2025 End-of-Year fundraising Campaign:
Help Grow Maker Works
Keep Maker Works Accessible & Acquire New Tools for 2026
Learn who we are, what we achieved in 2025, our goals for 2026, and how you can help us do more through a donation. Donations are tax-deductible, and we offer a variety of thank-you gifts!
Staff Instructor Syrena teaching a Wood Lathe class
Who are we?
Maker Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community workshop open to the public — in other words, a “makerspace”!
Our mission is to help people turn ideas into real projects by providing the tools, guidance, and space they need.
* Read more about us on our home page!
Gizmo (left) and Shop Manager Randy (right)!
A member using the new quilting machine. Thank you Becky!
What did we achieve in 2025?
Thousands of people come to Maker Works each year to learn, fix, and make. In 2025 alone, we achieved:
15,000+ hours of tool use in our five main areas (wood shop, metal shop, craft area, jewelry studio, & electronics studio)
2,000+ class attendees
300+ personalized free tours
150+ household items repaired
50+ local small businesses utilizing the space
Paul made his guitar using the wood shop and laser cutters
Goal 1: Keep access affordable ($25k)
$25,000 will cover the funding gap we need to stay open, keep memberships and classes affordable, and welcome more people into the shop.
Continued free & low-cost access for students, teachers, and veterans
New beginner-friendly & advanced classes in wood, metal, textiles, jewelry, and electronics
Weekly field trips for schools and youth groups
Goal 2: Get new tools! ($25k - 64k+)
Beyond $25,000 helps fund new tools. At $64,500, all four new tools will be funded! Additional funding after that supports accessibility improvements in the shop, entrepreneurship and artist in residence programming, and much more!
Thomas celebrating a success on our computer-controlled printed circuit board (PCB) engraver
Angie in the metal shop, taking a break from working on her metal sculpture.
Middle school girls showing off after our Birdhouse Make & Take. Thank you Kiwanis & Rotary Club of Ann Arbor!
CO2 Laser (unlocked at $34.5k)
A new CO2 laser would give people a bigger cutting area, more power, and an easier-to-use interface. Wait time would be reduced and people could take on more ambitious projects.
Pen Lathe (unlocked at $36k)
A pen lathe would let people transform scrap wood into handcrafted pens, giving beginners and experts an approachable entry point into turning while reducing waste.
Laser for Cutting & Welding Metal (unlocked at $56k)
A metal-cutting laser would slice through 1/4” steel with precision, opening the door to finely detailed metal projects. A huge improvement for Middle and High School FIRST Robotics Teams.
Apparel Printer (unlocked at $64.5k)
DTF printing would help the community create full-color shirts, bags, and even wood prints at a fraction of the normal cost. Free access for local schools and non-profits!
* Images represent possible models; exact tools will be decided once funding is reached.
Kelly powder coating a metal sculpture for her business Fusion of Iron & Earth! Hundreds of local small businesses have benefitted from shared access to tools and community at Maker Works.
Nova unpacking the new xTool laser engraver, which can etch on metal!
An elementary school student using tools at our Great Maker Race STEM activity at WESO, just one of thousands of kids!
Thank-you Gifts
| Level | Reward |
|---|---|
| $25+ | Thank-you letter + Maker Works sticker |
| $50+ | Pocket notebook, laser-engraved with your initials Limited! |
| $100+ | Maker Works donor shirt |
| $250+ | Piece of triggered SawStop blade on a keyring, laser-etched with your initials Limited! |
| $500+ | Private party for up to 8! Choose from: Lasers, Pewter Sandcasting, or Birdhouses! |
| $1000+ | Your name on a shop plaque, logo placement on website |
| $5000+ | Social media shoutout, thank you in newsletter, plus a private shop tour |
| $10000+ | Logo in every newsletter for a year and a dedicated press release |
| $25000+ | Recognition at public events and a naming opportunity for one of our shops for a year |
Each level receives all rewards from the levels above it.
The Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild meeting in the Conference Room. Several other clubs meet here monthly!
Eric teaching a student how to weld in our beginner-friendly welding class
Chris making intricate patterns in wood using one of our laser cutters
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Maker Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, some or all of your donation may be tax deductible. If you opt-in for rewards we’ll include their retail value.
Thank you!
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If your reward is shippable (Letter, Sticker, Notebook), donations received prior to 12/7 will have items ship on 12/8.
Donations received on or after 12/8 will ship within 48 hours. We’ll do our best to get things out before Christmas, if that’s important to you please donate before 12/15/2025!
If your reward is a Party, we’ll email within 48 hours with instructions on how to move forward on a mutually agreed upon date in 2026.
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We’ll hold additional fundraising events throughout the year to continue raising money toward these tools.
Have other questions about donating? Email us at frontdesk@maker-works.com! We’re open 7 days a week and usually respond within 48 hours.
High School FIRST Robotics Team “Zebrotics” along with Pi Hi Samurai, Steiner School Storm, and Skyline's Eagle Evolution collaborated to build the 2025 playing field using Maker Works’ ShopBot CNC Router.
2025 Sponsors - Thank You!
The mission of Maker Works is, through its educational programs:
To expand the knowledge and develop skills of adults and students in our community in a variety of fabrication technologies outside of, but sometimes augmenting, the formal educational system.
To encourage the establishment and growth of small businesses in our community, especially small businesses led by minorities or people with low income, through access to high capital equipment and technical instruction.
To promote the creation and sustainability of makerspaces in other communities through the sharing of best practices.
Considering something other than an unrestricted cash donation? Please fill out this form.