‘The Treehouse’ Gives Back
About a year ago, I sent an email to a group of my friends reflecting on how fortunate we had been in the previous few years. Since moving into an apartment in college lovingly nicknamed “The Treehouse,” we had all managed to stay together as a friend group, even as we went through different phases of life. That email kicked off a discussion of ways that we could come together as a group and give back. Together, we observed that there are so many problems in the world, it is often difficult to know how to identify and work towards solutions. Collectively, we decided that we could have more of an impact—and certainly a bit more fun in identifying where to give—if we banded together by pooling resources to address issues we care about. From this basic premise, the Treehouse Foundation was born.
Since that email we have discussed and refined our approach. We identified a Board of Directors, elected an executive team, and launched three highly engaged committees that have been tackling the specifics around operating, fundraising, and giving. We have established a mission statement, a budget, and a fundraising goal. We built a website, opened a bank account, and picked a logo. Each of these accomplishments are the byproduct of steady, unglamorous work, carried out of over several months, and brainstormed and debated over countless Google meets.
While there are certainly many unknowns, there are also many constants that I am confident will sustain us. We genuinely care about making the world a better place. We are engaged in our communities and want to work together to see them improve. We strive to hear, respect, and empower the people around us, which allows each person’s talents to shine. These attributes enable our organization to be the best it can be.
Our mission is to support those facing barriers in their pursuit of lifelong learning and enrichment by combining our collective resources, knowledge, and passion. We believe in collaborative giving that is high impact, thoughtfully researched, and focused on communities and populations in need. We strive to identify and support organizational partners who are doing meaningful, community-informed work on the ground to build equity and improve opportunities for those facing barriers to learning and enrichment opportunities.
To the organizations we will support, we can offer financial support and ideally, meaningful partnerships that will deepen over time. To our friends, families, and networks, we offer the opportunity to join us in our mission and spirit of collaborative giving. We also offer the promise that in these overwhelming times of unlimited options and unfathomable need, we will consistently identify organizations doing high-quality work in our communities—and we will do everything we can to support them.