Team-Building Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in team volunteering and building a partnership with Fox Valley Habitat. A partnership with Habitat for Humanity can give your business or organization a way to enunciate your social responsibility strategy clearly and concisely – helping build a world where everyone has a decent place to live, as well as creating a meaningful relationship with the impact, history and brand value of Habitat for Humanity and make your business stand out to your consumers, vendors, peers, and business partners, and organizations stand out within your community. 

The benefits of taking employees outside the walls of the office and into the volunteer space for team building days can increase personal confidence and confidence in their colleague’s abilities. Increasing confidence will give your workforce the inner courage to express new ideas and depend on others within the group to be able to complete tasks that are necessary to make a company successful. Research has shown that employees prefer to work for companies invested in charitable causes in the communities in which they work and live and volunteering is a terrific way to facilitate that need at a relatively low sponsorship cost. Team building opportunities can be beneficial to any group looking to strengthen and grow, while making an investment in their community.

Why team build with Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity?

• Learn about your employees on a more personal level.
• Assist in projects that provide a better future for other individuals and create a more stable environment for those in need.
• Provide a deeper connection to the community around you.
• Invest time in your employees with meaningful work that will have an impact on them and the people they help.
• Share an experience that you can take back to the office. Employees return to the workplace motivated, connected, and inspired.

Whether this is your first volunteer event, or you are seasoned pros, Fox Valley Habitat provides a fun, easy, and engaging experience for all involved and we would be honored to work side-by-side with your team. We supply the tools, materials, safety gear, and the instructions to make your day productive, enjoyable, and safe- you just provide a tax-deductible donation and the enthusiasm!

What is involved & How to Schedule a Team Build Day

Please note that we are scheduling Team Build opportunities November/December.

• One member of your team will need to be assigned as the team leader to handle all communication with our Volunteer Coordinator, Julie Clark. Once the team leader’s contact information is received, Julie will provide available dates and work with them to schedule a build day. 
• Build days are scheduled Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00am-12:00pm, with one shift per day.
• Throughout the various construction phases, the team may work on projects such as installing/building exterior walls (BuildBlock Building System), installing siding, interior framing, installing drywall, interior painting, landscaping, and other related tasks. No prior construction experience is required to participate. Our construction team will instruct and guide everyone through each step and no one will be expected to participate in any activity they are not comfortable doing. 
• Each team is required to contribute a tax-deductible donation of $2,500 per build day. The financial contribution helps to offset the construction costs of preparation and materials the team will need for a successful build day.
  • Once a date is confirmed, Julie will send the information for submitting the payment to secure your selected date- A prompt payment is crucial, as build dates are only secured after payment is completed.
  • After confirmation of payment, details on how to register and sign up for the build day will be shared with the team leader to distribute to the rest of the team. All team members must register/sign e-waiver in order to participate- no exceptions.
• A maximum of 10 people can be accommodated on each construction site (home) per day. Per our insurance policy, we are unable to make any exceptions to this rule. Ensuring the safety of our staff and volunteers is our top priority!
  • If more than 10 individuals are interested in participating, additional or consecutive build days may be an option, with each day also requiring $2,500. Please Note: If multiple homes are under construction at the same time, and if there are enough projects available to work on at the time of your build day, it may be possible to arrange for more than one group to work per day, with the contribution for each group remaining the same. Our Construction Supervisor must review and approve this option before we can confirm any build dates.

Your Build Day

• On your build day, our construction team will welcome you, followed by a safety briefing and an overview of the day’s tasks. After we capture a group photo, it will be time to dive in! Our experienced construction team will be there to support and guide your team throughout the day.
• Please feel free to bring a company sign or banner for photos during the event.
• Every team member will receive a Fox Valley Habitat volunteer t-shirt- We love capturing photos while everyone is wearing the shirts! We like to end our day by capturing a few more photos, fondly referred to as “sweaty selfies”, to commemorate the team’s hard work in making the dream of homeownership one step closer for a local family.
• All teams will receive a shout-out across the FVHH social media platforms along with photos of the team taken during the build day.
• Your company/organization logo will be featured on our website and other promotional materials that we utilize, as well as in the dedication program for the home you worked on.Everyone is invited to attend the dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of the home, alongside the homeowners and fellow volunteers who participated in building it. You will also have the opportunity to share your experience during the dedication ceremony.
• Water and snacks will be provided. You are welcome to arrange for lunch to be delivered for the team. 

Scheduling Work for Build Sites: Preparing for the Unexpected

When it comes to scheduling or working on build sites, it’s important to prepare for unexpected circumstances. Delays can arise due to factors like city permits, inspections, subcontractor availability, and the unpredictable Midwest weather. While we strive to prevent cancellations, they may happen on occasion. If unforeseen circumstances arise, we will inform team leaders promptly, however, some situations may require short notice and are beyond our control. While donations are non-refundable, if an unavoidable cancellation occurs, we will make every effort to reschedule your team as soon as possible.

When registering on our volunteer website, we ask all team members to provide their cell phone number and adjust their email settings to receive notifications from our volunteer website and emails from our Volunteer Coordinator, Julie Clark. This will ensure everyone stays informed about any new updates.

If you need further information, have questions, or are ready to initiate the process of scheduling a build day, please reach out to Volunteer Coordinator, Julie Clark, at j.clark@foxvalleyhabitat.org