I chose to write about Habitat for Humanity. The Christian-based organization’s mission statement is, “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.” (Habitat.org) As a nonprofit organization, volunteers as well as paid staff are called upon to help spread God’s word through the act of giving and Habitat for Humanity is one of the best in the world at it.

As for our chapter readings, the three concepts that stuck out to me the most that would benefit Habitat for Humanity would be outcome, brand, and volunteerism.

Worth defines an outcome as “socially meaningful changes for those served by a program generally defined in terms of expected changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes, behavior, condition, or status.” (Worth, p. 139). Completed, the changes breed outcomes and a sense of accountability that yes, things have changed for that person and/or group of people that the organization was looking to help.

On its website, Habitat for Humanity includes what outcome they hope to have within its mission page. “Our ministry was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent place to live in dignity and safety.” They simply want people to have a place to live. It doesn’t have to have five or six bedrooms with five or six bathrooms, but just a place to live that they can be proud to call home and keep them safe. This is ultimately an outcome Habitat wants to reach.

Second, it seems that brand would be a great fit for Habitat for Humanity because if an organization is supposed to sustain itself globally, it needs to be recognizable. “a name, term, sign, symbol, design, or a combination of these that is intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and differentiate them from those of competitors.” (Worth, p. 249).

Habitat’s logo is extremely recognizable worldwide. It includes three people with their arms up giving the sense of excitement underneath a line that represents a roof of a house, which is the premise behind Habitat. The logo is extremely colorful and gives off a feel of energy and excitement and completely separates itself from any potential competitors or other volunteer entities throughout the world. If people recognize a company’s logo, they must be doing something right.

Finally, I chose volunteers for the third concept, but it is probably one of the most important concepts discussed in the entire textbook. Habitat for Humanity builds houses for people who are less fortunate and aren’t able to provide a home for themselves and volunteers build those houses. Sure, there are paid members that run executive boards and payroll accounts, but volunteers get the so-called dirty work completed in the work field.

On page 222, Worth discusses that there are different motivation factors for volunteers and that some may do it because they genuinely love to help others and other volunteers may do it because of outside motives such as a public relations article for their group. Regardless of what their motivation factors are, volunteers are a necessity for Habitat for Humanity to fulfill its mission statement.

God wants us to love and serve one another. 1 John 3:16-18 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (NIV)

There are many verses in the Bible that tell us we should help and love each other, but this one from John shows us that actions can speak louder than words. What is better than showing somebody you love them by doing something that can change their lives for the better.

The Holy Bible, New International Version (2014).

Worth, M. (2014). Nonprofit Management: Principles and Practice, 3rd Edition. Sage Publications, Inc. Los Angeles, CA

OUTCOMES page 139

BRAND 249