So for those not in the loop, I set a goal this year of fundraising at least $100,000. It’s ambitious, but there’s a lot of projects out there that would gobble up that money pretty quick at the space otherwise. There’s also the goal of raising enough funding to where we could possibly pay off the loan by the end of the year, which would make it a lot easier to afford doing bigger renovations around the space in a nearer future.
We’re making big steps on this goal, and I’d like to keep the synergy going. To keep that going, I could use help applying for grants. There will be a meeting next Tuesday (2/24) to coordinate with people willing to help and complete grant applications with quickly approaching due dates.
TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR: I’m not asking for equipment donations in the list below, just monetary donations. If you would like to donate equipment, TALK WITH THE AREA LEAD FIRST! Also, do not leave equipment in an area without out putting a note on it saying that the item is a donation or at least talking/emailing/calling the lead ahead of time.
Below is a list of items I am hunting grants for:
| Item | Area |
|---|---|
| Sewing machines | Textiles |
| Sewing machines with hand or knee control | Textiles |
| Commercial Grade Embroidery Machine | Textiles |
| Kick Wheel | Ceramics |
| Kiln Automation | Ceramics |
| Laptops | IT |
| PCs | IT |
| Battery Backup | IT |
| Projectors | Classrooms |
| New Dry Erase Boards | Classrooms |
| Solar Shade for room 2 | Classrooms |
| Minisplit – 110V that can run off a solar shade | Classrooms |
| Laser Scanner | Fab lab |
| Fiber Laser | Fab lab |
| Multi-Filament 3d Printer | Fab lab |
| Laser Welder | Fab lab |
| 20 Ton Press | Metalshop |
| Dumpster Rental | Garden |
| Badge Printer | Security |
There’s also a few projects that I am hunting funding for. It’s not a complete list, but it might be possible to complete a few of them in the next year.
| Project |
|---|
| Expanding the parking lot and adding more handicap stalls |
| Adding a 2nd parking lot along Mt. Vernon |
| Replacing the west doors with wider, handicap accessible doors |
| Pouring a concrete pad for a bigger transformer |
| Adding badge readers to more exterior doors |
| Adding more 220v as well as 3 phase outlets to the metalshop |
| Redoing the hallway ceiling in a more artistic way |
If you know of a foundation/group/person willing to help fund these items or projects, please let me know preferably by emailing fundraising@makeict.org I would like to protect donor’s anonymity if they prefer.