Why not just rent space?
We explored this option. There were several reasons we rejected it. First, in our current space we’ve learned that renters don’t control their fate. The character of our current building has changed dramatically over the past nine years. While there has very recently been improvement, the building had been allowed to deteriorate badly. We received frequent complaints from volunteers and donors about the condition of the building. At times we do not have access to the building (in the summer, for instance, the air conditioning is turned off in the building on weekends making it unusable). Second, constructing a building provides us with access to capital that we might not otherwise have. In the public benefit sector, we often find private donors and other sources willing to fund building projects, but not other types of needs. In other words, we believe that the project will create value for the community foundation, not divert resources. It is important to note that we think about half
