Boulder Nonprofit Helps Homeowners Save on Renovations

Resource Central offers donated building materials and home improvement classes to the community.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:23pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a discarded wooden cabinet door repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the vibrant and repurposed nature of the home improvement resources offered by the Boulder-based nonprofit.Resource Central's donated building materials and home improvement workshops provide an affordable and sustainable way for Colorado homeowners to spruce up their spaces.Boulder Today

Boulder-based nonprofit Resource Central is assisting homeowners in Colorado save money on home renovations and repairs by providing access to donated building materials at a fraction of the cost of big-box retailers. The organization has diverted 74 million pounds of materials from landfills and offers free home improvement workshops and a summer concert series to engage the community.

Why it matters

With the high cost of housing and home repairs in Colorado, Resource Central's model provides an affordable way for homeowners to spruce up their homes. By promoting conservation and reuse, the nonprofit also has a positive environmental impact by diverting materials from landfills.

The details

Resource Central, founded 50 years ago, takes in donated building materials, appliances, and household items from the community, contractors, and builders, and resells them to the public at about one-third the cost of big-box stores. The nonprofit has seen a surge in visitors this spring as people look to take on home improvement projects. In addition to the discounted materials, Resource Central offers free home improvement workshops through its 'Nailed It!' series and a free summer concert series called 'Rock and Reuse' to engage the community.

  • Resource Central was founded 50 years ago in Boulder, Colorado.
  • The nonprofit has seen a 'huge increase' in visitors this spring as the weather has warmed up.

The players

Resource Central

A Boulder-based nonprofit that promotes conservation by taking in donated building materials, appliances, and household items and reselling them to the public at discounted prices.

Neal Lurie

The CEO of Resource Central, who has overseen the organization's efforts to divert 74 million pounds of materials from landfills and provide affordable home improvement resources to the community.

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What they’re saying

“We've seen a huge increase in the number of people that are coming here, and I think part of that is the warm weather.”

— Neal Lurie, CEO, Resource Central

“Nearly all of our resources are donated by the community, by builders, contractors, so that means we can make them available to the community as a nonprofit for 1/3 the cost of big box retailers. So, it's a really smart way to be able to save money.”

— Neal Lurie, CEO, Resource Central

“We've been able to divert 74 million pounds of building materials for landfills, so collectively, those small actions do add up.”

— Neal Lurie, CEO, Resource Central

“If you're looking for household materials for your next project, you can really cash in right now on a variety of items. One of the most expensive costs around Colorado is around housing, not just the cost of renting but also repairs. Things like cabinet sets, doors and windows, countertops, appliances, their fridge will conk out, and they can find one here for a few hundred instead of a few thousand dollars.”

— Neal Lurie, CEO, Resource Central

“It's really easy for people to not just do the right thing environmentally by reducing their use of materials but also feel good about having a little money left over after the project's done.”

— Neal Lurie, CEO, Resource Central

What’s next

Resource Central is offering free home improvement classes in a Nailed It! Workshop Series, in addition to their discounted building materials. They are also holding a free live concert series in the summertime on Saturdays, called 'Rock and Reuse', which is open to the public.

The takeaway

By providing affordable access to donated building materials and home improvement resources, Resource Central is helping Colorado homeowners save money on renovations and repairs while also promoting sustainability and community engagement.