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Building Better Lives with Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity, which started as a grassroots effort on a community farm in Southern Georgia, now works in communities across all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries. The organization’s astounding growth is due in part to its focused mission: help people (29 million to date) obtain a safe place to sleep at night and the stability and self-reliance to build better lives. 

Colleen Finn Ridenhour, Chief Development Officer at Habitat for Humanity International, joined Purpose 360 to discuss the organization’s evolution and ongoing innovation. Listen for Colleen’s insights on:

  • Balancing very different needs in communities around the world, without losing focus on Habitat’s mission
  • How Habitat’s model integrates robust and meaningful employee volunteerism opportunities, and how corporates can supercharge efforts
  • How corporations can leverage their partnerships with NGOs, including Habitat. 
  • How Habitat built an ecosystem around its core home-building model, including its retails ReStores to generate revenue

Links & Notes

  • (00:00) – Welcome to Cause Talk Radio
  • (00:50) – Habitat for Humanity International
  • (01:59) – By The Numbers
  • (02:48) – Colleen Finn Ridenhour
  • (05:58) – Habitat’s evolutions
  • (09:34) – Employee engagement and team-building experiences
  • (14:24) – Great communicators
  • (16:46) – ReStores
  • (21:29) – Defining objectives
  • (25:44) – Measurement
  • (29:30) – The Habitat ecosystem
  • (38:52) – The Carters
  • (41:30) – Three Insights
  • (44:06) – The B2B Purpose Paradox
  • (47:35) – The Affordable Housing Crisis

Business is an unlikely hero: a force for good working to solve society’s most pressing challenges, while boosting bottom line. This is social purpose at work. And it’s a dynamic journey.

Purpose 360 is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of social purpose to ignite business and social impact. We illuminate the growing impacts of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share.

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