SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

CORPORATE SPONSOR FACT SHEET

Purpose of Program

To establish a cooperative relationship between a corporation and Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity with the objective of providing affordable housing for low-income families and making decent shelter a matter of public conscience.

This objective recognizes Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity as an ecumenical Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to building houses for low-income families; and a corporation concerned about an improved quality of life in its communities, the economic development of its service territory, and the development of appropriate associations with reputable and productive organizations providing services to its customers.

Specific Aims of Corporate Participation

A.     Provide resources of corporate sponsor to a well-established nonprofit endeavor.

B.     Encourage employee volunteer activities on Habitat projects.

C.     Provide financial support for the local Habitat affiliate.

D.     Raise the level of awareness of Habitat projects.

E.      Underscore company commitment to served communities.

Roles and Responsibilities of Program Participants

Habitat Affiliate

  A.  Responsible for the selection of housing sites and the recipients of the homes.     

        Recipients for housing are selected without discrimination.

  B.  Orders all materials and coordinates all inspections and subcontractors.

  C.  Directs the efforts of volunteers in organizing the projects and construction.

Corporate Volunteers

A.     Provides a House Leader and volunteer resources on the local Habitat project.   

B.     Works with the local affiliate through the completion of the project.

For more information about corporate involvement, contact the office at (219) 923-7265.

COVENANT GROUP SPONSOR

Individual churches may enter into a “Covenant” with Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity to be part of a house project.  We find that when a group of churches covenant together for a project, each of the churches is strengthened and the community is impacted with the light of Christ as people from several churches work together building another house for a family in need.

A church covenant group enables several churches to pool their resources of faith, people, and funds in partnership with Habitat.  Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity is the “general contractor” for the house and takes overall responsibility for supervising the work, for hiring necessary trades, and ensuring that adequate funds are received to complete the construction.  Covenant churches work together to raise funds, recruit and organize volunteers, and stimulate interest and prayer support for the project.

Individuals interested in enabling and motivating their own church to become involved in a Habitat project meet informally with a Habitat representative to gather information, ascertain the interest level of other groups and feed information back to the decision makers in their own church.  The objective at this level is to motivate and influence the churches to make a tentative commitment to involvement in the project.

During this period, arrangements can be made to have Habitat representatives speak to the church, key boards or committees and/or small groups or classes within the church.

As two or more churches make the first level of commitment, the informal group moves toward structure which will enable it to coordinate with Habitat to start and complete the project.  Areas of responsibility would include:  recruiting and coordinating volunteers with Habitat’s Volunteer Coordinator; recruiting and soliciting donated materials and trade work, disseminating information to the churches and planning/organizing special events such as the groundbreaking, house dedication and volunteer recognition.

Funds needed to sponsor/complete a house project are $75,000 for 2007.

For more information about covenant church involvement, contact the office at (219) 923-7265.

HOUSE SPONSOR FACT SHEET 

What is a sponsor?  A sponsor is an organization which commits to fund all the expenses connected with constructing a home and also commits to providing the labor needed to build the home.

How much does it cost to sponsor a home?  The cost to sponsor a home is $75,000.  This amount can be reduced by the sponsor providing in-kind contributions of materials and services.

How many people are needed to construct a home?  When does the work take place?  How much time is required?

Generally a minimum of twenty to twenty-five volunteers are needed to work with a House Leader and four Crew Leaders during the build.  This does not include the professionals who work throughout the week performing the most technical tasks.

What assistance does Habitat provide the sponsor in constructing the home?  Habitat has a full-time construction manager who orders all the materials and handles all the inspections and subcontractors.  The manager is also at the construction site to coordinate and oversee the day’s activities.  The manager, in conjunction with the Building Committee, meets with the sponsor in advance of construction to organize the volunteers.

Who can be a sponsor?  Any organization can be a sponsor.  We have had churches, businesses and foundations sponsor homes

Can an organization co-sponsor a home if it does not have enough labor or funds to construct a home?  Yes.  Many of our homes have been built by organizations working together in this capacity.

Why should my organization sponsor a home?  Because thousands of people in our community live in substandard housing and your organization can do something about it.  As you give, you will receive.  As the members of your organization work side-by-side along with the selected family, your organization will be united-perhaps as never before-by this life giving partnership.

What is the first step?  Call Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity’s office at (219) 923-7265 and speak with Pamela Pazera, Executive Director.