Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Steve Kuhn, founder and executive director of ShareBuilt, a nonprofit that helps small to medium-sized nonprofits with construction and capital projects by serving as a consultant and matchmaker between organizations and Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms. Steve explains how ShareBuilt serves as a matchmaking platform, helping nonprofit leaders tell their stories and missions to compatible construction firms. He notes that while the construction industry is generous toward nonprofits, it remains fragmented, making it difficult for organizations to find appropriate help for their building needs.
Steve explains how ShareBuilt helps nonprofits with capital campaigns and construction projects by providing expertise in the planning and pre-construction phases. He describes their process, which typically starts with an introductory call with nonprofit leaders who are often seeking guidance on managing construction projects. Steve outlines the four phases of a project lifecycle and emphasizes their effectiveness in helping nonprofit leaders avoid common pitfalls like misaligned budgets and unrealistic expectations.
Steve explains his firm’s decision to operate as a nonprofit to better serve small to medium-sized nonprofits, emphasizing their consultative approach and commitment to bringing the right expertise to projects. He describes how they aim to help nonprofits promote their projects early and often to the right people, distinguishing their approach from firms that simply offer reduced fees. Steve notes that while larger nonprofit organizations have internal staff to handle such services, there’s a significant need for support in the smaller nonprofit sector.
Steve shares two success stories of ShareBuilt’s work with nonprofits, including helping Guiding Harbor in Belleville, Michigan find and appraise properties for their foster children’s program, and serving as project shepherd for the Refuge Center for Counseling in Nashville. He explains that ShareBuilt’s funding comes from grants and foundations, corporate giving, private individuals, and donations from their nonprofit clients, with a goal to obtain half of their funding from corporate sources. The organization’s website is ShareBuilt.org, and they encourage viewers to follow ShareBuilt on LinkedIn to learn more about getting involved with their mission.
Visit https://sharebuilt.org to learn more about ShareBuilt.
