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Make It Right Foundation

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Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:	Economic and Social: Culture Development Environment Family Financing for Development Humanitarian Affairs Justice Media Safety Science and Technology Social Development Sustainable Development Values Volunteerism Social Development: Social policy Sustainable Development: Climate change Demographics Disaster management and vulnerability Energy Information for decision-making and participation Land management Partnerships Rural Development Technology
Geographic scope:	National
Country of activity:	United States of America
Millennium Development Goals:	Ensure environmental sustainability Develop global partnership for development
Mission statement:	On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of the City of New Orleans and killed 1,577 people. Hardest hit was the Lower 9th Ward where more than 4,000 homes were destroyed by the storm and the surge of water caused by the breach of the Industrial Canal levee. Two years later, when actor Brad Pitt toured the city, the once-vibrant neighborhood was still silent and razed, failed by government, frustrated by a lack of progress. After meeting with community groups and families, Pitt established the Make It Right Foundation to build 150 green, affordable, high-quality design homes in the neighborhood closest to the levee breach. Make It Right kicked off in December, 2007 with the Pink Project – an installation of pink geometric shapes scattered over the 14-square block site where the real houses would be built. As donations came in, the pieces of the symbolic houses were “righted” on their lots. The Pink Project raised 12 million dollars and brought global attention to the challenges and possibilities of rebuilding the Lower 9th Ward. Since then, 21 local, national and international architects have donated designs for single family and duplexes to Make It Right. By December 2009, there will be 50 homes on the site; by December 2010, there will be 150. Because all of the homes built to date have been certified as LEED platinum for their energy efficiency and sustainability, the Make It Right community is now the “largest, greenest neighborhood of single family homes in America,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council. The mission of Make it Right is: “To be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower Ninth Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on high-quality design, while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture” Beyond building new homes for residents who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, Make It Right is a unique laboratory for testing and implementing new construction techniques, technologies and materials that will make green, storm resistant homes affordable and broadly available to working families in communities across America. In addition to providing residents with affordable, comfortable, environmentally-friendly homes, Make It Right is enhancing the neighborhood fabric with performative site-specific residential landscapes. Make It Right is helping to rebuild the community – complete with native landscaping, micro-farms, rain gardens and even building new streets.
Year established:	2007
Year of registration:	2007
Organizational structure:	The Make It Right Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in the state of Delaware on August 16, 2007. The organization has a Board of Advisors, a Board of Directors and a staff of five New Orleans-based employees. MIR will contract with other service providers, such as community organizations, engineering firms and attorneys to further the goals of the project.
Number and type of members:	Make It Right has 27 members made up of employees and interns.
Funding structure:	Donations and grants from domestic sources

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