Our Impact & Community
How Tinker Creates Impact
Tinker combines commerce with community impact. The shop, custom work, classes, parties, rentals and consulting services are operated by The Tinker Foundation LLC, a mission-driven, for-profit Louisiana company.
Tinker Impact Fund is our affiliated, federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It advances charitable programs that expand access to creativity, education, wellness, practical support and economic opportunity.
The organizations share a purpose and work together while remaining legally distinct.
Earned Revenue
Shopping, booking and creating with Tinker sustain the local business, space, staff and mission-driven ecosystem.
Charitable Support
Direct donations to Tinker Impact Fund support nonprofit programs, partnerships and community resources.
Shared Purpose
Both organizations work to reduce barriers and help people recognize and use the value they already have.
A clear distinction: A purchase from Tinker is a commercial transaction and is not a charitable donation. A direct gift to Tinker Impact Fund may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Need children’s clothing or resources?
LOCC–Donaldsonville has a free home at Tinker.
Tinker provides LOCC-D a dedicated retail space at 602 Railroad Ave., Donaldsonville completely rent-free, helping children and families access free clothing and essential resources closer to home.
Tinker provides the space. LOCC manages appointments, service details, donations, volunteering and support.
Book a Free Shopping Appointment Schedule a Donation Drop-Off
Visit LOCC for more information, volunteering and support →
Tinker + LOCC-D in the News
WAFB 9: “Nonprofit helping kids in need expanding their reach to Donaldsonville”
Read WAFB 9’s coverage of LOCC’s Donaldsonville expansion and Tinker’s role in providing the space.
Who We Work With
- Neurodivergent adults
- Trauma-impacted individuals
- Under-employed adults
- Youth ages 6–18
- Single parents
- Rural families
- Creative entrepreneurs and makers
Our goal is to build accessible pathways for people who have historically had limited access to creative, wellness and workforce opportunities.
Why This Matters
Donaldsonville and the River Parishes face high poverty and under-employment, limited youth enrichment, minimal mental-health and wellness access, few creative fabrication resources and too few flexible workforce pathways.
Families need spaces that support healing, learning, belonging and economic mobility. That is what the Tinker ecosystem is designed to provide.
Year 1 Goals
With community support, Tinker Impact Fund aims to:
- Engage 150 youth in maker programs
- Train 30 adults in creative workforce skills
- Support 20 microbusinesses
- Reach 500+ community members
- Launch a community tool library with 1,000+ borrows
- Expand partnerships with schools, local organizations and regional partners
Your Support Matters
Direct charitable support helps Tinker Impact Fund provide youth maker programs, adult creative-workforce training, microbusiness coaching and incubation, accessible wellness and community resources, and low-cost access to specialized tools.
Board & Leadership
Tinker Impact Fund is guided by community-centered governance. Board roles and organizational leadership are shown separately so responsibility is clear.
Board of Directors
- Elizabeth Carpentier — Board Chair
- Lourdes Diaz — Board Member
- Doretha Richey — Board Member
- Jessica Hall — Board Member Nominee; formal appointment pending the next Board meeting
Organizational Leadership
- Jessica Tomapat — Founder & Director
Governance transparency: Pending roles remain identified as pending until formal Board action is recorded in the Fund’s governance records.