Data Without Borders logo contest

thanks for catching that! our servers weren't ready for ycombinator :P will have the original url back up soon

I don't see the problem. Its an all volunteer org and not even a formal non profit at this point as I understand it. They're planning to use donated developer/statistician/visualization designer time to help other non profits make better sense of their data at no cost. Naturally being 100% donated time based they're looking for the same kind of help from a logo designer — one that supports their goals and wants to help, doesn't care about getting paid. The prize struck me as a just to make the contest a bit more interesting factor.

Seeing that the project in question is mostly aiming at NGO's and non-profits I'm assuming that 'data without borders' is not a commercial enterprise. In which case it's not uncommon to have these sorts of contests where the 'reward' is meant as a 'thank you' rather than a full compensation.

From a purely economical/business perspective you're (kinda) right, but from a human/charity perspective it seems rather harsh to consider this an 'insult'..

I do design work and there's no way I'd do this without some other kind of reward. If they can't pay the 500$ a typical logo costs, why bother putting $100 down?