Pushing Forward

Keeping on is the goal!

Did you know that many small nonprofits don't receive major grant support until they reach their 5th year of operations? This demonstrates sustainability and community support - which are absolutely needed. But it leaves some of us hanging on by our fingernails. My big goal is vocational training, especially for immigrants, but that will take some big bucks. I need to stick around long enough to make those kinds of requests from bigger foundations.

It costs $12.50 per contact hour to keep my studio running (based on 10 students a week). That's not counting the hours planning curriculum, creating lesson materials, working with fiddly software, meeting with board members, or filing annual reports.

Lessons cost $17/hour for a scheduled class. That's not much – yoga classes are more, yet it seems out of reach for so many. I receive dozens of phone calls from people for whom that's too much.

For three years I haven't even taken any salary. Nothing, nada, zip. Every penny goes towards rent, insurance, shop supplies, etc. Obviously there's only so long that can continue; as I spend more time running the sewing school, there is less time for my own commissions to make any money.

How can you help?

1. Tell a friend who is interested in learning. I would much rather teach than ask for money. More people taking classes means I can be self-supporting, and eventually be in business long enough to go for the big foundation grants.

2. Share my story with friends in the industry or adjacent industries, or simply people who wish there were more tailors. Their awareness nets me both students and donations.

3. Throw me a little money. $50 or $100 goes a long way in a tiny nonprofit. 

We're the only scaffolded sewing school in the Twin Cities. Help me keep Stitch Masters going!