15 Lessons Learned (in 15, OK 20 years) Mark Lassman-Eul CB ODC Springfield, MO

Where These Lessons Come From: O 230,000 miles driven, so far O Over 400,000 miles flown O At least 400 affiliates visited O A lot of time alone and in cars O Talks with thousands of Habitat people O My own imagination, no matter how flawed O The Internet- so it MUST be true!

Lesson 15: I Might Be Wrong Is It Possible to Think One is Really, Really Good at Humility? Can You Be Proud of Your Humbleness?

Only Have 3 (Three, III) BIG IDEAS O Good Affiliates Have Vision, Imagination, and a Plan O Good Affiliates Have Good Board Members and they use them properly O Great Affiliates are Community Owned

Good Affiliates Have Vision, Imagination, and a Plan Four of the Fifteen Lessons Apply

Lesson I: You Can Only Build What You Can Imagine O Without a vision, the people perish… O If you think you can, you can; if you think you can’t, you can’t O Nonprofits have two choices: grow and adapt, or die O You can ALWAYS try to help more people

Plan from your Strengths, not your Weaknesses O Only makes sense to focus on what you know you are good at. O Yes, there is competition, but what makes your organization unique? O No other nonprofit has Habitat’s combo of hands on involvement and immediate results.

Hiring Staff Allows You to Use More Volunteers, Not Less O Don’t be seduced by the belief that all volunteer groups are somehow more “pure” O Staff always means more activity, more projects, more movement therefore, MORE opportunities to help

Houses Are Not Important; They Are Merely Essential O More on this one later- the grand finale! O I bet you can hardly wait?

Good Affiliates Have Good Board Members and they use them properly Board members are asked to do, not just sit. Board members are asked to talk, not just listen. Board members know what they are supposed to do.

You GOTTA Get Past Your Founding Members O Founding Members should be thanked, praised, honored, and replaced. O Affiliates who get to 2 nd generation leadership survive; those that don’t die. O This is true for committees, board, build site as well. The old guy construction crew can’t control the affiliate.

ALL Boards are Working Boards O There is nothing superior about the board of a small, ineffective organization. O At every stage of growth, boards need to know what they are supposed to do. This should be explained, in writing. O Boards should set vision and goals, raise and manage money, and delegate work.

Board Meetings Should Solve Problems and Plan O If your board listens to reports all meeting, what’s the sense of having them there? O Every board should add value to the affiliate, at least solve something, right? O As an affiliate grows, board meetings should be about strategy, plan, money, solving problems. Staff and committees decide the day to day.

Money is Time- Manage Through Policies O There should be safe guards for money management. O There should be policies for delinquencies; should not have to be discussed every time. O Being honest about money troubles and issues saves time in the end.

If You Want to Avoid Crises, Set Clear Expectations O For the board. O For the home buying families O For volunteers. O For employees

GREAT Affiliates are Community Owned The more people that care about your organization, the better off you will be, for now and all time.

Extend Your Reach- Use New People O This is particularly important on the construction site O Don‘t let a few people monopolize the best volunteer jobs O Every person involved is a possible donor and more importantly, connector

Seek Renewable Resources O Individuals give 78% of all the money given in the U.S.- but we chase foundations and businesses O If people give to you because they love what you do, they will give again and again O Small donors, over long periods of time, are large donors

Habitat is NOT an American program O Habitat does better and is more important overseas O You can double your impact, or triple your impact through tithe O If that’s not part of your affiliate program and sales pitch, you are missing out

It’s the Quality of Sweat Equity, Not the Quantity O Everybody obsesses over hours, and that’s the wrong concern O Sweat equity is for pride, skills, and partnership; that’s what we should be striving for O The families are the most important volunteers on any given house

All families are different O Policies are great and I am 110% in favor of them (even though that’s mathematically impossible) O But all families are different. Everybody has their own circumstances O In the end, it’s NOT a Habitat house…

Houses are not important; they are merely essential O Building and repairing houses is WHAT we do O It’s not WHY we do O Faith, family, community, connections, dignity and hope are a few of the WHYs

15 Lessons Learned in 15Years is on My.Habitat Mark Lassman-Eul CB ODC