Giving

Donors play a crucial role in supporting the School's mission, providing essential resources for our people and programs.

Every gift matters, and makes an immediate difference to our community. In light of the School’s recent closing in response to the global pandemic, we ask donors to consider a gift to the NBSS Emergency Fund. This Fund is designed to provide near-term scaffolding for our core enterprise of teaching and learning, including assistance for current students experiencing financial insecurity, equipment and technology to facilitate emerging needs for distance learning (a very new mode for our otherwise hands-on disciplines), and other urgent needs that will undoubtedly emerge in the coming weeks. During a time when nothing is typical, flexibility is paramount.

Learn more about ways to make your gift.

Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is the cornerstone of philanthropic support at NBSS. It makes a direct, positive impact on our students’ educational experience. The Fund supports the School’s daily operations and allows us to continue meeting our high standards of excellence even as we grow.

Annual Fund gifts go to work immediately:

Providing scholarships to students
Supplying instructors with tools and materials
Supporting efforts to promote public awareness and appreciation of traditional craftsmanship
Reducing our reliance on tuition revenue, therefore keeping tuition rates as low as possible

Shaw Society: Donors of $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund are recognized among our most generous donors as a member of the Shaw Society. Click here for benefits and more information.

In addition to financial support, we also welcome objects, real estate, and securities as gifts to our Annual Fund. For more information, please contact our Development Office.

Scholarships

Nearly 70% of NBSS students receive some form of financial aid, and - as a direct result of philanthropic support - the School was able to budget $700,000 in scholarship resources for the 2019-2020 academic year, the most we’ve ever been able to award. Gifts to the General Scholarship Fund make it possible for students to pursue a livelihood in traditional crafts and trades, and significantly relieve the burden of overwhelming tuition costs and debt.

“I am a different person than when I started, for the better. I’m proud of myself and enthusiastic about my future in craft. It is not lost on me the significant contributions made by people, who have never met me, that have helped me get this far.”

- Cabinet & Furniture Making student, 2020

In-Kind Donations

We receive many offers of in-kind gifts of tools, books, machinery, raw materials, workbenches, pianos, jewelry, computers, and more. Each potential donation is given careful consideration by our faculty and staff to ensure that any object accepted by the School can be responsibly used to fulfill our educational mission.

Due to the School’s closure in response to COVID-19, we are unable to adequately evaluate inquiries about gifts of tangible property at this time. As always, we are very grateful that you thought of NBSS, and encourage you to check back another time.

If you have an inquiry that feels especially time sensitive, or could be of particular use during our closure, please email development@nbss.edu.

We believe in transparency, and that all donors should have access to information about the School, their gift, and any other relevant information. We support the Donor Bill of Rights, and our Annual Report provides a full listing of all NBSS income and expenses.

Keep Craft AliveMake Your Gift to NBSS Today

Contact the Development Department

Colleen Walsh Powell, Director of Development
cwpowell@nbss.edu | 617-227-0155 x170

Melissa Gallin, Director of Institutional Support
mgallin@nbss.edu | 617-227-0155 x175

Nicki Downer, Development Coordinator
ndowner@nbss.edu | 617-227-0155 x172