A small team broke silos, rallied around one mission, and used Giveffect to turn a good event into a great fundraiser.
This story was first shared at Habitat NEXT, Giveffect’s virtual summit, where Habitat leaders such as Colleen Stefanek, Programs Manager at Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo, exchange real-world playbooks and results.
The Challenge
At Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo (SLO), Build With Us had long been a beloved community night; however, more of a celebration than a fundraiser. They wanted the event to do more than inspire; they wanted it to drive meaningful giving.
But that goal came with challenges: new leadership, a lean team of three full-time staff, and responsibilities stretched across programs, volunteers, marketing, and development.
“It was a total team effort. Three of us pulled this off on top of our regular jobs,” shared Colleen Stefanek, Programs Manager.
Like many affiliates, they also struggled with fragmented systems. Volunteer sign-ups were stored in one spreadsheet, sponsor outreach in another, and ticket data in a third. Email threads connected the dots but created confusion and delays. The team needed a way to bring everything and everyone together.
The Shift: One Team, One System
Photo credit: FramePerfect Media | Professional Marketing Videos
That change began when Programs Manager Colleen Stefanek, who oversaw both volunteer engagement and event planning, proposed managing Build With Us within a single, connected system.
“We were tired of juggling spreadsheets,” Colleen said. “We needed one place where everyone could see what was happening.”
The team decided to run the entire campaign using Giveffect, bringing donors, volunteers, sponsors, ticketing, and communications together in one system. Weekly check-ins and a shared campaign timeline replaced siloed workflows. Everyone could see what needed to be done and when. No chasing information, no waiting on others to find a file.
“Giveffect was immeasurable help. From auction to ticketing to email campaigns, you can click on the campaign and find everything.”
“Every part of your team is important to get to that end goal.”
By unifying under one system, the SLO team gained both structure and confidence. They could finally spend more time planning a meaningful experience instead of managing logistics.
Before the Event: Building Momentum and Structure
With the system in place, the team reimagined Build With Us from the ground up. They brought in a professional auctioneer, added a silent auction, and developed a short film that followed their most recent build from groundbreaking to home dedication.
“I still cry every time I watch the video,” Colleen shared. “You hear a dad say he never had his own room growing up, and now his son does.”
Giveffect powered every part of preparation:
- Nonprofit event registration: Guests signed up through Giveffect with built-in seating and dietary questions.
- Volunteer coordination: Shifts were scheduled and managed in Giveffect, freeing staff to focus on guests and sponsors.
- Data accuracy: Auction sales and donations were recorded directly in donor records, removing the need for manual entry or reconciliation.
- Communication: The team used Giveffect’s email tools to send automated reminders, event updates, and personalized post-event thank-yous based on tags and roles.
These systems created calm before the storm, helping a small team handle what once felt overwhelming.
During the Event: Collaboration in Action
Photo credit: FramePerfect Media | Professional Marketing Videos
When Build With Us finally came to life, titles and departments fell by the wayside. Each team member played a critical role: the development lead managed sponsor relations, Colleen coordinated volunteers and logistics through Giveffect, and the marketing lead oversaw live updates with vendors, the MC, and the auctioneer.
“Knowing who to have in the room is huge,” Colleen said. “At a fundraiser, you need people who are excited to spend because they care about your mission.”
Giveffect kept the night running smoothly. When the final auction lot closed, winning bids were automatically charged, guests and seating charts stayed synced, and every bidder was tagged for personalized follow-up. The system provided real-time visibility into RSVPs, volunteer coverage, and auction progress — all in one place.
“The best part is I can duplicate my campaign this year and make edits fast.”
What used to take days of coordination and cleanup became a seamless, data-driven process.
Photo credit: FramePerfect Media | Professional Marketing Videos
After the Event: Results and Repeatable Success
By the end of the night, Build With Us had surpassed its goal by 221 percent. Giveffect made teamwork easier, data cleaner, and growth sustainable.
Results at a glance:
- 221% of the fundraising goal achieved
- Three-person team managed the campaign end-to-end
- Volunteers, donors, tickets, and auction data unified in Giveffect
- No manual reconciliation between the auction and CRM
- A repeatable model ready for next year
The success of Build With Us became a model for how Habitat SLO approaches collaboration. The same connected approach now drives other priorities, including a relaunched Home Preservation program for seniors and veterans, expanded ReStore partnerships, and a new community maker workshop that turns unused space into opportunity.
“Once you build the system, you can keep it going for years.”
The Takeaway
When Habitat SLO stopped working in silos and started working in sync, everything changed. Giveffect didn’t just simplify their systems; it united their team, strengthened their data, and turned a community celebration into a record-breaking campaign.
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