Maker Works opened in 2011, and for about ten years was privately subsidized by just a few people. In 2020 the decision was made to start transitioning to a Non Profit, and in June of 2021 Maker Works Community Workshops received its 501(c)(3) designation.
Over the past 11 years we’ve supported numerous FIRST Robotics Teams, hundreds of businesses, and thousands of people with shared access to tools, training, and space. We’ve also met some wonderful people supporting activities like Fix-It-Friday, Tool Maintenance, Great Maker Race and many community projects.
While we have no debt, in 2021 we lost an average of $12,000 a month. There’s enough cash flow to keep things going for the time being, but we need to change that trajectory. Click here for financial details, join a virtual meeting this Monday, 3/14 at 7pm, and continue below to find a few reasons why you might want to help (and how), thank you!
We need help introducing the shop to more people! Do you know someone that should know about us? Interested in helping share what we do? Or, are you a professional marketer? Click the button, let us know!
Take a Class!
Wood, Metal, Jewelry, Electronics, Textiles, and Software classes provide low cost opportunities to introduce people to relevant skills, build things they need, and launch or grow small businesses. Sign up for a class today! Pictured is Dulce teaching a young woman the tools and knowledge to build and mount a Coat Rack for their home.
Become a Member!
Membership provides access to a shop full of tools, space, and community. We've had over 1,500 people start a membership, some individuals like Ewunet (pictured) come in to expand their craft. Others come in brand new to the world of making. During any given month we have around 130 active members, and we have capacity to support many more! Whether you have decades of experience with tools or none, we provide a welcoming community for all.
Make a Donation
We try to keep membership and class costs low because we want our shop to be accessible, but we can’t do it on our own. Your donation helps provide groups like FIRST High School Robotics Teams a home to work. It helps young social entrepreneurs like JustIzzy's to grow, supports our Maker in Residence Program, and countless member led activities that support organizations like May We Help, Our House, and Tinkered Toy Box. Please, make a donation today!
Memberships for Universities, Schools, and Corporations
Are you looking to increase capability for your organization, extend your student’s options, or offer a truly unique staff enrichment program? We can custom tailor to your needs, just ask!
Corporate Sponsorship
Are you involved in an organization that wants to to be a visible steward of the making community? We've never offered this before, and we can hardly wait to find out who will be the first to join us!
Dedicated Studio Space
We have over a dozen small businesses with dedicated space in our shop. Companies like GW Stitchin Depot (pictured) got started by taking a class and using our tools. In a year their business has grown to a point where they’ve purchased their own laser and now have studio space within our shop. Our community of makers is constantly supporting and growing small businesses. If you need space, let us know!
Are you familiar with the work we do, and know of specific grants or funds that can help? We'd love to hear about them!
Share This Page
Seriously! Whether it’s with your friend who might be interested in the shop, your boss who you think might be interested in sponsoring, your business partner that needs to build that prototype, or an artist who needs access to a large CNC Router.
Let them know : ) Not a day goes by that we don’t hear “You’ve been here for how long?”
Thanks for listening. Please let us know if we’ve missed something!