March 24, 2009
We need to find immediate funding for a non-profit organization serving children & special needs groups- help?
Lilly J asked:
Our non-profit group works with many individuals and groups to improve the quality of their lives and our community. We have recieve small grants but need to purchase the building we are in or relocate to another site. We have taught over 60,000 students in public and private schools.Our community programs include (but not limited to) parent-child classes, teen groups 12 step support for both teens and adults using art as alternitive way to spend time & express emotions, adoption and bonding issues, help with family resteration & communication skills with art, interaction between genrations, building self-esteme and positive attitudes for abused children and adults, homeless shelters and many other activities. We work with multi-populace, multi-cultural and multi-level “students” using art as the catylist. Our landlord has been placed in a serious financial situation with the housing market so poor. He can no longer fund our location. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks - Lilly
Our non-profit group works with many individuals and groups to improve the quality of their lives and our community. We have recieve small grants but need to purchase the building we are in or relocate to another site. We have taught over 60,000 students in public and private schools.Our community programs include (but not limited to) parent-child classes, teen groups 12 step support for both teens and adults using art as alternitive way to spend time & express emotions, adoption and bonding issues, help with family resteration & communication skills with art, interaction between genrations, building self-esteme and positive attitudes for abused children and adults, homeless shelters and many other activities. We work with multi-populace, multi-cultural and multi-level “students” using art as the catylist. Our landlord has been placed in a serious financial situation with the housing market so poor. He can no longer fund our location. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks - Lilly
Filed under Other - Business & Finance by Susan
Comments on We need to find immediate funding for a non-profit organization serving children & special needs groups- help? »
Have you contacted your local United Way? They frequently have emergency funds, or can help direct you to someone who does. They may also know about a loan or mortgage program that would help you purchase.
Another idea is to hold some sort of fund drive. This would have to be huge to purchase a building, but if you could get local businesses behind you, a local radio and TV station, etc.
How much is the property going to cost? You have to buy it from the landlord? Perhaps he would be willing to carry your mortgage through something like virgin money (link below).
I’ll keep thinking about this, maybe I can come up with more.
EDIT:
Where are you located. I started thinking about the “art” aspect of it. Not that art is a field where there are an overabundance of wealthy people, but there are some. Could you perhaps find a group of sponsors who would go in together to buy the property for you? Art galleries, art supply stores (even online ones!), auction houses, artists themselves, etc.
I think no matter how this happens, it’s going to be a lot of work, so you need to start gearing yourself up now. If you are a non-profit, look into donation-matching programs - my company will match my tax-deductible donation 1 for 1, I know a lot of companies do. I wonder if the local bank would consider donating half the value of the building if you took out a mortgage for the other half!
Still brainstorming, more may be forthcoming.
I did some online research - will post some relevant links below.
Are there spaces in your building that you could either rent out (seperate units) or areas within your own business that you could rent time in when you’re not using them? i.e. another small start-up non profit can’t afford/doesn’t need a whole location of their own yet, just space for a phone line, a couple file cabinets, and a meeting room three hours a week. They might be willing to pay you $400 a month for this?
Also, if you’re a non-profit (what is that, like 401-c or something? I can’t remember) then any amount that your seller knocks off the price might somehow be tax deductible for him.
I think you need to see if you can garner the assistance of a real estate lawyer, hopefully free advice.