Cortnie Edwards
MGT/330
December 19, 2011
Alecia Cummings
Management and Leadership
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. The couple had a dream of following their Christian lifestyle and helping others in need. They wanted to help families living in poverty and build new homes. The idea was they would build housed with no profit and charge no interest. “The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian farming community founded in 1942 outside of Americus, Ga., by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan. Building would be financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity. The fund 's money would come from the new homeowners ' house payments, donations and no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses” ("Thrivent Builds With Habitat For Humanity ", 2011). The organization took off with unbelievable results. The Fullers took their organization internationally and have now since built over 400,000 homes.
Leading and managing an organization such as Habitat for Humanity involves a multitude of diverse ideas, visions, and people. “What is the difference between management and leadership? It is a question that has been asked more than once and also answered in different ways. The biggest difference between managers and leaders is the way they motivate the people who work or follow them, and this sets the tone for most other aspects of what they do” ("Leadership Vs. Management", 2002-2011). Habitat for Humanity starts with the board of directors. Habitat for Humanity International board members oversee the direction of Habitat’s activities worldwide as the organization works to eradicate substandard housing. Directors are elected to two-year terms that may be renewed four times. They receive no compensation for their
References: Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.thriventbuilds.com/partnership/habitat/history.html Leadership vs. Management. (2002-2011). Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/articles/manager_leader.htm Alertnet. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.trust.org/alertnet/jobs/2011-08-26-1458/ http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Strategies-That-Organizational-Managers-and-Leaders-Can-Use-to-Create-and-Maintain-a-Healthy/997166