Introduction
For Sleep In Heavenly Peace (SHP), the mission is both urgent and deeply human: No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!
What began in 2012 in Twin Falls, Idaho, as a small, community-driven effort has grown into an U.S.-wide movement. Today, SHP operates more than 385 chapters (and another 27 being added in a couple of months), mobilizing volunteers to build and deliver beds to children who would otherwise sleep on floors, couches, or overcrowded spaces.
That growth has translated into extraordinary impact:
- 340,000+ beds delivered to children in need
- Thousands of volunteers engaged across local communities
- A mission that continues to scale: one child, one bed at a time
This commitment to both impact and accountability is reflected in SHP’s Platinum Seal from Candid’s GuideStar, a designation that underscores their transparency and the trust they’ve built with donors and supporters.
But SHP is not just about numbers. It’s about transformation.
Volunteers often describe the experience of building and delivering beds as life changing. There’s a tangible sense of purpose in knowing that something as simple as a bed can provide comfort, dignity, and better sleep; sometimes for the very first time.
They’re not just building beds. They’re building hope, one community at a time.
As SHP grew, however, so did the complexity of supporting that mission, especially when it came to managing and scaling in-kind donations across hundreds of independently operated chapters.
Interviewee: Matt McEwen, Senior Director of Business Operations, Sleep In Heavenly Peace
The Challenge: Managing In-Kind Donations at Scale
Before implementing Mindful Giving, SHP faced several operational barriers that limited both efficiency and growth.
1. No Centralized Wishlist Across Chapters
With over 385 active chapters, each operating semi-independently, there was no single, consistent way to communicate needs.
- Each chapter maintained its own lists
- Needs varied by location and timing
- No unified system for sharing or promoting those needs
2. Fragmented Systems and Manual Processes
Chapters relied on a mix of tools:
- Amazon wishlists
- Walmart lists
- Physical donation bins
- Manual spreadsheets
This created a fragmented ecosystem that was difficult to maintain and nearly impossible to standardize.
- Only 20–30% of chapters used any digital system consistently
- Data had to be manually entered, or wasn’t captured at all
To compensate, SHP had to hire an additional full-time staff member just to input donation data.
3. No Visibility Into Donors or Impact
Perhaps the most critical issue: they couldn’t connect donors to donations.
- Packages arrived with no donor identification
- No reliable way to track in-kind contributions
- Limited ability to report on impact
Matt stated, “There was just no way for us to track who gave what.”
This gap meant SHP was potentially missing hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of dollars in reported in-kind donations.
4. Poor Donor Experience
Donors faced confusion and friction:
- Multiple platforms
- Unclear instructions
- No simple “click-and-donate” experience
The Solution: Why SHP Chose Mindful Giving
Recognizing these challenges, SHP began searching for a better solution. One that could support both national scale and local chapter flexibility.
Explore Sleep In Heavenly Peace Mindful Giving campaigns.
What Made Mindful Giving Stand Out
After evaluating options, two capabilities made Mindful Giving the clear choice:
1. Chapter-Level Control with Centralized Structure
Each chapter can:
- Create and manage its own catalog
- Customize campaigns based on local needs
- Maintain autonomy while staying within a unified system
“The ability for chapters to create and manage their own catalog was huge.”
2. Full Donor and Donation Visibility
Mindful Giving provides:
- Real-time tracking of donor activity
- Item-level visibility
- Integration with SHP’s Donation-in-Kind (DIK) reporting
“We can now see who ordered, what was ordered, and when.”
Key Goals
SHP implemented Mindful Giving with three primary objectives:
- Reduce administrative burden
- Improve donor experience
- Increase in-kind donations
A major added benefit: the ability for donors to give both products and cash in one place.
“That was a massive positive for us.”
The Results Since Launch
Although still early (just two months post-launch), SHP is already seeing meaningful impact.
Quantitative Results
- Total in-kind donation value: $19,259
- Average donation size: $28.00
- Total purchases: 171
- Number of items donated: 689
- Total donors engaged: 158
- Total new donors: 136
Operational Improvements
While overall workload remains similar, the quality of operations has significantly improved:
- Streamlined processes
- Clearer workflows for accounting and donation tracking
- More accurate financial reporting
“It’s about the same workload, but a much more clear and streamlined process.”
Financial Transparency
Mindful Giving has strengthened SHP’s financial reporting capabilities:
- Better tracking of in-kind contributions
- Improved audit readiness
- Enhanced transparency for stakeholders and rating organizations
Chapter-Level Impact
One of the most meaningful improvements has been at the chapter level:
- Chapters can now see exactly who their donors are
- Enables better stewardship and thank-you outreach
- Builds stronger local donor relationships
“That’s one of the biggest things our chapters appreciate. Being able to know their donors.”
How SHP is Promoting Mindful Giving
SHP has taken a multi-channel approach to driving adoption:
Current Strategies
- Social Media (Primary Driver)
Chapters share direct campaign links on Facebook and Instagram
- QR Codes at Events
Donors can instantly access campaigns via mobile
- Upcoming National Campaign
Email-driven initiative launching soon to scale awareness
“Social media is our biggest driver right now.”
Donor & Staff Feedback
Donor Experience
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:
- Simple, intuitive process
- Clear understanding of impact
- Faster path to giving
“It’s easy—click, click, and done.”
Staff & Volunteer Experience
- Easier catalog management
- Better visibility into needs and donations
- Reduced confusion across chapters
Lou Stavely, Chapter President, adds, "It is VERY useful to our chapter to specify exactly what is needed to support our mission."
Human Impact Story
The true measure of success lies in the mission.
One SHP chapter was struggling to source pillows, which is an essential component of every bed delivered.
Through Mindful Giving:
- Donors fulfilled the need quickly
- The chapter was able to deliver 5 complete beds
- Each child received not just a bed but a full sleep setup
"We received a much-needed pillow donation of 5 pillows. Because of that, we were able to get 5 more kids off the floor this week. We could not have done it without that donation from Mindful Giving."
This is the difference between partial support and complete care.
Looking Ahead
SHP sees Mindful Giving not as a short-term fix, but as a long-term growth engine.
With:
- - Nearly 400 chapters soon
- - A national campaign on the horizon
- - Increasing donor engagement
The organization expects substantial growth in both reach and impact.
“For us, there is no other direction than up… the sky’s the limit.”
Call to Action
Want to see how your nonprofit can simplify in-kind donations, improve donor experience, and scale impact?
Explore how Mindful Giving can transform your fundraising strategy.
