Make It Right Foundation
Make It Right Foundation is a nonprofit founded by Brad Pitt in 2007 that builds LEED Platinum, solar-powered, Cradle to Cradle certified affordable homes for disaster-affected, veteran, senior, and other underserved families, operating across New Orleans, Kansas City, Newark, and Fort Peck.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Make It Right Foundation does
Make It Right Foundation is a 501(c)-style nonprofit founded by Brad Pitt in 2007 to build affordable, sustainable housing for families in need, primarily those displaced by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward. The foundation constructs LEED Platinum certified, solar-powered homes using Cradle to Cradle design principles, structural insulated panels (SIPs), and pervious concrete, with designs contributed pro bono by world-renowned volunteer architects including Frank Gehry, Shigeru Ban, and David Adjaye. By 2015, it had completed 109 homes within a 20-block area of the Lower 9th Ward and expanded its geographic footprint to Kansas City, Newark NJ (housing for disabled veterans), and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.
The foundation's core products are LEED Platinum single-family homes (~$200/sq ft for prototypes, ~$130/sq ft for replicable models), 496 sq ft solar-powered tiny houses launched in 2015 with FYI's Tiny House Nation, and supporting knowledge resources including a Library (48 articles) and Laboratory discussion forum (60+ discussions). Homes include 4.2 kWh solar systems, Energy Star appliances and fixtures, and Cradle to Cradle certified materials, delivering an average of $130/month in utility savings to homeowners (per a Greater New Orleans Foundation study). Recipient families receive comprehensive financial counseling (60 days to 2 years), forgivable or low-interest loans totaling $5.2M, and $482,767 in closing cost assistance.
The business model is donation-driven rather than commercial: Make It Right generates revenue through tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations, supplemented by donated materials from a deep partner ecosystem (Samsung, Benjamin Moore, Shaw Floors, Kohler, Owens Corning, DuPont, Alcoa Foundation). Annual fundraising between 2008 and 2014 averaged roughly $6.2M, peaking at $12.3M in 2008 and bottoming at $2.0M in 2011 before recovering to $6.1M in 2014. The foundation has cumulatively hired and trained 790 New Orleanians, partnered with 17 local vendors, recycled 524.8 tons of construction waste, and conserved an estimated 1.375 million gallons of rainwater daily through pervious surfaces.
Make It Right Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Make It Right Foundation
- Legal name
- Make It Right
- Website
- https://makeitright.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Make It Right Foundation is a nonprofit founded by Brad Pitt in 2007 that builds LEED Platinum, solar-powered, Cradle to Cradle certified affordable homes for disaster-affected, veteran, senior, and other underserved families, operating across New Orleans, Kansas City, Newark, and Fort Peck.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Make It Right Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Affordable Housing Development
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where Make It Right Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Make It Right Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Make It Right is a non-profit organization that generates revenue through tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization raises money through direct donations, corporate giving programs, material donations, and special events.
- Annual Fundraising: Annual fundraising amounts from 2008-2014: 2008: $12.3M, 2009: $8.8M, 2010: $3.5M, 2011: $2.0M, 2012: $6.8M, 2013: $3.6M, 2014: $6.1M.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Make It Right Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Make It Right Foundation designs and constructs affordable, solar-powered, LEED Platinum certified homes using Cradle to Cradle building principles and donates them to low-income families in disaster-affected and underserved communities. The organization also delivers financial counseling, forgivable and low-interest loans, and closing cost assistance to qualifying homeowners, and shares its green building expertise through a free online Library and Laboratory.
Product overview
Make It Right Foundation offers a portfolio of affordable, sustainable housing products and green building knowledge resources. The core offerings include LEED Platinum certified solar-powered homes in disaster-affected communities, with 109 homes completed in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward. The organization also builds tiny houses (496 sq ft) in partnership with Tiny House Nation, featuring the same sustainability standards as standard homes. All homes utilize Cradle to Cradle certified materials and are solar-powered. Supporting these core housing products are knowledge resources including a Library of green building documentation and a Laboratory forum for professional discussions. The organization operates across multiple locations including New Orleans, Kansas City, Newark, and Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LEED Platinum Certified Affordable Homes Affordable, solar-powered homes built to LEED Platinum certification standards in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, with 109 homes completed in a 20-block area and designed by world-renowned volunteer architects. Homes are donated to qualifying low-income families at no cost.
- Tiny Houses Compact 496-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom solar-powered homes built in partnership with FYI's Tiny House Nation, featuring solar power, ENERGY STAR appliances, sustainable floors, recycled countertops, and Cradle to Cradle materials. Donated to qualifying individuals such as the first recipient, a Lower 9th Ward school teacher.
- Solar-Powered Home Systems Solar energy systems installed on every Make It Right home, with a typical 4.2 kWh system for single-family homes that produces enough energy to cover all household usage in many cases, with excess sent back to the grid.
- Cradle to Cradle Communities Sustainable community developments built using Cradle to Cradle design principles — materials defined as biological and technical nutrients for safe reuse, products designed for disassembly and recovery, renewable energy prioritized, and social fairness honored. Includes the Kansas City Manheim Park housing complex and Newark veterans apartment building.
- Native American Reservation Homes Sustainable homes built on Native American reservations in partnership with tribal organizations, including 20 prefabricated homes constructed on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana in collaboration with Method Homes for Native American families experiencing substandard housing and high energy costs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average monthly utility savings of $130 per household
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Make It Right Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Make It Right Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Make It Right Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Eagle OutfitterscoreDay of Service partner for the Katrina 10th anniversary. Collected thousands of pairs of unwanted jeans to be turned into denim insulation for tiny house construction.
- New Belgium AmericacoreDay of Service partner for the Katrina 10th anniversary events.
- Benjamin MoorecoreGreen Building Product Partner providing paints for homes. Used Sweet Daphne and Gray Owl colors on the tiny house project.
- Shaw FloorscoreGreen Building Product Partner providing flooring materials including Epic Engineered Hardwood line that is Cradle to Cradle certified.
- KohlercoreGreen Building Product Partner providing plumbing fixtures for homes.
- LevitonminorGreen Building Product Partner providing electrical products.
- Owens CorningminorGreen Building Product Partner providing building materials.
- Integrity Windows and DoorscoreGreen Building Product Partner providing windows and doors. Used in the tiny house project.
- Silestone (Cosentino)coreGreen Building Product Partner providing ECO recycled glass countertops and Silestone Eco line products.
- FYI (Tiny House Nation)coreMedia partner and co-development partner for tiny house projects. TV show Tiny House Nation featured Make It Right's tiny house builds, generating national exposure.
- HyattminorWelcome Reception Partner for Katrina 10th anniversary events.
- Architecture for HumanitycorePreservation Partner for the Katrina 10th anniversary.
- DuPontcoreRebuilding partner providing building materials and products.
- Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation InstitutecoreStrategic partner for Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Challenge. Three winners shared a $250,000 cash prize for product designs that can be Cradle to Cradle Certified for use in affordable homes.
- AutodeskcoreSponsor of the Cradle to Cradle 2015 Design Challenge in partnership with the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
- Method HomescorePartner for the Fort Peck Indian Reservation project in Montana, building prefabricated sustainable homes.
- One Roof EnergyminorProvided solar panels for the tiny house project.
- Joule Solar EnergyminorInstalled solar panels on the tiny house roof.
- WayfairminorProvided furniture including a queen-size bed for the tiny house project.
- GrouponminorPartner offering tickets for the Solange benefit concert at $60 each.
- Hanley WoodcoreCommunity partner and co-organizer of the Greenbuild 2014 Show Home with LivingHomes and USGBC.
- USGBCcorePartner for the Greenbuild 2014 Show Home expo, promoting LEED certification and green building practices.
- LivingHomescorePartner for the Greenbuild 2014 Show Home expo showcasing latest green building technologies.
Scale indicators27 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Make It Right Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kaempfer Consulting / Community Housing Partners: Non-profit that develops and operates affordable housing with an emphasis on energy-efficient, sustainable design and resident services. Comparable in combining green building with affordable housing delivery and resident counseling.
- Enterprise Community Partners: Non-profit developer and investor that builds and finances affordable housing across the US. Comparable in mission and multi-geographic delivery, though it operates at much larger scale using LIHTC and debt capital rather than donations.
- Habitat for Humanity: Global non-profit that builds affordable housing for low-income families using volunteer labor and donations. Most directly comparable peer given shared mission, donation-based funding, and homeowner-support model.
- Self-Help Enterprises: Non-profit that develops affordable housing and community facilities for low-income families in California's Central Valley. Comparable as a community-led, mission-driven affordable housing builder.
- Mercy Housing: Non-profit affordable housing developer serving low-income families, seniors, and people with special needs. Comparable in serving vulnerable populations with comprehensive wraparound services and a national footprint.
- BRIDGE Housing: California-based non-profit affordable housing developer producing rental and ownership housing for low-income households. Comparable in non-profit ownership model and sustainable design focus.
- Rebuilding Together: Non-profit that rehabilitates homes for low-income homeowners, particularly vulnerable populations. Comparable in donation-funded, volunteer-driven delivery and homeowner-preservation mission.
Emerging players
- Method Homes: Prefab manufacturer of sustainable, energy-efficient modular homes. Direct partner on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation project in Montana, making it a comparable in green modular construction techniques.
- LivingHomes: For-profit modular home builder focused on net-zero, LEED-certified sustainable homes. Direct strategic partner on the Greenbuild 2014 Show Home, making it a relevant peer in sustainable construction technology.
Others
- Architecture for Humanity: Was a non-profit that connected architects with humanitarian projects including disaster rebuilding (preservation partner for Make It Right's Katrina 10th anniversary). Comparable as an adjacent design-and-disaster-recovery ecosystem participant.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Make It Right Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceMake It Right Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Make It Right Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Make It Right Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Make It Right Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Make It Right Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Make It Right Foundation
What does Make It Right Foundation do?
Make It Right Foundation designs and constructs affordable, solar-powered, LEED Platinum certified homes using Cradle to Cradle building principles and donates them to low-income families in disaster-affected and underserved communities. The organization also delivers financial counseling, forgivable and low-interest loans, and closing cost assistance to qualifying homeowners, and shares its green building expertise through a free online Library and Laboratory.
Is Make It Right Foundation a public or private company?
Make It Right Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Make It Right Foundation founded?
Make It Right Foundation was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Make It Right Foundation based?
Make It Right Foundation is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does Make It Right Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are annual Fundraising.
Who are Make It Right Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kaempfer Consulting / Community Housing Partners, Enterprise Community Partners, Habitat for Humanity, Self-Help Enterprises, Mercy Housing, BRIDGE Housing and Rebuilding Together. Emerging players are Method Homes and LivingHomes. Architecture for Humanity is listed as an others.
Does Make It Right Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Make It Right Foundation.
What industry is Make It Right Foundation in?
Make It Right Foundation's product category is Nonprofit Affordable Housing Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAH, Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House), with a secondary code of BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.