Each year, hundreds of corporate groups, houses of worship, nonprofits, alumni groups, and schools participate in Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston's Build-A-Thon Challenge. Each group of 5-12 people spends a full day building at one of our construction sites. Group volunteering can be a great team-building exercise and it provides an essential service to our construction staff and our homeowners.

Donations

To help cover construction costs, we ask that groups do some grassroots fundraising before their build day -- we ask corporate groups for a minimum donation of $2000 for a weekday build and $3000 for a weekend day, and we ask that school groups, religious groups, and nonprofits contribute $750 for a build day. Many groups have raised thousands of dollars in the past and our online donation system can make it very easy.  Please contact us if you would like help.  The funds that you raise will go to purchasing the supplies needed for your build day.

Of course, we also welcome larger donations. If your group or organization would be interested in making a more substantial commitment to Habitat Greater Boston, there are many sponsorship opportunities available.

Getting Started

Organizing a group build day is easy and rewarding.

• Recruit your group: our smaller sites require groups of 5-8 volunteers; our larger sites require 8-12 volunteers.

• Pick a group captain and have that person sign up for an orientation session. Email volunteers@habitatboston.org if you can't find an orientation date that falls before your desired build day.  If someone in your group has built with Habitat Greater Boston before, there is no need to attend an orientation.

• Pick a site, pick a day: visit our online calendars and find a day that works for everyone in your group. Groups of 5-8 should try to schedule builds at Newton, groups of 8-12 should look at Blue Hill Place.

• Download, fill out, and fax in a Group Registration Form to (617) 423-1044. Your group captain will receive an email confirmation within a few days.

• Start fundraising! Please make sure we receive your donation a week before your build day.

• Pledges: Team members may use a pledge sheet to obtain sponsors from friends, co-workers, relatives, etc. If you work at a corporation, check to see if your company matches funds. Many companies will contribute the entire amount or match funds for every dollar that you raise (or for every hour that you do community service work). Talk to your company's Human Resources Department to see how they can help. All donations are tax deductible and all donors will receive a receipt.
• Fundraisers: Consider sponsoring a bake sale after your church services or a special event to raise funds.

• A week before your build day, your group captain will receive a reminder email with details about your build day, and will distribute Waiver of Liability Forms to everyone in your group. Volunteers should fill out the waivers and bring them to the site. You or your group captain may also want to review our list of Things to Remember.

Group of volunteers from MassHousing on June 2, 2004 at Blue Hill Place in Dorchester