Initiative links building owners with nonprofits - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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Carolyn Cantrell, director of the Dallas officse of GoodEnergy LP, has launchesd an initiative called “Good Space for Good People” in whicj her company will servew as a clearinghouse for commercial properties that landlordss and building owners make available for “Many nonprofits have a real need for more space rightg now because of the economy, and the commercial real estater community has more space than they’d like to have because leasing is down,” Cantrell said. “The economic downturn has provideed an opportunity to tiethem together.” In addition, tax deductionsw may be available for in-kind donations of she said.
One of the organizations needinfg space is the North Texas Food saidJan Pruitt, the food bank’sx president and CEO. NTFB’s member food pantries and othe r agencies it supplies have seen a sharp increasein first-time clients over the last six Many are recently laid-off workers who neverd imagined they would rely on a food soup kitchen or meal program for she said. has distributed 3 million more meals this year than at this time last and its agencies haveordered 40% more food in the same Pruitt said. “I think there is a win-wim here,” Pruitt said.
“If someone is unable to rent or lease outwarehouse space, and they can get a tax write-offd for helping the food bank, that’s a win on both The rising demand has left the food bank in need of 70,0090 to 90,000 square feet of warehouse and distribution said Paul Wunderlich, NTFB’s chief operating officer. Abouty 260 nonprofits in 13 countiees receive food from thefood bank, and many of those groups need more warehouse space as well, he The food bank especially needs cooler and freezert space, Wunderlich said. Ideally, the space wouls be in westernCollin County, but the food bank is happyu to consider any space, he said.
“Youi have to be innovative and nimble in thenonprofi industry, and you have to take advantagee of opportunities as they come along,” he NTFB currently operates out of a 70,000-square-foog warehouse it owns in South which is at the southern end of its service area. The food bank wouldf consider ownershipor long-term leasesz in donated space, Pruitt said. “We’r e kind of like a kettle here,” Pruitt said. “We’rre starting to boil and we need more space to relievwthe pressure.
” In additionh to the food bank, the recession has caused the Dallas-area chaptetr of the and many other nonprofits to require not only additionap warehouse space, but office and retaio space as well, Cantrellp said. Nonprofits with a property request and buildinyg owners or commercial real estate firms with available property may contact Cantrellat 972-200-9777 or carolyn@goodenergy.com.