Once he’d retrieved a chair, Owen located his notes on his phone, while Holly reached for her iPad to make ones of her own.
“From what I researched, you need to focus on how new space will help clients and what you can do for corporate donors,” Owen said.
“We emphasize them getting a tax deduction,” Holly said.
“Let’s face it, that doesn’t affect a company’s bottom line enough to write out checks the size you need.”
Carly pointed to the area behind Holly’s desk with photos and plaques recognizing the agency’s donors. “We also emphasize supporting Horses for Heroes creates goodwill in the community by increasing company visibility through recognition here and on our website.”
Owen checked his phone again. “I’ve got three ideas that should get new offices quicker than with a traditional building fund. With the first one, instead of seeking a financial donation, you ask if a company has vacant office space you could use at no cost.”
“For example, if the owner of a strip mall has a vacant storefront, we’d ask to use that as our offices?” Carly asked.
Owen nodded. “Exactly. Sometimes a dentist or lawyer owns his office building and then rents space to other businesses. If you find someone who’s between tenants, that’s an option too.”
“We could even use warehouse space, and if it needs fixing up, we could ask local businesspeople to help with the remodeling and redecorating,” Holly added.
Owen nodded. “Now you’re catching on.”
“The company could write off whatever rent they would’ve received rather than losing all the revenue with the space sitting empty. Plus, they’d get all the other advantages I mentioned earlier.” Carly turned to Holly who sat typing notes on her iPad. “We’ll work on the pros and cons for the report later, but I have one to note. A drawback to this idea is often potential donors want to tour the facilities. If the administrative offices are off sight, we’d have to transport them here. That would affect our insurance rates or might cause other concerns.”
“I have a couple of suggestions for on-site offices,” Owen said. “You can approach local builders and contractors about constructing offices as opposed to donating money.”
“Do companies really do that? It seems as if that’s asking for a huge donation,” Holly said.
“It’s not as big as you might think because their cost is lower than what you’d be charged. You can also encourage companies to get suppliers to donate materials. That would leave them with primarily labor costs.”
Carly turned to Holly. “Two advantages to note on this proposal are office space on site and facilities designed for our specific needs.”
“And a drawback is we’d have to make do in this space longer,” Holly added.
“Also add we could name the building after the benefactor the way colleges and medical centers do for major donors,” Carly said, “If we don’t, we place a plaque outside the front door detailing the generous donation. Inside we could have an area illustrating the building stages and again acknowledge our donor.”
Holly nodded as she typed.
“I have one last idea. Like the first, this would get new space quickly and would also be on site,” Owen said.
“Another one? I shouldn’t tell you this because it’ll make your head so big you won’t get out the door, but I revise my earlier statement. Holly was right. You are a life saver.”
Owen turned to Holly. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell her my last suggestion after that comment.”
“Then take pity on me. I’m tired of having to leave whenever Carly makes a ‘confidential director call,’” Holly said, flashing air quotes.
“That would get old.”
“And it stinks worse in cold or lousy weather. One day I left when it was raining. I stepped out the front door into a giant puddle and ruined my favorite shoes.”
“She ruined herfavoriteshoes, Owen. Shoes are becoming casualties. That’s how dire our situation is. I’m lucky she didn’t quit after that,” Carly pleaded.
Owen laughed and raised his hands in defeat. “Okay. I can’t fight two women when shoes are involved. Here’s my last idea. We ask Clint McMillan, American Mobile Homes’s owner, to donate a mobile home. Instead of setting it up like a house, we’d turn it into offices.”
We.Carly froze. The word should send concern rippling through her, but instead, a sense of calm, a comfortable feeling slipped around her like her favorite jeans.
Not about to examine the thought further, she tried to envision how they would utilize the rooms in a mobile home for different purposes. After flipping to a clean page on her legal pad, she franticly documented her reflections, the possibilities spiraling over each other. “Holly and I could each use a bedroom as an office, while the living space could be set up the same as a front office with a reception area. We could use another bedroom as a conference and education room.”
A bright smile on her face, Holly said, “Maybe we could even schedule volunteers on a regular basis to answer the phone and do light office work freeing me up for other duties. But best of all, with your own office you’d have privacy for confidential meetings or calls.”
“Thus, saving the shoes,” Owen added.
