Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Sobecki.
Jen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Twenty years ago, I migrated “west” to Chicago as a budding interior designer eager to take on the world – or the Midwest rather. I would say my core passions are design and helping others – I am a natural caregiver. Flash forward to 2004 – I met the founder of Designs for Dignity (then Supporting the Spirit Foundation), Susan Fredman, a renowned interior designer in Chicago. I knew at that instant that I could make my mark with this design driven charity. Designs for Dignity is a local nonprofit. Our mission is to empower lives through design – period. We do this by transforming nonprofit environments through pro bono design services and in-kind donations – empowering lives through design. Since our inception in 2000 – we have deployed over $7.5 million dollars in value – both furnishings and finishes as well as volunteer hours. Our organization has impacted the lives of 600,000 individuals and completed more than 200 projects. As CEO of Designs for Dignity, our primary goal is to become the “go to resource” for nonprofits in need of transformed environments. It takes a village to accomplish all of this – together, with a mighty staff of four and dedicated board of directors, amazing volunteer network and tremendous support of vendors and manufacturers.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has been fairly smooth for us, but like any nonprofit – you have to navigate the climate around you – the recession hit many nonprofits – but we made lemonade from that – growing our volunteer network when many designers had more “free time” to support our work. We are proud to be a thriving nonprofit that creates a lot of impact on a small budget – there is no waste when it comes to our operation – and that we are all proud of as a team. We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers, longstanding financial supporters and sponsors who believe in our mission. We are always looking to grow our network of supporters from a fundraising perspective as well as in-kind donations – the more we raise – the more work we can complete – and grow our mission to empower lives through design.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Designs for Dignity story. Tell us more about the business.
Designs for Dignity is a 501c (3) nonprofit providing pro bono interior design and landscape design services to a myriad of nonprofit organizations throughout the greater Chicago area. Our work has reached Boston, Atlanta and San Francisco with satellite high impact projects – youth drop in centers, housing shelters and counseling centers. We leverage our network of design talent, vendors and manufacturers to stretch budget dollars of nonprofits serving the most vulnerable. Think about being a young mother fleeing an abusive situation – we are the group that helps a domestic violence shelter create a space that feels safe, nurturing and healing from the moment that mother walks through the front door. We believe everyone deserves access to good design and healing environments. I am most proud of how far we have come as a young nonprofit – we have created more awareness of our impact and continue to grow our roster of projects – currently 20 active project sites with amazing organizations. What sets us apart? We are soup to nuts when it comes to transforming spaces – we provide the full spectrum of design services – space planning, finish selection, advocating for the best pricing for labor, branding, installing furnishings and painting the walls with volunteers – to helping cut the ribbon at the open house for the nonprofit – be it a food pantry, counseling center, or youth maker space – we are there every step of the way.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Design is about people. It is omnipresent in every facet of life – the industry will need to get ahead of the curve and predict how people utilize space, technology and function at work and in their homes – remember a time before cell phones? Not many do – the times are changing and we look forward to what lies ahead!
Contact Info:
- Address: Designs for Dignity
445 N. Wells Street, Suite 402
Chicago, IL 60654 - Website: www.designsfordignity.org
- Phone: 800.351.6354
- Email: info@designsfordignity.org
- Instagram: @Designs4Dignity
- Facebook: DesignsForDignity
- Twitter: @Designs4Dignity
Image Credit:
Jill Buckner Photo
Francis Son
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