Exploring the Benefits of Shared Spaces and Services for Hunterdon County Nonprofits

1. Exploring the Benefits of Shared Spaces and Services for Hunterdon County Nonprofits March 30, 2012 • Build with Purpose • United Way of Hunterdon County

2. About the Presenters • Build with Purpose is a nonprofit real estate development organization with a mission of building sustainable organizations and healthy, vibrant communities. For almost a decade we have been helping nonprofits find, expand and finance facilities. Promoting and developing nonprofit centers is an integral part of our mission and work. • United Way of Hunterdon County provides leadership that brings people together, promotes volunteerism, and mobilizes resources to have lasting change and measurable impact in the community. They focus on 3 areas: improving financial stability of Hunterdon County residents, ensuring residents have access to health care, and education.

3. What is a nonprofit center? Nonprofit Centers are buildings that house multiple organizations and provide healthy, efficient, quality, mission-enhancing workspace. More than just offices, these facilities can become sustainable centers for strength for communities to dream together, work together, and grow together. Nonprofit centers come in all shapes and sizes and serve many different kinds of communities. All centers, however, share three basic features: • Composed of multiple (2 or more), primarily not-for-profit, tenant organizations • Exist as a physical site (one or more buildings) • Provide affordable, stable workspace, build capacity for the nonprofit sector, and support the various missions of its tenant organizations.

4. Nonprofit Centers Enhance the Nonprofit Sector Collaborative space and shared services help build a thriving and sustainable sector in a number of ways: • Increasing visibility • Lowering overhead costs • Transforming expenses into investments • Pioneering new initiatives They benefit organizational tenants through providing: • Stability • Affordability • Mission enhancement They strengthen individuals and diverse communities through: • Increasing direct program and service delivery • Creating new hubs of economic activity • Providing community resources

7. Why is space important to the nonprofit sector? The ability of nonprofits to provide quality affordable social services depends on their ability to develop and maintain crucial infrastructure resources. More than ever, nonprofit organizations find it increasingly difficult to secure and maintain quality workspace that is stable and affordable and also enhances the mission and operations of tenant organizations. Some of the key reasons for this include: • Economic Hard Times - Funding from foundations and corporate sponsors has decreased, especially to groups who already tend to receive a smaller portion of the pie, such as those serving immigrants, advocates for social justice, or youth service providers. • Lack of Real Estate Focused Support Services and Advocates - There are very few, if any, organizations dedicated explicitly to the office and program space needs of the nonprofit sector. To date, infrastructure support for nonprofits has been focused on management and organizational development, fiscal sponsorship, fund development, and more recently, information technology.

9. Metuchen Nonprofit Center Shared common areas such as kitchen, bathrooms, and meeting space Shared IT services Shared office equipment such as photocopiers, fax, printers and phone system Lower overhead and operational costs Increased visibility Opportunity for new partnerships and initiatives 3 groups: Build with Purpose Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey Women Helping Women

10. Boston Nonprofit Center Services Provided: Property management Building engineering Security Cleaning services Recycling services. Has accessible showers to encourage alternative means of commuting and a healthy lifestyle. Third Sector New England founded the NonProfit Center in 2004. Over 110,000 rentable square feet One of the largest multi-tenant nonprofit buildings in the United States. The center offers numerous affordable rental space and meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art communications technology.

11. Wilmington Nonprofit Center:The Community Service Building Opened in 1997 Fully occupied by 73 nonprofit tenants 177,000 rentable square feet Tenant suites range in size from one room to full floors Provides: Collaborative workspace Security Kitchen/break room Parking Copy room Conference rooms

12. General Assembly is a campus for technology, design, and entrepreneurship. They provide educational programming, space, and support to facilitate collaborative practices and learning opportunities across a community inspired by the entrepreneurial experience. General Assembly NY Services Provided: Library Two big open work spaces Bike storage area Several rooms of varying sizes dedicated to conferences and classes. Ability to share ideas, collaborate, work alongside others.

13. Next Steps Co-location Considerations: • Who Is My Neighbor: Mission based/similar services vs. unrelated organizations • Rent or Own: Own or lease?  Sublet space? • Facility Needs: Facility goals and facility needs (geography, money, space, parking, amenities, timeline) • Shared Services: What services would/could you share? IT; Finance; HR; Marketing; Other

14. Thank You!!! www.bwpurpose.org Lauren Bolline Build with Purpose 224 Main St. Metuchen, NJ 08840 lbolline@bwpurpose.org 732-635-1000 x114 Keith Timko Build with Purpose 224 Main St. Metuchen, NJ 08840 ktimko@bwpurpose.org 732-635-1000 x152