10/17/2025
As you know, it has been a challenging year for our organization. Like many nonprofits, we faced a critical financial position as a result of the difficult economic environment and loss of key funding sources. Unfortunately, these headwinds proved to be too great for us to continue to operate.
After 16 years, the Rebuilding Exchange has closed on October 17, 2025. We’re so grateful to the many employees, trainees, instructors, students, DIY-enthusiasts, customers, supporters, advocates and community members who made this organization a force for good across Chicagoland. Thank you for being a part of our mission to equip people for careers in trades, reduce construction waste and reuse materials.
While we cannot continue this work today, we believe it is critical to the future of our neighborhoods, the communities we serve in Evanston and Chicago, and the world. Since our founding, we’ve diverted 4.5 million pounds of donated materials from landfills, trained over 150 people for careers in the building trades, and helped thousands of Chicagoans learn how to care for their homes, build skills and use reclaimed materials for their projects. We’re proud of this work, and we are exploring what the future holds for us to make a difference in the future of our planet and workforce.
Being a nonprofit today is hard. It’s only getting harder. We need more people to roll up their sleeves, volunteer, donate, celebrate and advocate for the causes you care about. Choose today to take action and ensure that other organizations can continue to do good. Check out some of our partners who share our passion for sustainable reuse and workforce development.
We appreciate your 16 years of support. Please share your favorite memories, moments and finds in the comments.💚
