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Habitat for Humanity Overview
Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization founded in 1976, continually partners with various organizations to fulfill its mission. The requested information about the organization is presented below.
Background
- Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia by Milliard and Linda Fuller. The organization was hinged on the concept of partnership housing. Through volunteers, Habitat for Humanity sought to help the needy by helping them build safe, decent, and affordable houses.
- The houses were constructed at no profit, and the loans were interest-free. Construction of the houses was financed through a revolving fund called “Funds for Humanity.” The funds were obtained from new homeowners’ house payments, supporters' loans, and funds sourced through fundraising.
- The organization used the funds in The Fund for Humanity to build more houses. Beau and Emma owned the first home constructed by the organization. In 1973, the founders moved to Zaire to replicate the Fund for Humanity concept.
- After three years of actualizing the concept in the country, the founders returned to the United States where Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 with the help of a group of supporters.
- Today, Habitat for Humanity has operations in all 50 states in the US and in over 70 nations across the globe. It has also helped over 29 million people to attain sturdiness, solidity, and independence through safe, adequate, and affordable shelter. Its headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia.
- The organization’s mission is ‘seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.’ Habitat has received $124.6 million in funds from the MicroBuild Fund. It has over 2 million volunteers every year.
- Habitat focuses on providing shelter, advocating for affordable housing, and supporting sustainable development.
- In 2019, Habitat's revenue was $300 million. Habitat sells donated goods in over 900 ReStores.
- Habitat for Humanity's LinkedIn page indicates that it has 501-1000 employees, but has 2,625 people claiming they work for the company on LinkedIn.
Notable Partnerships
- Thrivent is one of the notable partners of Habitat for Humanity. The two organizations have been collaborating for more than a decade to build safe and affordable homes in the US and around the globe. Since 2005, Thrivent has committed over $252 million to help construct, repair, or rehabilitate homes.
- Another notable partner is Valspar. The company has partnered with Habitat for Humanity since 1996. Since then, it has committed over $93 million in paints and financial support.
- Habitat for Humanity has also partnered with IKEA Foundation since 2016. The partnership seeks to help 15,000 families in Kenya and India improve their housing, thus ensuring that 45,000 children have a safer and healthy home to play, acquire knowledge, and grown up in.
Employee Engagement
- Habitat for Humanity conducts Habitat Team Build Days aimed and fostering employee engagement. The program gives companies a chance to give back to the community by allowing their employees to join Habitat’s staff and professionals at a build site. The employees have a chance to connect outside the office environment as they work together to help construct Habitat homes alongside families in need of affordable accommodation.
- Companies can choose to engage their employees in the building activity for a day, three days, or a week. The employee engagement initiatives are a great way of giving back and building a company’s profile as a dedicated corporate citizen. They also energize and unite the workforce.
- Habitat provides all the tools, building materials, and training for the involved employees. Construction experience is also not needed to take part in the activity.
Community Investment
- Habitat for Humanity’s community investment comes in many forms, including designing interventions aimed at improving the water supply and hygiene of human habitations. The organization invests in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs by educating people on good hygiene habits and building an actual facility or improving existing infrastructure such as piping.
- Habitat also engages young people to come up with social enterprise opportunity. In such community investment initiatives, Habitat collaborates with partners in both the public and private sectors.
- Through the Build Solid Ground project funded by the European Union, Habitat offers specialized non-formal learning to interested groups on issues such as gender equality, land, and poverty reduction. The project targets seven European nations, namely Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom.
- Habitat for Humanity’s community investment has also extended to planning, supporting, and facilitating access to renewable energy solutions. In partnership with the IKEA Foundation, the organization is investing to improve access to affordable renewable energy solutions in the East Africa region.
Event Sponsorship
- Habitat for Humanity also draws significant support from event sponsorship. People and organizations volunteer to sponsor an event aimed at furthering Habitat’s mission. For instance, the Home Depot has sponsored the 2020 Habitat on the Hill event through financial support and volunteers.
- Kohler, Du Pont, Ply Gem, Tarkett, and Masco Corporation, among other organizations sponsored the Habitat for Humanity’s 2019 Home Builders Blitz event.