Boxes of Love
How a grass-roots mission grew into a funded, high-impact program to support Oregon’s foster youth
Boxes of Love exists to make sure infants and children entering foster care feel seen, valued, and cared for during one of the most stressful moments of their lives. The organization partners with hospitals and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) to provide “Boxes of Love” totes filled with high-quality essentials like clothing, shoes, hygiene items, books, toys, and comfort items. Each tote is personalized and valued at about $750. By meeting a child's immediate physical and emotional needs and easing the financial strain on foster families, Boxes of Love helps create stability right from the start and reduces the risk of placement disruptions.
Partnership Quick Facts
The Challenge
As the cost per tote rose and referrals from hospitals and ODHS continued to climb, that model became harder to sustain. Lyndsee was carrying the entire load herself, from hospital partnerships to volunteer coordination to day-of requests for urgent deliveries. She knew the organization needed a stronger, more reliable funding stream, but grants felt like an entirely new world. Boxes of Love had never submitted a proposal, and the process felt overwhelming for a small, volunteer-led nonprofit. They needed a partner who could help them build a grant strategy from scratch and set the foundation for true funding diversification.
Founded in 2014 by Lyndsee Wunn, RN, Boxes of Love began as a grassroots response to an urgent need she witnessed while caring for abused and neglected children awaiting foster care placement. For many years, the organization was running on heart, hustle, and a powerful mission, but without a grant program to support its long-term sustainability. Nearly all funding came from individual donors and fundraising events.
The Journey
Lyndsee found Just Look Left (JLL) on Instagram and immediately connected with Elaine’s voice and approach. What started as a simple inquiry quickly became a trusted partnership. Because Boxes of Love had never applied for grants, JLL began with the basics.
“As the founder and director of a small non-profit organization who also works as a nurse and is a busy wife and mom, I knew that we needed to start applying for grant funding, but also knew that I had neither the capacity nor the desire to take this huge task on,” said Lyndsee. “It was a fortuitous moment in which I randomly saw Just Look Left on Instagram, and I reached out right away. Elaine and I connected immediately and I knew that this was the company and team I wanted to use!”
Together, they mapped out how grant cycles work, built a multi-year strategy, and developed the narratives and program descriptions the organization had never had the time to formalize. Much of the early work involved documenting the impact that lived only in Lyndsee’s head and turning it into funder-ready language.
As the grant pipeline took shape, JLL helped pair this new funding strategy with its already strong individual donor base so the organization could grow with more stability and less pressure on Lyndsee’s shoulders. With a clear plan in place, Lyndsee was able to put more of her time where it mattered most: strengthening hospital relationships, responding quickly to urgent requests, and growing the collaborative network that sits at the heart of Boxes of Love.
The Results
The partnership helped Boxes of Love build something from nothing. Today, they have a fully functioning grant program with a 83% success rate and relationships across Oregon’s philanthropic community. Grants now play a meaningful role in sustaining their 100 percent tote-fulfillment promise, even as requests rise and costs increase. Funders have praised the clarity of the organization’s model, the responsiveness of its team, and the depth of community trust they’ve built. Diversifying their revenue has strengthened Boxes of Love’s financial footing and created more room for growth, allowing Lyndsee to lead with focus rather than overwhelm. What began as a small volunteer-run program is now a highly regarded regional resource for infants and children entering foster care, supported by a long-term strategy that reflects both the urgency and the heart of their mission.
“Just Look Left has been nothing short of fabulous! Every person on their all-women (yay!) team is wonderful! They are extremely knowledgeable about and well-educated in the grant industry and landscape in Oregon. They provide grant consultation and grant writing that is specifically tailored to each organization they work with. They truly care about their clients and they want you to receive these funds as much as you do! Every year that we have been using Just Look Left, we have received grant funding that far exceeds the cost of their services.”
Conclusion: Scaling for the Future
Boxes of Love is now positioned for steady growth, with a grant program that supports both immediate needs and long-term planning. As the organization expands hospital partnerships and handles rising requests, they’re moving into this next chapter with a stronger foundation, clearer systems, and a funding pipeline that matches the scale of their mission. The work ahead is focused on deepening community partnerships, bringing on their first staff member, and continuing to respond quickly when children need comfort the most. The future is bigger than any one tote, and Boxes of Love is ready for it.