Steamworks gives back: Fall fundraiser and a winter food drive planned

Nirmalpal Sachdev, the general manager at Steamworks Chicago in Lakeview, knew last February that his idea for the summer fundraiser might raise confusion from corporate executives of the popular gay bathhouse.

Sachdev wanted to focus all their fundraising efforts on no-kill animal shelters and animal rescue organizations around the country.

In 2023, the summertime fundraiser supported the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Drag Defense Fund, to join the fight against the brutal assault on the trans community and drag artists. Steamworks Chicago raised $20,000 in 2023.

In 2024, the summer fundraiser exceeded the 2023 funds raised.

“This fundraiser is our way of giving back, connecting the efforts with our customers on social media and in-house with goals for IML (weekend), Pride (Month) and (Northalsted) Market Days weekend,” said Sachdev, 51, who has worked at Steamworks for 18 years.

“Typically, our fundraisers come from a percent of Steamworks entry sales over the fundraising period. The summer fundraiser concept takes that idea a step forward. Instead of focusing on the percentage of sales of the day, week or given time period to raise the money, the fundraiser is aligned with a percent of our VIP/Black Card membership sales.

“Each year at the beginning of May, Steamworks Chicago produces and sells a unique VIP/Black Card membership cards, which allow the holder to jump any entry line and gain access to exclusive VIP/Black Card holders entrance for large events like IML, Pride and Market Days.” Ten percent of every card sold through the summer both in-house and from their online store went into the fund and after Market Days that total is calculated for the total donation.

In addition, when a 2024 VIP/Black Card sale came from a state that had not yet purchased a card, Sachdev and his team added a no-kill animal shelter or rescue organization from that state to get an equal cut of total amount raised over the summer.

Steamworks Chicago donated to 37 different shelters or rescue organizations in 37 U.S. states, one in Barcelona, Spain, and one in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Every shelter or rescue organization was given $600.

“I would like to thank (Steamworks Chicago) for (their) generosity and support of Fiona Animal Refuge. We have worked over 15 years to make life worth living for the dogs and cats of Mexico. (Their financial) gift will enable us to spay and neuter 12 precious babies. From all of us at Fiona Animal Refuge, thank you for caring,” said Dottie Cross, the founder and CEO of Fiona Animal Refuge in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Said Sachdev: “When we started this fundraising concept in 2023 with the ACLU, we were over the moon (excited) to raise so much for the Drag Defense Fund. Steamworks wanted to find a way keep the message of defending our trans community and protecting drag artists in the public sphere through the summer.  So much of that message stopped being shared by June 2023. We wanted to keep that message out there for as long we could.”

This summer, more than $25,000 was raised.

Sachdev said he is excited, proud and grateful.   

“Being able to share with my team that our collective hard work promoting and engaging this effort with our customers all summer was successful,” means so much, he said. “I have always strived to give my team purpose and help them feel good about where they work – for a company that gives back. Personally, I’ve never had to call a credit card company fraud service line so many times to tell them, ‘No, this is not fraud charge. Yes, this is an actual donation to an animal shelter.’”

Sachdev said he knew the animal shelter fundraiser may shock some in the LGBTQ+ community, but he didn’t hesitate.

“It was going to be an exhausting summer of never-ending election texts, polling data from everywhere, etc. I just thought we needed to fundraise for something warm and fuzzy for the sake of our mental health,” he said.

Sachdev said the chosen shelters were picked through the website www.nokillnetwork.org, a free international database of no-kill shelters and no-kill rescue organizations.

Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus was the Illinois recipient. “They are an amazing rescue and foster organization that works with city and state (officials) to rescue and find foster homes for animals in hoarding and puppy mill situations. That is how I got my girl, Ellen Ripley, who is half greyhound, half whippet,” Sachdev said. “Her mom’s litter was the first full litter of pups to survive. The puppy mill folks were cross breeding whippets and greyhounds, then keeping them skinny and malnourished so they could sell them as whippet puppies.”

Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus received a $1,200 donation.

“Having a pet can reduce anxiety, stress and provide owners with a sense of purpose,” Sachdev said. “I was fascinated to learn the science and psychology surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and pet rescue. It seems obvious if you think about it: many of us in the community, including myself, have felt grief, shame and/or rejection from our given families and society. The animals in shelters or foster care are sometimes discarded or abandoned and that resonates with us on a fundamental level. They need someone to rescue and love just like we need the love and support they provide. It was an easy decision at that point.”

Sachdev confirmed that Steamworks Chicago will have a fall fundraiser and a winter food drive. Since 2015, Steamworks Chicago has held an annual Veteran’s Day fundraiser for an LGBTQ+ veterans organization called AVER (American Veterans for Equal Rights), and 10 percent of entry sales on Veteran’s Day is matched by the company and donated to AVER. “I believe we’re the only LGBTQ+ business in Lakeview or Andersonville that fundraises for LGBTQ+ veterans annually,” Sachdev said. “We cannot thank them enough for their brave service for our country.”

This winter will be Steamworks Chicago’s 11th annual food and perishable items drive called, “Harvest For Hope.” Steamworks Chicago works with Vital Bridges and Groceryland food pantry to gather items that their customers donate to make sure food pantry shelves stay stocked for those in need. The Steamworks Chicago food drive runs through December and January and every time a customer brings in an item of need, they receive $5 off the entry fee.

“The concept of giving on a national scale (as opposed) to smaller organizations across the country is a great way to remind our customers that they come from all over the world,” Sachdev said.

Steamworks Chicago started in 1991 when it purchased Unicorn Club.   

Steamworks will celebrate 50 years in business in 2026, “and we’re planning a lot of big events to celebrate that milestone,” he said. “I speak for the Chicago management team when I say, Thank-You to our customers for continuing to patronize our establishment and know that we believe we are only successful because of the hard work and tireless efforts of our housekeepers, front desk staff, supervisors and management team. We look forward to seeing you here soon.”