CASE APPLICATION

Building a Future

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?