Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Make It Home
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 369-B Third St #331
City: San Rafael
State: CA
Postal Code: 94901-3581
Main Phone: 415.578.2305
Main Fax: N/A
Organization Website: makeithomebayarea.org
Employer ID Number: 85-4006962
Organization Tax Status: 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 1/5/2026
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Creating Homes for Vulnerable Youth & Families
Project Description:

To reduce homelessness and promote healthy outcomes for vulnerable children, Make It Home will transform empty spaces into true homes. Grant funds will be used for operating Make It Home’s furniture bank and transporting items to clients in need, many of whom are moving into stable housing for the first time. For children and youth, a furnished home provides a stable environment where they can thrive. It improves mental and physical health by promoting restful sleep, facilitates family bonding through shared meals, and supports children’s development by offering spaces for play and study. The sense of stability and self-worth that furniture brings enables clients to focus on building their futures instead of struggling with unmet basic needs.

The objectives of Make It Home’s program are to:

1) Provide furniture and household goods to families moving into housing, thereby promoting children’s stability, health, and school performance.

2) Furnish apartments for transition-age foster youth, empowering them as they become independent, confident adults.

3) Serve over 650 households in the San Francisco Bay Area in the coming year.

In order to provide furnishings to youth and families in need, Make It Home will:

1) Gather gently-used furnishings at the furniture bank. Clean, repair, and reupholster as needed.

2) Purchase refurbished mattresses at wholesale prices, as well as new bedding and kitchen items.

3) As requests come in from social service organizations, deliver curated furniture setups to clients.

Total Project Budget: $2,858,402.00

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Make it Home acquires funding via four different strategies . First, MIH holds annual fundraising events and receives contributions from individual donors. Second, MIH pursues grants from private foundations and government entities. Third, MIH receives in-kind furniture donations. Make It Home’s fourth source of revenue is from program services and comes mostly from the fees charged to social service agencies Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Grantors include: Walter S. Johnson Foundation, Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund, Gruber Family Foundation, Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Foundation, Goggio Family Foundation, West Davis & Bergard Foundation, Harbor Point Charitable Foundation, and Fred Gellert Family Foundation. Awards have ranged in size, totaling $574K for fiscal year 2024. Make It Home continues to pursue new sources of funding, including foundations, government agencies, and individual contributors in order to serve more families and people in need.

Project Duration: 1 year
Geographical Area Served: San Francisco Bay Area
Age Group To Be Served: Make It Home does not have specific age requirements or limits for its clients. However, Make It Home’s services have helped many families in need: Make It Home has furnished 2,844 households and served 6,870 people–including 2,997 children–since launching 4.5 years ago. Furthermore, Make It Home has served 469 current and former foster youth in the San Francisco Bay Area

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Susan
Contact Last Name: Brennan
Contact Title: Board VP
Contact Phone: 415-250-3490
Contact Email: susan@makeithomebayarea.org