My client's got sticky mitts!

I created a site for my clients using html and css, rather than in Dreamweaver (also coz I resent paying out such big bucks for software!!).
It looks so pro. now of course they want to start adding and updating things themselves. They can't afford to pay me to do it as they are a charity.

The problem is... they have an ex-'graphic designer'(make your own judgement there!!) on the staff who has volunteered to take over the website. I don't want to be seen to be territorial or money grabbing, so if they can't afford to pay me to do more work on it, what's the best way to avoid giving the website over to them altogether?

I've suggested incorporating some content management pages, but now the 'graphic desiger' on the staff is doing a web design course and, of course, they are going to want to let him loose on my lovely website! I just know he's going to do all kinds of horrible non-standards and tacky stuff which will undo all my hard work.

I'm sure this is a common occurrence, one of my other clients expects me to update for free eg. "Could you just stick this on the website?" etc. even though I told him that updates/amends would be chargeable at the hourly rate.

Advice from other freelancers would be golden. Cheers.

Well, whose property the website is now? Yours or the customers? If it is that of the customers, he should be allowed to do whatever he opts to do with it. Or am I missing something?

Get a content management system up quick so they have the option of just using that. Don't tell him too much about the code, then if he messes around too much, they will be back on there knees "can you please fix it for us?"

Of course, it belongs to the client. As they paid me to create it for them.
But I'd like to retain some control, especially as I use it as a portfolio piece to show other potential clients.

The problem is that I do some voluntary work for them too and I know they don't have much money. I believe in and support the charity work they do and I want to help them out, but just can't work for free.

I'm aware that as I created it in html and css it's not that easy for someone who 'knows a bit of Dreamweaver' to work on. They have suggested I spend some time training them up, so perhaps CMS is the best way to go and encourage them not to muck around with the code.

I think the problem is, they love the way the new site looks and want to develop it, but just can't afford to pay out more money.

It's a difficult one and I'm struggling to explain this all to them without insulting their 'designer'!!

In my contract it always says the site belongs to me, and it will always be like that untill they pay me a serious amount of money. Than they can have it and let the "designer" loose on it.
I take it you have your link on their site somewhere (I usually put it in the footer)? If you let the designer alter the website (and he will screw up), your name is still on the site, making you look bad..

Also, you should also state in your proposition that any changes to the site are made by you, and only you. If they can't agree on that: tough, no deal..

I know it's hard to ask money off a charity foundation, but business is business and if they wanted the site designed for free they should have thought of that earlier and let the "graphic designer" build the site from scratch.
It's all about keeping your name "clean"..

Now: what you could do is some sponsor-deal. Don't they have a magazine or flyer or whatever, they give out? Ask them if you can advertise in that in exchange for free updates on the site.

That's probably the way I would do it.

Thanks for that, I'll have to rethink my contract for future jobs.
I used to do updates for free but it was taking up so much of my time I've had to tell them I can't do so much which is why they're looking at updating themselves.
Hearing others' experiences is really helping me take a step back and the situation was really stressing me out!

If my clients pay me for the job in full, then the site is their's to do as they wish. If they choose to muck it up, then I immediately take any reference to myself off.

I do offer non-profit rates. About half of what I charge normally. Perhaps you can do that. A website will in the end HELP them to raise money for their charity and this is one place they should spend a little.

Express your concerns about having the graphics guy do it. Be professional. Simply say, "You know, I've seen this done a lot, and it just doesn't work out. I really want this site to work for your charity, and by letting someone non technical handle it, is likely to backfire." Explain that you understand their budget constraints but you would be willing to give them a non-profit rate.

You make something, they have a working site ... that might work.

Here is the problem with most freelance designers. They do a website for a company and don't think about ownership rights until after they have received their paychecks. I make it known to the company that they are renting my design and space for the normal fee, but I do have a $2000 buyout clause which then gives them all rights to my design and graphics included on their website. This buyout clause also means that I will be removing my name completely from their site. Most people when they hear that I have a $2000 buyout clause look at me as if I were going to laugh and they just don't understand. If they alter my code in anyway other than my CMS provides I do shut down their website and that is also in my contracts with the client. I have had this happen several times and this is not fun.

As far as charity websites go, I do 1 free charity website a month. I don't go looking for it but I do offer 1 free charity website a month and if they want in on the deal they get all of the design work for free, but they have to do their hosting with me and they have to pay me a monthly fee for the rental of the design. So basically they save on average $750 off their site as the design fee is taken off. One thing about charity's though is they will do anything to save a buck.

Snappy, you got caught in the oldest trap new freelancers fall into....no CYA (cover your A**!!) As others have said, see what you can salvage from this. Then before you get another job, sit down and make sure you have an iron clad contract for you clients to sign.

Yep, yep. Normally my clients just pay me to do everything for their site cause they don't want to mess with anything. So I give them a hosting contract and a design contract. But technically when they pay me to build the site it is theirs, although I reserve the right to place the work in my portfolio.

Maybe you could do just that, copy the site and place it on your website. Like this.

http://www.yourdomain.com/sites/somesite.com/

Then their they could see the work you did for the client, and it would not matter what the heck they did to your website. Also you could do a screen shot.