I try to lead with care and intention. That’s not extra. That’s the work.

I’ll keep doing this the way I’ve always done it: quietly, thoughtfully, and when I feel like I can make a real difference. If a project comes along that speaks to my values and I have the capacity, I won’t hesitate to say yes.

And if you’re someone trying to build something meaningful—something real—and think I might be able to help, I’m always open to the conversation.

Not everything needs to be billable to be worth building.