Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry whose mission is to “eliminate poverty and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.”39 The organization was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976 in Americus, Georgia. More than 300,000 Habitat houses have been built, sheltering more than 1.5 million people around the world. These houses can be found in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and more than 90 countries around the world. “Thousands of low-income families have found new hope in this form of affordable housing.” Habitat’s approach is simple. Families in need of decent housing apply to local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. Homeowners are chosen based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program, and their ability to repay the loan. And that’s the unique thing about Habitat’s approach. It’s not a giveaway program. Families chosen to become homeowners have to make a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, and invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their Habitat home and helping build other Habitat houses. Habitat volunteers provide labor and donations of money and materials as well. (Maybe some of you have helped in a Habitat build.) In 2009, J. Ronald Terwilliger, a former CEO of housing developer Trammell Crow Residential Co., who also has been a long-time member of Habitat’s board of directors, made a $100 million commitment to Habitat. He says that “through his work with Habitat and in the private sector, he’s witnessed the depths of poverty, seeing people living in cardboard shacks and unspeakable filth, as well as the struggle for middle-class families to find affordable housing.” According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, “It’s one of the largest gifts in recent years to a group devoted to social services.” Terwilliger’s gift is intended to give people a helping hand toward a decent, safe clean home. And it’s intended to send a message to other philanthropists to “step up their giving.” As for Habitat, its CEO, Jonathan Reckford, said, “This is a chance to have a really deep impact.” Having that type of impact when the needs now are greater than ever is a definite planning challenge for the organization and its managers.

 

 

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What role do you think goals would play in planning for the wise use of this gift? List some goals you think might be important. (Make sure these goals have the characteristics of well-written goals.)

2. What types of plans would be needed in wisely using this gift? (For instance, long-term or short-term, or both?) Explain why you think these plans would be important.

3. What contingency factors might affect the planning Habitat executives have to do for the wise use of this gift? How might those contingency factors affect the planning?

4. What planning challenges do you think Habitat executives face with getting the most use out of this gift? How should they cope with those challenges?