Innovative Paths to Sustainability

Microenterprise Toolkits

Funding your nonprofit efforts to support the homeless requires financially creative ways to serve your communities and residents, cover your costs, and create a set aside for future growth. Having the financial bandwidth to respond to these goals, strengthening the services provided and expanding into other service delivery areas that may be needed requires a transformational model that will do just that. Microenterprises could be the answer to developing a fiscally strong operational model that funds all the great work you plan to do.

Ready-made toolkits will help you build a microenterprise, including:

Dog Daycare

The Dog Daycare market is one of the fastest growing industries in today's environment. Morgan Stanley reports there are 5 million more pets in the U.S. since the pandemic and projects its growth at 8% annually to a whopping $227 million by the year 2030! People love their fur babies and many of the sheltered residents have these furry friends, naturally, this microenterprise made sense to develop for Switchpoint Co-op members looking to fund it's mission-based work. If you're interested in opening a dog daycare, this toolkit provides quick start guides, proforma, and SWOT templates, technology and location recommendations, HR tools and job descriptions and a complete operations policy and procedure manual template to accelerate your launch and success.

Thrift Store

The U.S. thrift store industry is valued at over $10 billion and growing. Opening a thrift store can present a wonderful way to make money to support your mission, do good for the community and become a source for eco-conscious consumers to re-use, up-cycle, or repurpose gently loved merchandise. If you're interested in opening a thrift store, this toolkit provides quick start guides, proforma, and SWOT templates, technology and location recommendations, HR tools and job descriptions and a complete operations policy and procedure manual template to accelerate your launch and success.

Building a Microeconomy

A microeconomy helps engage clients in meaningful and rewarding work building momentum towards long-term independence. This ready-made toolkit will help you establish an ‘internal currency’ that allows clients to ‘buy’ essential supplies and gets them on their way to developing life skills and self-worth.