A few weeks ago we quietly launched Rendered. Since then we've been talking to professionals across the UK - strategists, designers, marketers, fundraisers, comms specialists, project managers - about what they're looking for and what's not working.
Here's what keeps coming up.
"I want meaningful work, but I can't afford to volunteer"
This is the most consistent thing we hear. People want to use their skills for organisations doing important work. They're drawn to the mission. But they also have mortgages and bills. The choice between "full commercial rate" and "free" doesn't leave much room.
Rendered exists in that gap. The rates aren't commercial, but they're real. And that changes everything about the dynamic - it's a professional engagement, not a favour.
"I'm between things and want to stay sharp"
Several people we've spoken to are in career transitions. Between roles. Returning after a break. Shifting from corporate to something more independent. They don't just want income - they want to keep building, keep learning, keep having something to point to.
Short nonprofit projects are ideal for this. Real work, real deadlines, real impact. And something concrete to talk about in their next interview or client pitch.
"I've tried platforms before and they feel transactional"
Freelancer marketplaces optimise for volume. Lowest price wins. Everything's a race to the bottom. People tell us they want something more curated - where the work is interesting, the organisations are vetted, and they're not competing against hundreds of other applicants.
That's the trade-off we're making deliberately. Fewer projects, better matched. Quality over quantity on both sides.
"I didn't know this existed"
Honestly, this is the most common response. The idea that you could do professional work for nonprofits at accessible rates - and that someone would handle the matching, vetting, and payments - just isn't something most people have encountered.
Which tells us we're probably onto something.
What we're taking from this
We're early. The platform is live but we're still learning. A few things are becoming clearer:
The demand is real. People want this. Not everyone, but the right people - experienced professionals who care about impact and want flexibility.
Rates matter. Even modest payment changes the relationship completely. It's not about the money per se. It's about what payment signals: this is professional work that's valued.
Curation matters more than scale. We're resisting the urge to grow fast. Better to have 50 great professionals than 500 mediocre ones. The nonprofits deserve that.
We'll keep sharing what we learn as we go. If you're a professional who wants to do meaningful work, have a look at what we're building.
Interested in what we're building?
Rendered connects skilled professionals with nonprofits for meaningful, paid project work.