Grants & Gifts from Corporate Volunteers
As a non-profit effort, every financial show of support we receive is welcome and appreciated. We are regularly researching and applying for new grants to fund our operations and continue our mission of sustainability, community, and equity. We host many group events from businesses operating in and around Seattle for team-building and community service opportunities. Some of these companies provide funds through volunteer grants, a type of corporate giving program that provides donations as a sort of hourly stipend to a nonprofit organization in recognition of its employees' volunteer work. These programs are also sometimes called Dollars for Doers, Matching Time, or Grants for Time.
Sometimes companies take that a step further and allow their employees to nominate non-profits for additional funding support. This spring we were surprised and honored to have been the recipient of three such bonus donations!
Starbucks Foundation Neighborhood Grant
This spring our friends (and SoDo neighbors!) at Starbucks Corporate bestowed the Repair Bank with a generous Neighborhood Grant! Starbucks Partners (employees) can nominate organizations based upon the work they are leading in their communities that foster continued volunteer engagement. These grants help strengthen connections in the communities where Partners are volunteering and offering their support in service of their neighborhoods.
As the second corporate volunteer group last fall when we first began welcoming group events, we have hosted over 20 Starbucks teams since then. It has been a pleasure hosting dozens of Partners from their local headquarters, and often some that are visiting the Seattle office from out of state. We look forward to welcoming more and are thankful for their hard work and support.
Thank you for this generous gift which helped replenish many depleted workshop supplies!
Amazon Gift Card from the Source!
The Repair Bank has hosted multiple teams from Seattle’s largest employer, Amazon. Groups have come to us from multiple different departments within the company and they each bring great enthusiasm every time.
The Global Transportation Services/Global Logistics team that joined us in May had such a great time that they thanked us with an Amazon gift card! Their very generous gift helped us purchase many new tools and supplies including five gallons of environmentally-safe furniture paint and upholstery foam which happens to be the most expensive supply item regularly used in our operations. We also secured new sewing machines that are now being utilized in our workforce development program.
Thank you so much to the Amazon team for helping us clear out our Amazon wish list!
T-Mobile Foundation Volun-T Grant
After connecting with T-Mobile this spring to share our volunteer opportunities, we were happy to attend their Sustainability Fair to continue spreading the word about our organization. We also learned that T-Mobile offers Volun-T, their national employee grant program that enables any employee the opportunity to apply for a volunteer-based grant in their local communities. T-Mobile employees can work with non-profits on issues that directly impact the vitality of their community, which very much aligns with the Repair Bank cause.
Thanks to the nomination by Erika Kazi, Sustainability Sourcing Manager at T-Mobile, we are beyond ecstatic to announce that we are the recipient of a $20,000 Volun-T Grant from the T-Mobile Foundation! With the help of this generous grant, we are one step closer to purchasing our very own Furniture Repair Bank box truck! Securing dedicated transportation will make furniture pick-ups, deliveries, and collection events a million times easier than our previous arrangement of renting a U-Haul every time. Be on the lookout soon for an FRB-branded vehicle tooling around the streets of Western Washington saving even more furniture from the landfill! Thank you T-Mobile Foundation!
We are truly humbled by the generosity and support of our volunteers and the companies where they work. Our small but mighty organization is growing rapidly and is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in our community. As we expand our programs and reach more people in need, we rely on the generosity of supporters like you. Your donation, no matter the size, will help us continue our mission to reduce furniture waste and bring positive change to even more lives. Please consider giving today to help fuel our growth and support the important work we're doing.
Thank you for your support!
See you at Furniture Repair Bank!
