A couple of years back, I stopped at a small nonprofit to drop
off an in-kind donation. While writing out my receipt, the Office Manager
gave me a brief overview of the organization and its services. Further
disclosing that their grant had been cut and the organization was in dire need
of funds. As a result, the majority of the staff had been laid off leaving behind
the CEO, a college intern, and himself, to work without monetary compensation. Notwithstanding the lack of funds, by using in-kind donations the organization created a small store selling
gently-used clothing, household items, and other knick-knacks to the surrounding
low-income community. Charging no more than $2.00 for any item, the store
provided a means to pay operational costs. During my seventy-five minute
drive home, it struck me to reproduce the nonprofit's donation model to
generate funds for Cultivating You, Inc., my start-up nonprofit.
Two years and thirty donation boxes later,
the appointed time drew near.
