by Jackie Kirouac-Fram, Executive Director
ReBuilding Center is a store unlike any other. We’re funkier, more inclusive, more joyful, more helpful, and more equitable than most other retail stores, in large part because we are a nonprofit social enterprise.
What the heck is a social enterprise?
And how are we a nonprofit if we have a store?
Great questions! I hear them often. :)
A social enterprise is a business that seeks to generate revenue by selling goods or services, with the profits used to fund programs that provide social benefit. In a lot of cases, the social enterprise part of a nonprofit is separate from the larger purpose, and the customers are not the people who experience the mission of the organization - like a pastry shop that supports an animal shelter, or like Tom’s providing shoes people who need them (and who are not their customers).
ReBuilding Center is unique because our social enterprise IS our purpose. Our customers and students are the people we are here to serve by providing low-cost home repair materials and classes. We charge prices that allow us to continue to operate our store and offer our classes, with very little to spare, because the affordability and accessibility of our stuff and our education programs is our north star. If we could fundraise $2 million additional dollars per year, in fact, we wouldn’t have to charge you anything.
And because profit is not our motive, we focus a lot on making sure you have an awesome experience when you visit us. I mean, we definitely hope you buy something! But we care as much about making sure you feel welcomed, supported, and joyful when you shop or take one of our classes. We are here for YOU.
When you do buy something or take a class, the price you pay goes to make sure our staff earn thriving wages and benefits, our lights stay on, and our trucks keep running. That’s love.
When you donate materials, you are not only keeping them out of the landfill, you are turning them into an affordable option for someone else in our community. That’s love, too.
And if you’re a Member, your additional financial support allows us to provide free classes and materials through our new Home Repair for All and Community Membership programs. Also (you guessed it): love!
High fives all around, y’all.
When profit is not your motive, you make room for a whole lotta love.