About Us
Who We Are
Savvy Giving by Design is a non-profit, national network of professional interior designers whose mission is to provide comfort, support, and healing to families with a child facing a medical crisis by transforming the interior spaces of their homes at no cost to them.
Spreading Joy One Room at a Time
Spreading Joy One Room at a Time
The Impact of a New Room
Helping children and their siblings feel at peace during dark times is at the heart of what we do. Each room is designed by a professional interior designer custom to the child’s unique needs to optimize both physical and emotional comfort. Since many children we help have compromised immune systems, are adjusting to new wheelchairs, or have other specialized needs, we focus on design details that are not only beautiful but also work with these needs.
Some of the considerations that go into a child’s new room include the use of both hard and soft surfaces that do not hold allergens, organic fabrics that are easy to clean, and products that are safe for all ages.
Our Story
Savvy Giving by Design was founded by Susan Wintersteen out of the desire to use her interior design experience to give back to her community.
The moment of inspiration came in 2014 when a local teen, Kasey Harvey, was diagnosed with cancer and was facing a full year of treatment. Eager to help but unsure how, Susan and her team of local contractors offered up their talents to makeover the teen's room at no cost to the family. Witnessing first-hand the relief and joy that this new space brought to Kasey and her family throughout her year-long treatment and recovery, Susan was inspired to keep going and extend her services to more families.
Equipped with a game plan to quickly and efficiently design fun, creative spaces that were also functional for children of all needs, Susan enlisted the help of professional designers in her network to volunteer their time. In 2015, Savvy Giving By Design was granted 501(c)(3) status and has continued to expand, impacting families across the country with new chapters nationwide. In 2019, Make-A-Wish and Savvy Giving by design partnered in San Diego to fulfill room wishes. Later that year, our partnership expanded to include all of our SGBD chapters nationally.
We are honored to be the selected design nonprofit for Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2021, in the midst of a global pandemic, Savvy Giving by Design launched its Pop-Up Designer Program. This initiative extended SGBD services by facilitating partnerships between a network of Savvy-trained designers and Make-A-Wish in neighborhoods where we don’t yet have an Affiliate Chapter. While we're no longer actively recruiting for this program, it laid the foundation for continued collaboration in underserved areas. And in 2024, we launched two new programs to further deepen our commitment to serving children wherever they are: the Go to Your Room Box and the Design Coalition.
Meet the Team
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Susan Wintersteen
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Savvy Interiors -
Megan Schirmacher
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Savvy Giving by Design -
Kayla Kelsey
TREASURER
Rescue Books -
Katheryne Cruz
SECRETARY
Tourmaline Builders -
Reisa Elden
BOARD MEMBER
Verkada -
Alyce Lopez
BOARD MEMBER
The True House -
Shannon Appel
BOARD MEMBER
San Elijo Interiors -
Susan Harvey
FAMILY LIAISON
Savvy Giving by Design
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As word of our efforts continues to spread, we are getting to know families from all over. We have seen that the connection among families who have children facing a serious medical crisis can be incredibly strong.
Many of our referrals come from families we have already helped. These families have experienced the impact of our work first-hand and have an overwhelming desire to pay it forward.
Once we select a family, we meet with them to find out what their child’s interests, passions, favorite colors, and physical needs are.
No two children are alike and we believe that their rooms should reflect their individuality.
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Our designers work together to create a vision for each room. Depending on the needs of the family, this may involve selecting paint, wallpaper, flooring, furniture, bedding, fabrics, window coverings, and decorative accents.
When the design is complete, we collaborate with our network of professionals who work with us closely to transform each room.
We also reach out to our fabulous vendors, many of whom donate their products (blankets, furniture, art, etc.) to us because they believe so firmly in our mission.
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As designing and planning takes place, we simultaneously share the family’s story with our community of supporters.
Through social media, advertising, and community events, we raise awareness of the adversity each family is facing.
With these efforts, we inform our community of “Savvy Givers” of ways in which they can help us gather the funds and materials that we need to create the ultimate dream room for each child.
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Finally, the day that we install the room arrives. What follows is difficult to put into words, but suffice it to say that “the big reveal” is what makes all of our hard work so satisfying and motivates us to take on projects for as many families as we possibly can.
Photographers and videographers working on a voluntary basis capture the moment so that it can be shared with friends, loved ones, and the community that made it all possible.
How it Works
Want to Get Involved?
Help make a difference in a child’s life today!