Dear Friends,
Thanks to your support, 2023 was a successful and meaningful year for Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region (Habitat GTR). You can read about our 2023 builds and the families we brought to homeownership on pages 8 & 9. In addition to these achievements, we also had significant administrative restructuring to work more closely and cultivate more meaningful relationships with our supporters and make everyone involved with Habitat GTR a family. You are a part of that family.
Starting July 1, 2024, there are big changes coming to the agreement between Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and all US Habitat affiliates. Until now, Habitat GTR paid a license fee to HFHI but our fund raising efforts were completely separate. Some of you may have been confused because there were two different Habitat organization sending fund-raising letters. Previously, donations made to HFHI were not shared with our local affiliate. Similarly, donations made to Habitat GTR were not shared with HFHI. We each maintained our own client records.
Under the new agreement, Habitat GTR and HFHI will share data and HFHI will be the only source of direct fund-raising letters and emails. Habitat GTR will receive 42% of all the funds raised by HFHI in our region. While you will no longer receive fund-raising mail from Habitat GTR, you will still receive all our usual communications, including this annual report, our email newsletter, and invitations to local fund raising events, groundbreakings and home dedications.
Although HFHI will share 42% of the funds they raise through direct marketing, Habitat Grand Traverse Region is not required to share any funds or donations made directly to our organization. All donations made on our website, mailed directly to our local address, or raised at our various events will stay local to serve our community. Any bequests or designations made directly to Habitat GTR will also stay here. As always, the ReStore will serve our community and generate income exclusively for our affiliate.
This is a good change. Now, our efforts and resources will go entirely to nurturing relationships. Supporters who want to assure their donations stay in our area will still be free to donate directly to Habitat Grand Traverse Region.
Regardless of our affiliate agreement, we will be the same Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region, building homes, changing lives, and supporting our local community.
Wendy Irvin
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region