The Fledge Foundation | Application Preview
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 83-1612275
Location: Lansing, MI, United States
Length of Operation: 6-10
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
We will use the funding to purchase the building that we rent. The building is 12,000 square feet and holds all of our resources. Our resources include a free 24 hr food pantry, free clothing, a free outdoor recreation equipment library, a venue/meeting space, free individual workspaces including internet and computer use, a free recording studio, access to sewing and screen printing equipment, a kitchen, music equipment, art supplies, a vending space for local artists, free community events, free entrepreneurial programming, free financial literacy classes, a hub for local non-profits to meet and collaborate, and so much more. Buying the building gives the community a permanent place to continue solving problems and growing together. With permanence in location, we will provide support to our community in perpetuity.
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Business Plan
We will expand social programming by being able to pay community members for their expert services, rather than spending money on rent. We grow when we serve more community members and more resources and services are available. Freeing up $2,000 a month will go a long way in accomplishing this goal. We have spent $120,000 over the last 5 years, more than enough to buy the building. When we imagine the services that could be provided with those dollars, we are resolute in finding a way to own our space and grow our services. The Fledge provides opportunities to pursue happiness in all ways, from providing basic needs like food and clothing to promoting and supporting self actualization via educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. We help prevent and eliminate some of the societal ills that come with poverty, such as mental illness, substance use disorders and overdose deaths, gun violence, domestic violence and suicide. We provide free, radically inclusive, positive experiences that help to balance Adverse Childhood Experiences. We help to create solutions to local problems alongside the people who are affected by the problems through entrepreneurship and mentoring. We are increasing positive opportunities for individual and community growth based on the needs of the community in real time.
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Self Identified Competition
There is no competition for what our non-profit provides to the Lansing, MI community. Some serve food, some provide clothing, some provide educational opportunities, some provide entrepreneurial services. None do all, like we do, and our services and resources are always free to the community, with zero barriers to participation in anything we provide. We are uniquely radically inclusive with zero barriers to entry. We do not charge for services and we do not require information to be shared with us in order to provide a family with food (no address, ID, documents needed) or other basic needs. Our food pantry has 24 hour access and no check in is needed. We seek community input for their needs and provide them directly. We provide community space for all and serve as a hub for other non-profits to work on their community goals. We provide basic needs, but we also provide free, fun opportunities for the community to come together to learn, celebrate and recreate. We seek to address all needs along Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
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Contact Applicant
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