The Make a Home Foundation 27-2932637 is a small but powerful nonprofit based in Middlebury, CT. Since 2010, this organization has quietly changed lives by helping veterans, domestic violence survivors, and individuals experiencing homelessness move into fully furnished homes.
They don't just provide housing support. They provide dignity.
New Beds. Tables. Couches, Chairs. Dishes. Pots & Pans. The essentials that most people take for granted.
Without organizations like this, many individuals transitioning into housing would walk into empty apartments with nowhere to sleep, eat, watch TV, or read a book.
A Mission Built on Compassion and Action
Founded by Anita Pettengill and Dan Telesco, the Make a Home Foundation was inspired by a moment that many people would have watched and forgotten. After seeing a segment on the Oprah Winfrey Show highlighting homeless female veterans, Anita and Dan recognized a gap that needed to be filled. They took action.
What started with a "little pickup truck" and salvaged furniture grew into a 35,000-square-foot operation serving communities across Connecticut.
Today, the organization continues to operate several days a week, helping over 200 individuals and families in crisis each year rebuild their lives with stability and support.
This completely women-run organization also extends its work to victims of domestic violence and displaced seniors, providing safe, furnished spaces during some of the most difficult moments in people's lives.
The Problem: Their Domain Names Were Taken
In 2010, Anita registered the domain names:
· makeahomefoundation.org
· mahfct.org
These domains became the foundation of the nonprofit's online presence for over a decade.
When the organization needed a new website, they hired a developer to help. Instead of simply building the site, that developer accessed the domain registrar account and transferred ownership of the domain names to himself—without authorization.
Since then, those domain names have been held hostage.
The nonprofit was asked to pay additional money to regain control of what it rightfully owns.
This isn't just unethical. It disrupts Make a Home's ability to serve the public, communicate with donors, and maintain credibility online.
Why We Need Your Help
Recovering stolen domain names requires legal action.
The appropriate process is filing a UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) complaint through ICANN.
However, this process is not free.
· Filing fees can be up to $1,500 per domain name
· Legal fees are required to prepare and file the case properly
We are seeking to raise $5,000 to cover these costs and take the necessary legal steps to recover the domain names.
Where Your Donation Goes
Every dollar raised will go toward:
· UDRP filing fees
· Legal expenses related to the dispute
If we exceed our goal, all additional funds will go directly to the Make a Home Foundation to support their ongoing work furnishing homes for those in need.
Why This Matters
This is about more than domain names.
It's about protecting a nonprofit that serves veterans and vulnerable individuals.
It's about ensuring that organizations doing good work are not taken advantage of.
And it's about restoring something that was wrongfully taken so that this group can continue focusing on what matters most—helping people rebuild their lives.
How You Can Help
If you're able to contribute, any amount makes a difference.
If you're not able to donate, please consider sharing this campaign with others.
Together, we can help Make a Home Foundation regain control of its identity online and continue its mission without disruption.
All of us at Make a Home appreciate your support.