Every year Lucy and I give what we can to a variety of charities. We are picky. Lucy has spent most of her career covering the societal safety net here in Cincinnati. She knows these charities inside and out.
She has taught me to be careful as well. We do our research. And look at the records that charities file each year (here’s a primer).
The following woodworking organizations are ones I have supported for years with my dollars. If you are interested in supporting charitable woodworking organizations, here are some to consider.
I know that some of you will try to look for a political message in these choices. There is none. I will do anything to open the doors for anyone who wants to enter the craft. The best way to ensure the survival of our craft is to widen the net.
Roger Cliffe Memorial Foundation
I have supported this foundation, which is affiliated with the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, for 20 years. The foundation funds a variety of scholarships, from strictly need-based to military to young woodworkers.
Based in the UK, Pathcarvers offers hands-on training for a variety of students, including those in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, those using mental health services, low-income families and prisons. You can help fund their work through the Kieran Binnie Fund for Craft, a fund that we helped launch with Jojo Wood and Sean, her husband.
Run by Rob Cosman, the Purple Heart Project provides woodworking training to wounded veterans. You can donate via this page. All donations go 100 percent to help veterans.
A Baltimore-based workshop program that provides training and support for woodworkers who are women or non-gender conforming. WOO offers a wide variety of courses and Open Shop Hours. You can donate here.
This Los Angeles-based organization provides training and work for people experiencing homelessness or poverty. People in the program make a variety of objects for sale in the Would Works store. You can donate here.
This organization helps support new chairmakers and toolmakers who have traditionally been excluded from the craft because of their gender, race or other factors. We sponsored a scholarship class here this year and will hold another class in 2023. You can donate money or tools here.
Friends of the Florida School of Woodwork
This charity funds a variety of woodworking scholarships based on financial need or other factors. You can donate here.
This unique organization provides good-sense training to farmers all over the world. They offer classes in everything from managing draft animals to blacksmithing to timber-framing. The classes are both here and abroad. You can donate here.
— Christopher Schwarz
Bless you and yours
Great list (had never heard of Tillers), and nothing political about it.
And if I may offer a general, unsolicited comment from someone who has worked for INGOs for decades: please don’t be fooled by the pie charts or “[whatever] percentage of dollars raised goes to our programs.” Nonprofits need money to administer their programs, just as they need money for the actual programs. In fact, organizations often have trouble accepting government grants because they can’t afford the overhead costs associated with them. So simply offering “unrestricted” donations can often be the most efficient way to give.
Thanks for this Chris. Super list and very timely as my wife and I were just talking last night about this year’s Christmas donations. As retired folk with no kids, we have gone to making donations in the name of people we used to buy gifts for. They don’t want more “stuff” and we want to do a little good with our budgeted gift giving. Thanks again.
i’d add Blue Ox Historic Village to the list, https://www.blueoxhistoricvillage.com/
Or go on a tour in Eureka, CA. They’ve run a school for kids art risk of dropout and classes for vets.
Also currently showing on the Discovery Network and I think on HBO: The Craftsman
Thank You again Christopher. Your insight is refreshing. I for one probably should look closer at who and what I am donating to.
Bravo!
I was staring at the picture of you handsawing. Seems like there is a lot of knowledge displayed in just that one picture. Such as using the width of the blade to keep you on line, etc. Hand sawing seems to be a declining skill. Bet you could do something about that.
Thank you,
Jim Blue
I’d like to respectfully add The Krenov Foundation (thekrenovfoundation.org) to your august list. The mission of The Krenov Foundation is to promote and encourage excellence in woodworking, as exemplified by the work and writings of James Krenov. Through programs such as The Krenov Archive, scholarships for The Krenov School, and support for exhibitions, we seek to share Krenov’s vision and to nurture a diverse, inclusive and thriving community of craftspeople. Thanks. And Happy Holidays!
The Woodwright’s School is ending and I foresee tool deaccession in my future. Wonder oí any of these schools are interested in handtool donations?
Check out the Living Tools Project:
https://www.thechairmakerstoolbox.com/the-living-tools
You and Lucy are very good people.
Thanks Chris.
Thanks for the great info.
Thanks Chris. One of the things I’ve done is I spend significantly less time watching/reading/listening to the news (i.e. if it bleeds it leads) and I don’t try and think deeply on if folks have hidden meanings in what they say. I’m much happier by all of this. I try really hard to be as apolitical as possible. Folks don’t change their minds on topics that matter and all it does is annoy half of the folks when you formally take a position on something political.
Let us not forget that without trees there would be no wood. Trees do so much for us. They are a wise investment in our future. Support tree planting charities. Or plant some trees.
Excellent work. Happy Holidays, and thanks for a great display of human kindness and spirit……
Thank you for this.
I really enjoyed watching the group at the Chairmaker’s Toolbox build their chairs.
For anyone wondering how registered “non-profits” spend their money, there is a site called Guidestar and they list the accounting pages of registered non profit organizations.
It’s rather eye opening.
I try to make all my donations to more grass roots oriented causes.
I appreciate your continued generosity.