Hi, President of SparkCC (sparkcc.org) in Australia here.
First I suggest you take a look at the hackerspaces.org Design Patterns (https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/Design_Patterns), particularly the Independence and Sustainability patterns. Relying on donations is following the "Sponsoring Anti-Pattern".
I've seen a lot of not-for-profit groups who end up on the "grant cycle". The spend a bunch of time applying for various grants or soliciting donations just to survive. Once one grant/donation is secured it's time to start chasing the next one. Instead of spending time working in the 'space and making things.
You say you have paying members already which is great - this is the key to real sustainability. Perhaps you could follow the Charitable Member Pattern and see if they would be able to pay their entire year up front to get the space off the ground?
Starting a makerspace has been one of the most satisfying and worthwhile things I've done and I highly recommend sticking at it and making it work. I wish you good luck!!!
First I suggest you take a look at the hackerspaces.org Design Patterns (https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/Design_Patterns), particularly the Independence and Sustainability patterns. Relying on donations is following the "Sponsoring Anti-Pattern".
I've seen a lot of not-for-profit groups who end up on the "grant cycle". The spend a bunch of time applying for various grants or soliciting donations just to survive. Once one grant/donation is secured it's time to start chasing the next one. Instead of spending time working in the 'space and making things.
You say you have paying members already which is great - this is the key to real sustainability. Perhaps you could follow the Charitable Member Pattern and see if they would be able to pay their entire year up front to get the space off the ground?
Starting a makerspace has been one of the most satisfying and worthwhile things I've done and I highly recommend sticking at it and making it work. I wish you good luck!!!