If you're a business...why are you a nonprofit?

Since we opened the doors to our new location in early December, we’ve been settling in at 3262 Minnehaha Avenue. We’ve painted the walls and unpacked tables and chairs. We set our menu and hours, and flicking on the “Open” light is just as exciting as it was on day one. 

We’ve also been getting to know our new neighbors and regulars. To everyone who’s stopped in and shared words of encouragement and shared in our excitement, thank you for the warm welcome. We’re thrilled to be part of this community, and your support has made us feel right at home. Thank you!

Reaching a milestone like this, we can’t help but think about how far we’ve come. From our coffee cart days traveling from farmers market to farmers market (and the occasional wedding!) to sharing a space with Butter Bakery, we now have a permanent location of our very own. No matter the stage of our coffee shop, we’ve always remained steadfast in our mission of providing job stability to youth experiencing homelessness一 helping our employees soar, one cup of coffee at a time. 

We’re seeing many new faces these days, and some of our customers are pleasantly surprised to learn we’re a non-profit. 

So, why is WildFlyer a non-profit?

When you see our employees ringing you up at the register and steaming milk to the perfect temperature for your morning latte, you're actually witnessing our six-month work and life skills training program.

And while they're handing you your afternoon pick-me-up, we're also providing nonwork-related support such as housing referrals, counseling, educational pathways, connections to post-program employment, transportation assistance, and basic needs supplies. 

We've designed our unique employment program to provide the critical skills our youth will need to succeed in both the workforce and in life. The extra cost of these supportive services, as well as the overhead of training in new cohorts every six months, is far more than a traditional coffee shop could reasonably absorb. Right now, we are 70% funded through income the shop earns and 30% funded through contributions from our generous donors, who make sure we can provide more than a job for each youth who enters our doors. 

And lastly, our mission is what sets us apart from other coffee shops in the Twin Cities. Our mission 一 our north star, our singular focus 一 is to provide meaningful employment, job skills, and resources that our youth need to end the cycle of homelessness. So yes, we make good coffee, but that isn't enough for us一 our coffee has to do good, too. 

So soar with us! Stop in for your favorite drink, meet our baristas, and learn more about our mission and how we can work together to end youth homelessness. We can't wait to see you!