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How Can You Help?

There are many ways that you can support Leonardo's Basement.

Contribute Money so we can continue our work to inspire girls and boys to design and build innovative technology, engineering, art and science projects. We teach young people the critical thinking and technical skills needed to be curious, creative and confident learners. You can request that your tax-deductible gift supports a specific program (Teens, After school classes, Studio Bricolage), be used for general operating support or be dedicated to the Outreach Initiative (scholarship fund). Please check with your employer to see if your gift can be matched and the process for doing so. You can mail a check or use the online service below.

Contribute now and your gift will be matched 100% by generous donors who are especially interested in our effort to attract more girls and children from economically disadvantaged families. They want to encourage more individuals to support our programs by providing a $10,000 challenge grant. Give $25 and Leonardo's Basement receives $50!

Online donations will be processed through GiveMN, a new program to help donors find giving opportunities in Minnesota and across the United States. GiveMN helps nonprofits like Leonardo's Basement raise money through easy-to-use fundraising pages and social media tools. There is no fee for processing your gift so Leonardo's receives 100% of your donation.

Your gift of any size will help us continue our work to inspire participants to design and build innovative technology, engineering, art and science projects. We teach young people the critical thinking and technical skills needed to be curious, creative and confident learners. We prepare them for a life of successful problem solving.

If you have questions, or if you have another idea for supporting Leonardo's Basement, please contact Steve Jevning at 612-824-4394 or stevej@leonardosbasement.org

Donate Stuff from your workplace or home. We need building materials, art and craft supplies, tools, hardware and many other things. For suggestions look at this list. If you have something that is not on this list ask us if we are interested.

Volunteer Time to help us:
  • - assist instructors
  • - take photographs
  • - organize events
  • - promote our program
  • - write grants and raise money
  • - manage database
  • - organize and maintain workshop
  • - maintain computer lab
  • - procure donated materials
or any other tasks that will help us fulfill our mission. Contact Steve Jevning at stevej@leonardosbasement.org

Offer Ideas for new classes or projects or programs. We count on kids and parents for class and program ideas. We are constantly looking for fresh approaches to market our program and raise money. Likewise, we are very open to new ideas about management and organization of our program. We like change! To throw your suggestion into the pot, or discuss your idea in more detail, contact Steve Jevning at stevej@leonardosbasement.org

Junk and Tools Needed
Where to Look:
Home (Kitchen / Bath / Bedroom / Family and Living Room / Basement / Garage / Attic)
Workplace (Office / Warehouse / Sales and Marketing)
Alleys and Garbage Containers
Rummage and Garage Sales

What to Look for:

cardboard tubes -
  toilet paper, paper towel
  wrapping paper, fabric
small, flat cardboard
small boxes (shoebox size)
film canisters
prescription bottles
eye droppers
plastic syringes
metal hangers
costume jewelry
beads and chains
string, twine, rope, yarn
scales, balances
 
toys - all kinds
construction toys - Legos
  Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs
  Capsela, Fischertechniks
remote control cars
musical instruments
tuning forks
science kits
science experiment books
art activity books
prisms
 
markers
pencils, regular and colored
erasers
rubber stamps and ink pads
templates and stencils
protractors and compasses
T-square
stickers and labels
ceramic tile
paper clips
straws
toothpicks
craft sticks
tongue depressors
rubber bands
balloons
clothespins
spools
zippers
velcro
ribbon
elastic
netting and webbing
magnets
plastic mirrors
plastic propellers
balsa wood
marbles and ball bearings
glues and glue sticks
hot glue guns and glue
tapes -
  masking, cellophane, duct
  packaging, colored
pie tins
graph paper
tracing paper
large drawing paper
butcher paper
tissue paper
paper bags
bubble wrap
paint brushes
tempura and acrylic paint
cork and corkboard
magnifying glasses
aluminum foil
plastic bags
pin pong balls
fishing line
mousetraps
 
kitchen appliances
kitchen gadgets
utensils
eggbeaters
tongs
strainers
funnels
chopsticks
electronic equipment
electrical appliances
electric tools
hand tools
cordless drills
rivet gun and rivets
small storage bins
containers and cabinets
hardware of all kinds -
  latches, bolts, nuts, washers
  screws, hinges, hooks
  springs, pulleys, knobs
wheels(!) and casters
tubes and tubing
copper and plastic fittings
  and pipe (not galvanized)
clamps
faucet parts and washers
O rings
wooden dowels
sandpaper
extension cords
vacuum cleaners and hoses
  
some computer equipment
  (21"+ monitors, call us first)
  
electrical and electronic goodies-
  buzzers, bells, wire, battery
  holders, flashlights, strobe
  lights, connectors, terminals
  switches, fans
transformers and power
  supplies
motors, gearboxes, sprockets
  and chains
soldering guns and solder
meters and testers
solar panels


…and anything else!    top