Public Architecture, a San Francisco nonprofit organization, seeks to create an industrywide standard of pro-bono work in architecture, much like in the legal profession, reports The San Francisco Chronicle.

Founded five years ago by John Peterson, an architect, one of the group’s major programs is the 1% Solution, which encourages architecture firms to donate 1 percent of their billable hours to public service. Thus far, 290 firms in 35 states have pledged to take part in this program.

For the 1% Solution program, Public Architecture has created a database of nonprofit organizations with specific design needs.

And the organization lets architecture firms know that doing pro-bono work can also be good for their bottom lines, by creating new design markets, for instance. “We need to make the case to nonprofits that good design thinking can advance their cause, and to architects that creative, aggressive pro-bono work can be healthy for their business,” says Mr. Peterson.

Read The Chronicle’s special report on charities and design.