{"id":4678,"date":"2023-05-08T17:05:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T17:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1195505-4214693.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4678"},"modified":"2024-01-22T17:25:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T17:25:21","slug":"habitat-for-humanity-western-region-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.giveffect.com\/habitat-for-humanity-western-region-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Habitat for Humanity Western Region Conference: Highlights & Takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cHabitat for Humanity is a movement,\u201d stated Natosha Reid Rice, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Habitat for Humanity International, during her keynote panel on Day 1 of the Habitat for Humanity Western Region conference<\/a> in Portland, Oregon. And we couldn\u2019t agree more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Habitat for Humanity’s Mission Goes Beyond Building Homes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Habitat for Humanity is more than just an organization focused on building affordable housing. It is a global nonprofit organization driven to help people in need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Habitat for Humanity model of building homes in partnership with families and volunteers is based on the idea of “a hand up, not a handout.” This empowers families to break the cycle of poverty and build a better future for themselves. And therefore, this year\u2019s conference theme, \u201cUnlocking the Future: Building with Courage and Compassion,\u201d was ever so timely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habitat for Humanity inspires millions worldwide to join the cause and has become a symbol of hope and dignity for those in need. Its impact is felt in the number of homes built and the lives transformed by the organization’s work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habitat for Humanity has a grassroots approach that involves local communities, volunteers, and partners working together to address housing issues, making it more of a social movement than just a charity organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights from Habitat for Humanity’s Western Region Conference<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Attending Habitat for Humanity’s Western Region Conference in Portland was an incredible experience that left a lasting impact on us. The conference, which brought together about 500 Habitat for Humanity staff, volunteers, and partner organizations, was an opportunity to learn and share the latest trends, best practices, and challenges in affordable housing, community development, fundraising and volunteering with a focus on the Western United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference was packed with inspiring stories, informative workshops, and engaging conversations, from the opening keynote to state receptions and the closing plenary. We heard from Habitat for Humanity leaders who shared their vision and strategy for building more homes, empowering more families, and creating more sustainable communities. We also learned from housing policy, social justice, and community organizing experts who challenged us to think critically about the root causes of poverty, inequality, and displacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the conference’s highlights was meeting and networking with Habitat for Humanity volunteers and staff from many Affiliates. We exchanged ideas, shared success stories, learned from each other’s experiences and discussed the benefits of all-in-one nonprofit software<\/a>. It was inspiring to see the dedication, passion, and creativity of so many people who are committed to making a difference in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Three Key Takeaways and Thought Starters for Continued Conversations:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. The Importance of Grants in Fundraising for Habitat for Humanity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many Habitat Affiliates rely on nonprofit grants<\/a> for a substantial amount of funding. Tracking grants is a crucial aspect of the grant application process. Spreadsheets can become unwieldy and difficult to manage as a nonprofit’s grant portfolio grows. Selecting the right technology rather than relying on spreadsheets can make a world of difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Giveffect, for example, you can store all grant-related information in a centralized database. This can include grant application deadlines, funder information, grant applications, progress tracking reports, description of grants, award details and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When applying for Grants (or for reporting on grants), often an organization needs to provide data such as the number of volunteer hours served, the number of clients served, and fundraising data. The Grant manager in many Affiliates must request this information from colleagues and must wait for the data to be shared. However, with Giveffect, the Grant Manager can access this information directly, eliminating the need to wait on a busy colleague or the added time of back-and-forth emails or meetings to obtain this data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Having a single source of truth can streamline grant management<\/a>, increase efficiency, and reduce the risk of errors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, because Giveffect is an all-in-one nonprofit software solution, you can automatically send reminders and notifications for upcoming deadlines, follow-up actions, and other important dates. Additionally, Giveffect facilitates collaboration among team members. For example, team members can assign tasks to one another, leave comments, and share files related to the grant application. This helps ensure that nothing falls through the cracks and that deadlines are met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Major Donors & Major Gifts – Key to Fundraising Success<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After grants, major gifts are one of the top funding sources for many Affiliates. The idea of a major gift might seem overwhelming if your Affiliate doesn\u2019t have a major gifts program or a dedicated team member. However, the amount of what can be considered a major gift varies by the Affiliate or nonprofit organization. It\u2019s common for major donors to start with a gift of $150-250. So chances are, you have potential major donors in your database; you just don’t know it yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what\u2019s so interesting about major donors is that your Affiliate likely already has major donors or potential major donors in your supporter database. You may just need to identify them and continue to cultivate the relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get started with a major gifts program, you must first define what a major gift is for your Affiliate. Danielle Lloyd, Director of Resource Development Expertise Hub of Habitat for Humanity International, shared her formula during a workshop at the Conference: <\/p>\n\n\n\n