Bridging the gap: Philanthropy And Business Unite At Storable

When asked about Storable’s philanthropy efforts, Senior Director of Risk Programs Brandon Snyder struggled to know where to start. “Storable doesn’t just limit its focus to building the best storage and marina software; it is equally dedicated to making a positive impact on the communities where it operates,” he said. “Storable’s commitment extends to nurturing the growth of its employee resource groups, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, supporting various nonprofit organizations, promoting team members from within, and more! That’s who Storable is.” 

Commitment To Give Back 

Storable, a leading technology provider in the self-storage industry, has elevated its commitment to corporate responsibility by encouraging employees throughout the organization to actively participate in community programs that create meaningful and positive change. Snyder mentioned his role on the board of Charity Storage, a non-profit he and Storable CEO Chuck Gordon have both supported for years, and the fulfilment he finds as a volunteer for that organization. 

“Serving on the board for Charity Storage has been a very rewarding experience for me,” said Snyder. “Seeing Charity Storage’s growth over the past few years has been incredible! The Storable team and I have been able to participate in Charity Storage’s ambassador program at many local and state events and we continue to be active sponsors. Everyone involved is passionate about the program and wants to see it succeed, from participating facilities to sponsors and volunteers, to everyone on the board. The Storable team and I are very proud to be able to support this program.” 

Combining Philanthropy And Business 

Storable’s success is rooted in their commitment to go above and beyond to bridge critical gaps for their customers, their employees, and the communities that sustain them. Its teams are driven by the Storable mantra to “do more”—a battle cry that inspires its employees to give back. 

“Most companies can find a way to give back to their community,” said Snyder. “The most common mistake I see is companies fail to consider the resources or opportunities they have within their business. Instead of integrating philanthropy within their operations, they tend to keep it separate. Get your employees involved, volunteer your time at charitable events, sponsor local youth sports teams, donate storage—there are so many ways you can give back to your community. Giving back not only serves as a means to promote your brand, but also creates a pathway to seamlessly merge your company’s success with your philanthropic goals. This is just one of the many reasons why we have a deep appreciation for the Charity Storage program, because it seamlessly integrates into self-storage operations. Storable’s technology suite saves our customers valuable time and empowers them to efficiently manage their self-storage business. This efficiency enables operators to engage in initiatives like Charity Storage to magnify their charitable efforts.” 

Charitable Efforts And Beyond 

Dedicated to inspiring positive change, Storable has an extensive history of giving back to its local communities. In 2022 alone, Storable raised over $80,000, contributing to 32 different charitable organizations. The causes encompassed a wide spectrum, spanning from medical research and international aid initiatives to animal welfare, reforestation, and LGBTQIA+. In addition to raising money for important causes, Storable employees also volunteered a total of 337 hours to charitable organizations and causes of their choice.  

Whether it’s donating free storage units to victims of natural disasters, raising funds for food banks, or organizing annual events aimed at supplying clothing to the homeless, Storable is committed to fostering a culture of empathy, compassion, and generosity. “If I were to simplify why Storable actively participates in charitable activities, it’s because we care first and foremost about people. With the backing of an incredible team and the means to give back, why wouldn’t we invest in philanthropic efforts and give charitable organizations the necessary resources to help people?” asked Snyder. 

One Of A Kind 

Storable distinguishes itself from its competitors not only through its philanthropic efforts but also through the technology suite it offers. According to Snyder, what really sets their business apart is the ecosystem of comprehensive solutions the company created.  

“In our industry, many products often lack seamless communication and require manual intervention from operators just to manage their business. Storable, on the other hand, has successfully created a cohesive operational experience that bridges the gaps, enabling operators to focus more on growth and efficiency [and] setting the benchmark for what a comprehensive storage solution should be,” said Snyder. “It’s truly rewarding to be a part of an organization that thinks big in every aspect. Our philanthropic endeavors are pretty big in both scale and impact, and so is the suite of technology and the solutions we have to offer. This is how we distinguish ourselves from our competitors and why we’re able to create big change in our communities.” 

About Charity Storage 

Charity Storage was conceived by Lance Watkins, who had first-hand experience with the storage industry and with the reality television show “Storage Wars.” The late Barry Hoeven, founder of Westport Properties, co-founded Charity Storage, bringing many years of self-storage and philanthropy experience to the endeavor. Today, Charity Storage is an independent 501(c)3 national self-storage industry nonprofit that is supported by many self-storage owners, operators, management companies, industry associations, organizations, and vendors. Ninety percent of all funds raised are distributed to qualifying charitable organizations (60 percent to the charity chosen by the operator/facility, 20 percent to Kure It Cancer Research, and 10 percent to the Self-Storage Association Foundation [SSAF] Scholarship Program). 

Charity Storage utilizes existing storage facility operations to raise funds to support charities throughout the United States. Donated and abandoned items are placed into a vacant unit and the contents are auctioned off on site or online via StorageTreasures.com or other online auction platforms. Operators online with StorageTreasures.com can opt-in via their account dashboard today and start selling charity units immediately. 

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Mario Macaluso is the co-founder of the SBOA Tenant Insurance program and founder of Best Self Storage Insurance, LLC. Macaluso is also a board member of Charity Storage and volunteers as the program manager to support and grow participation for Charity Storage.