1. THE AUSTIN FURNITURE BANK ZERO TO ACTIVE IN ~3 MONTHS (FORTUITOUS SYNERGY MANIFESTED)

2. WHO AM I? Webmaster at TexVet.org Secretary of the Central Texas Veteran Services Coalition (CTVSC) – texvet.org/ctvsc Secretary of the Veterans Service Alliance of Central Texas (VSACT) – texvet.org/vsact …and semi-professional board game designer / entrepreneur.

3. Collect furniture and distribute it to the recently rehoused at no cost to them. WHAT WE DO

5. DONOR > WAREHOUSE > ONLINE STORE > REHOUSED VETERAN HOW IT WORKS

6. TIMELINE Aug 2015 Service gap spotted – Right place, right time Sep 2015 Formal formation Oct 2015 First meeting – Need/gap assessment Nov 2015 Warehouse! First furnishings received & delivered Jan/Feb 2015 Formal ECHO alliance. Semi-regular deliveries begin.

7. STRUCTURE & RESULTS Internal Structure: Loose central leadership with SMEs running their domains. External Structure: Case workers place online orders, we arrange a delivery date, the client gets furniture. Results: 20+ people furnished (as of March 11, 2016). Several tons of furniture redirected from landfill to reuse from a hotel and Goodwill of Central Texas. Partnering with UT, the VA, and many other entities.

8. WHAT HAPPENED? Right Place Central Texas Veteran Services Coalition Right Time New member New co-chair Perceived need

9. TWISTIN’ ARMS (WHO ‘N HOW) Team CTVSC Warehouse Freedom Office Supplies Furnishings Goodwill, hotel, people Website / Online Store TexVet Transport Little Guys Movers Volunteers St. Ed’s, UT, MVPN, Clients ECHO & Front Steps Media Senator Watson’s office Mayor Adler’s office We’ve been very lucky. …but a healthy chunk of that that “luck” comes from: 1.Starting in the right place and 2.Knowing the right people.

10. LINCHPINS Space Freedom Office Supplies = Angel benefactor How: He believes in doing tangible good. Furnishings Goodwill = symbiosis How: Ditto + win-win Inventory Tracking TexVet Distribution & Volunteers Little Guys / UT / St. Ed’s / MVPN/ Senator Watson’s office How: Aligns with domain & goals; clear goal with easy ask. Note: If any one fails, the whole thing falls apart. (Share your fears.)

11. HOW’D WE DO IT? Lead & communicate clearly. Set short goals. Make easy asks with clear benefits. Act. Lots of “ask forgiveness” instead of “permission.” Warehouse lease, getting furniture, store, early shipments. Let your stars shine. Trust them. Bo, Clay, Jason, Pia, etc… Our gaps: Not incorporated ($, contracts, liability, ownership, etc…) No staff (continuity, maintenance, etc.)

12. If you have furnishings, let us know! Contact: texvet.org/afb austinfurniturebank @gmail.com 512-341-4924 …or attend a CTVSC meeting! texvet.org/ctvsc SUCCESS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

13. Q & A JONATHAN@TEXVET.ORG AUSTINFURNITUREBANK@GMAIL.COM 512-341-4924 TEXVET.ORG/AFB TEXVET.ORG/CTVSC