A few months back, a longtime member asked me how things were going for Asmbly as an organization and what they could do to contribute. I’ve been meaning to circle back to all of you with a fuller picture ever since, but I’ll admit it’s been a hard thing to check off my list because there’s so much I want to share! Preparing a comprehensive update with all the data you deserve while also keeping up with our ambitious plans is a lot (especially as a volunteer Executive Director).
That said, I don’t want to let “perfect” be the enemy of “done.” So here’s a shorter update today with some quick ways you can help Asmbly right now and a promise that you’ll see more detailed updates from me soon.
How We’re Doing
This year has been a big one for Asmbly. The expansion gave us more room to grow, most visibly with the opening of our new ceramics studio — something many of us have dreamed about for years. It also allowed us to move the metal shop out of the woodshop, which has been a huge improvement (no more sawdust!).
The fiber laser project has proven more complicated than we anticipated and there are still a number of unknowns. We’ve brought in a local expert to help us sort through the details, and once we know more, I’ll be sharing more updates on the path forward.
We’ve also had some exciting wins with grants — big firsts for us! With the grant for a new dust collector, we’ll soon be ordering parts for a major woodshop upgrade that will improve air quality and tool performance. We also received a substantial staffing grant that has given us the ability to both promote staff within the organization who have shown leadership and innovation in their areas, as well as hire additional staff to support operational growth.
The piece I need to be candid about is overall finances. While membership continues to grow modestly, it hasn’t kept pace with the increase in operating expenses that came with the expansion. We’re doing everything we can to close that gap without raising rates, but it’s an ongoing challenge and one that makes your support especially meaningful right now.
What You Can Do
Set up a monthly recurring donation
I care very deeply about keeping Asmbly affordable for everyone while continuing to improve the space. That balance is one of our biggest challenges. Membership dues only go so far and one of my strongest commitments as your Executive Director is to do everything I can to avoid future rate increases.
One quick way you can help right now — set up a monthly recurring donation. Unlike your membership dues, donations are tax deductible and go directly toward keeping Asmbly strong for everyone. If a monthly gift isn’t possible, even a one-time donation makes a difference.
- We also accept stock donations and are registered on Benevity for company matching programs. Check with your employer to see if they participate in this! Find more info here.
Buy gift certificates
Gift certificates are a fantastic way to both support Asmbly and spread the word. They can be used for classes or membership, and they’re a perfect way to introduce friends, family, or coworkers to what we do here. Buying one is both a financial boost for Asmbly and an easy way to grow our community (bonus — use your friends as maker accountability partners)!
Buy a gift certificate here.
Spread the word
Word of mouth is powerful. Over the last year, referrals from personal conversations and Google have made up half of our new members. That means every time you tell a friend, coworker, or even a stranger about Asmbly, it makes a difference.
One quick way you can help right now — leave us a 5-star Google review. The more positive reviews we have, the more visibility we get in searches. If you don’t feel comfortable giving us 5 stars, that’s okay — you can always share feedback anonymously in this form or email us directly at feedback@asmbly.org.
Volunteer your talents
The heart of Asmbly is our community. Our history and culture are rooted in volunteer-driven action, and the biggest achievements we’ve made often start and end with member contributions.
If you have talents you’d like to share to help Asmbly grow and flourish, please fill out our Share Your Talents form. We’ll be excited to connect with you on how you can get involved!
I know I’ve shared a lot of “asks” here, but it all comes back to the same core thing — I care deeply about this community and making Asmbly a place where anyone can afford to learn, build, and create. Every bit of support — whether it’s donating, buying a gift certificate, or simply telling a friend — it all makes a real difference.
