About The Umbrella Project
Making a difference through art
Empowering People
The Umbrella Project empowers all kinds of people – from students to seniors – to make difference through art.
Our organization is dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind, hand-painted umbrellas that help improve the lives of children, families, veterans, communities, and animals world-wide. We do this by collecting donations from the sale of these umbrellas. The donated funds then go directly to needy recipients or to support groups that are uplifting the lives of their community.
The process starts with new, white umbrellas shipped around the United States to be transformed by volunteers into unique pieces of functional artwork. Local artists often volunteer their time and talents to create umbrellas for our causes as well. The Umbrella Project also helps other organizations raise money to improve their communities. We do this by providing umbrella kits, the know-how and the coaching necessary for these organizations to have successful umbrella painting events.
In each case, the financial boost that these groups receive is vital, but the real magic is in watching volunteer artists of different ages and cultures work together, learn from each other, and collectively make a real difference in the world. That’s the Umbrella Project.
The Umbrella Project Story
From the beginning, it's been about helping those in need.
We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit global art initiative that creates one-of-a-kind artistic umbrellas. Donations from the sale of these umbrellas benefit worthy causes that include children, families, veterans, communities, and animals in need.
By doing this, we share with our volunteers the importance of service as our artistic umbrellas continue to create a positive difference in the world.
The Umbrella Project board members and volunteers work directly with a variety of groups – from high school art students, sororities, adult centers, etc. to promote a specific non-profit project. We help these groups produce themed umbrellas that inspire creativity and enthusiasm for helping others. Participants paint in small groups on large white umbrellas with non-toxic fabric markers.
What We Offer
The Umbrella Project makes it easy for groups to sponsor an Umbrella Event by providing all of the materials and know-how needed in easy-to-order packages.
- High-quality white nylon umbrellas
- Waterproof color markers
- Consultation and coaching with Umbrella Project staff
- Facilitator guide
- Packaging and Shipping
Contact us to order kits
Kit of 12: $650
- 12 high-quality white nylon umbrellas
- 70 waterproof color markers
- Facilitator Guide
- Packaging and Shipping
Kit of 24: $1,250
- 24 high-quality white nylon umbrellas
- 140 waterproof color markers
- Facilitator Guide
- Packaging and Shipping
Our founder, artist, healer, and philanthropist, Hilda Brown, became inspired in 1990 to encourage school-age children to create artistic images on white nylon umbrellas. She selected this unique canvas because she understood that umbrellas are the universal symbol of protection from the storms of life. She realized that empowering children to express their hearts through this form of art could translate into helping others in need.
Hilda traveled the world working with children on her umbrella art projects, selecting themes for the umbrellas based on the specific cause. Some of her philanthropic projects included Alpha Cubic, where Japanese children painted umbrellas to aid the earthquake victims in Kobe. She traveled to Bucharest and helped high school students paint umbrellas to benefit orphans in a project with the Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation. These are but a few of her world-wide philanthropic projects. Hilda donated thousands of dollars of her own money to these causes on behalf of her nonprofit “The Umbrella Project.”
Evolution of The Umbrella Project
One of Hilda’s fondest wishes before her untimely death in 2013 was to keep her beloved Umbrella Project running after her passing. A small group of Umbrella Project volunteers agreed to continue the work of Hilda’s nonprofit by donating their time and talents to the organization. A challenge, however, was that the largest share of Umbrella Project donations came from Hilda’s own personal funds. Activities focusing on children creating art on umbrellas were gratifying and inspiring but most of the funding came from Hilda’s own checkbook. As a result, the Umbrella Project team needed to reimagine how it could continue to do good deeds without reliable financial backing.
How we've adapted:
- We've expanded our fundraising targets beyond children to include veterans, animals and communities in need.
- We've grown our volunteer base beyond school-age children to include an artistic network of all types of groups and individuals of all ages.
- We're mainly focusing on causes that improve lives within the United States – where we can make the greatest impact.
Why The Umbrella Project?
There are hundreds of nonprofits to choose from. Most are much larger than The Umbrella Project and can raise millions of dollars for worthy causes around the world. But have you ever thought about what percent of your donation goes to the cause versus the nonprofit’s “operating costs?”
Many large non-profits have a formidable, well-paid staff and sizable operating budgets. In many cases, your donation goes first to operating costs, which include salaries.
The Umbrella Project has very little overhead. Our small board of directors and volunteers donate their time and expertise to ensure that we can actually accomplish some good deeds. We work out of our homes versus a store front; we travel on our own dime versus charging per diem. Yes, we are very small and our annual causes are localized, but they are worthy of your care and contributions!
The Umbrella Project Team
Gretchen Maynard | Umbrella Project Chair
Gretchen has been with the Umbrella Project since 2016. She holds an MAED in secondary education and brings more than 30 years’ experience in organizational development to the organization.
Jacque Frusetta | Treasurer
Jacque joined the Umbrella Project in 2016. She brings more than 30 years’ experience in financial management to the project.
Mallory Maynard | Legal Counsel
Malory joined The Umbrella Project in 2016 as the Project’s Legal Counsel.
Chris Anding | Marketing and Communications
Chris joined the Umbrella Project in 2016. He brings with him more than 35 years’ experience in marketing, PR, advertising, communications, graphic design and web technology.
Marcy Neves | Corporate Coordinator
Marcy joined the Umbrella Project in 2022. Her background in the mortgage industry gives her an appreciation for giving back from a corporate perspective.