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FAQs

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Q: What is Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity?
A: Thrivent Builds is a financial, volunteer and advocacy partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans® and Habitat for Humanity® International. The multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership includes three programs under the Thrivent Builds umbrella:
  • Thrivent Builds Homes: Thrivent Financial will sponsor the construction of hundreds of Habitat homes annually and seek to engage thousands of volunteers in Habitat home-building projects. A significant portion of the funding for each Thrivent Builds home will come from Thrivent Financial with the remaining funding coming from the continuing fund-raising efforts of local Thrivent chapters and Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
  • Thrivent Builds Repairs: Thrivent Financial members and other volunteers will partner with local Habitat affiliates around the country to complete simple one- or two-day projects to improve existing owner-occupied homes. A significant portion of the project funding will come from Thrivent Financial.
  • Thrivent Builds Worldwide: Thrivent Financial will promote short-term (one- to three-week) trips in by its members and Lutheran congregations to build homes abroad.
Q: Why did Thrivent Financial and Habitat form this partnership?
A: Participating in this partnership makes sense for both organizations. As a faith-based membership organization, Thrivent Financial’s mission is to care for others. Similarly, Habitat seeks to work with organizations that share its values and want to help eliminate poverty housing. A home is the biggest financial asset most families own and a key ingredient to achieving economic independence. Providing decent, affordable housing is a demonstration of the organizations’ values.
Q: Is this the first time Thrivent Financial has worked with Habitat?
A: No, but the partnership significantly expands Thrivent Financial's strong relationship with Habitat for Humanity. From 1991-2005, Thrivent Financial and its members worked with Habitat to build more than 500 homes, raise more than $25 million and contribute more than 1.4 million volunteer hours in homebuilding time. In the seven years between 2005 and 2012, more than 3,000 homes have been built or renovated with the contribution of over 3.4 million volunteer hours and the support of Thrivent Financial's funding commitment exceeding $180 million.
Q: How is the partnership funded?
A: It is funded through a mix of sources: Thrivent Financial provides a significant portion of the funding needed for each of the Habitat for Humanity homes it sponsors, with remaining funding generated locally by Thrivent chapters (member-volunteer groups), Habitat affiliates and other volunteers from the community.
Q: How do these houses differ from typical Habitat for Humanity houses?
A: From a homebuilding perspective, there is no difference. Thrivent Builds homes are built like any Habitat for Humanity home but with a greater focus on assistance from local Thrivent Financial members and Lutheran congregations. Those groups and other volunteers from the community will come together to build simple, decent homes. The homes are then sold to partner families at no profit. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into helping build their home and the homes of others.

The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.
Q: Who will live in Thrivent Builds homes?
A: Families in need of decent shelter will apply to their local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. The affiliate chooses homeowners based on their level of need, willingness to become partners in the program and ability to repay a no-profit loan for the cost of the home. Habitat follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection.
Q: In what ways can I get involved in Thrivent Builds Homes?
A: You can share your time and talents in a number of ways:
  • Prayer.
  • General office help.
  • Greeting volunteers on the build site.
  • Preparing meals.
  • Assisting with publicity.
  • Coordinating events with interested people.
  • Donations.
  • Spreading the word to friends and family.
  • Organizing or participating in fund-raisers.
  • Recruiting (helping recruit or share information with interested people).
  • Advocacy within your community.
Q: When will a build come to my community?
A: Visit the Build Locations page to find a Thrivent Builds Homes build nearest you and to sign up for a volunteer interest list.