Real Estate Investment Advice

I'd love to consult someone with a background in finance and/or real estate on how to plan to buy real estate as an investment for the organization and so that we can have a physical space for events and offices. I imagine that this pro bono deliverable would take the form of a high-level roadmap with key milestones and a timeline.

Our mission at PSNY is to foster creativity, community, and collaboration in the often stale and isolating literary sphere. We design creative playgrounds where artistic individuals from all walks of life can explore, express, play, and find a sense of belonging. But in order to make this mission both a) sustainable for years to come and b) easier to carry out in the short term, we need a consistent work space and event venue where our community can grow. This is a priority at this stage in our organization because we are at a point where we feel strong operationally and now we are trying to make financial plans for the future. By taking on this project as a volunteer, you can be a part of taking The Poetry Society of New York from a growing non-profit organization to a bona fide New York cultural institution.

At this point we have identified the acquisition of a piece of real estate that can serve as both office and event space as a strategic priority. I have begun consulting with leaders of other nonprofits that own space to hear about how they went about it. I have also set up a call with Denham Wolf, a firm that specializes in helping nonprofits acquire space. But I feel like we need a financial planner to help us lay out a road map at this point. I have a full-time staff of 4 who are invested in this initiative who will devote time to it.