How does Women Build work?
As a community of 550+ women strong, we will work together to accomplish two incredible goals:
1. Raise $475,000 to help fund the construction of Habitat homes that will be owned by women.
2. Advance construction of multiple Habitat Chicago homes that will be woman-owned.
Women Build 2022 till take place over ten days throughout the month of October:
Wednesday, October 5th - Saturday, October 8th
Thursday, October 13th - Saturday, October 15th
Thursday, October 20th - Saturday, October 22nd
Each Women Builder commits to building for one full day of the event and raising at least $450, earning prizes along the way.
Women Build 2022 will take place over ten days throughout the month of October:
Wednesday, October 5th - Saturday, October 8th
Thursday, October 13th - Saturday, October 15th
Thursday, October 20th - Saturday, October 22nd
What does a Women Build volunteer day entail?
Fun, hands-on, hard work!
Build site activities can include anything it takes to build a home from start to finish. Some typical volunteer activities include: framing, siding, painting, roofing, laying flooring, hanging doors or windows, trim work, landscaping and cleaning. All of it is critical to a finished home and a healthier, more stable family.
Here's an overview of the day:
7:30am: Registration
8:00am: Construction
11:30am: Lunch (provided by Habitat Chicago)
12:30pm: Construction
2:30pm: Clean up
3:00pm: Wrap up and Departure
Toilets and first aid will be on-site at all times; to avoid the spread of COVID-19, we will not have communal hydration stations on-site; all volunteers must come equipped with their own hydration beverages (read more in our COVID-19 Considerations FAQ below). You will work in project teams under the supervision of our construction leadership. During lunch, you will have the opportunity to learn more about Habitat Chicago and spend time talking with your crew. After lunch, you will return to a work to finish out the day.
We'll begin wrapping up before 3pm and send you home with some worked muscles and happy memories!
How can I participate in Women Build?
There are two ways women can participate:
1. As a Team Leader. Each Team Leader:
•Attends the Team Leader Kickoff on June 29th.
•Recruits 9 women to join her team to hit these same commitments; the entire team has a minimum fundraising goal of $8,000
•Commits to building one day of the event with her team
•Motivates her team members and ensures they have a whole lot of fun every step of the way
•Coordinates with her team to get everyone registered and ready to build
2. As an Individual Builder. Each Individual Builder:
•Joins a team with open spots (we will get you matched up with a Team on your preferred date, dependent upon availability).
•Commits to fundraising at least $450 and building one day of the event
How do I register to participate in Women Build?
Team Leader spots are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority being given to previous Team Leaders. If you are interested in becoming a Team Leader, please contact us at
events@habitatchicago.org.
If you are interested in participating as an individual builder, registration will open in July. Until then, you can contact us at
events@habitatchicago.org to learn more and add your name to our interest list. We will then remind you (via email) when individual registration is open.
What if the day I want to build is full?
All build days are first come, first served. Volunteer days fill quickly, so the sooner you
register, the better!
Where is Women Build held?
Women Build 2022 will take place on the Habitat Chicago build sites. The exact build site address will be sent to participants before the event.
Do I need construction experience to participate?
No, we encourage everyone from professionals to novices to come build with us. There are a variety of jobs perfect for every level of skill. Trained Habitat Chicago Crew Leaders provide on-site training and all-day guidance, as well as the tools and materials needed to complete the tasks at hand.
Do I need to bring my own tools?
Nope! We'll provide all the construction tools and materials on-site. Some people choose to bring their own tool belt or gloves for comfort, but please be sure to clearly label any personal tools/equipment you bring to the build site.
What should I wear to the build site?
You're dressing for an active construction site!
Volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and long pants, while avoiding loose clothing and jewelry. We recommend clothes you don't mind getting dirty and layering for the weather as many tasks will be outside.
We will be distributing Women Build t-shirts at check-in, so come ready to change.
For 2022, face masks will be required upon arrival to the build site.
How old do I have to be to volunteer at Women Build?
You must be at least 16 years of age to volunteer on our build site. Anyone under 18 must bring a guardian-signed-waiver with them to the build site and be accompanied by a chaperone with a ratio of at least 1 chaperone for every 4 youths. All chaperones must be at least 21 years of age.
Does Habitat Chicago provide transportation to the build site?
No, we'll meet you there!
There is free street parking near the build sites, but given the size of Women Build, we encourage carpooling or using a ride share with other volunteers, as well as utilizing public transportation if you live close by.
COVID-19 Considerations and Volunteer Agreements
COVID-19 Volunteer Agreement In order to keep all our volunteers and team members safe, we are asking that all volunteers abide by our COVID-19 Volunteer Agreement. You can read the full text
here and will agree to this document through your registration process. If you do not agree, you will not be able to volunteer with us.
If you need more information about the volunteer agreement and its requirements, please reach out to
volunteer@habitatchicago.org.
How do I make a donation to a particular Women Build participant?
You can make a donation to a particular Women Build participant 1 of 2 ways.
1. Go to the
Donate page and search for your Women Builder's name.
2. Search for your Women Builder on the
"Find an Individual" page. Once you've located your Women Builder, go to her page and click the big "Donate" button.
How do I make a donation to a particular Women Build team?
You can make a donation to a particular Women Build team 1 of 2 ways.
1. Go to the
Donate page and search for your Women Builder's name.
2. Search for your Women Build team on the "
Find a Team" page. Once you've located your Women Build team, go to the team page and click the big "Donate" button.
Oops! I made my donation to the wrong place! What do I do?
Email
events@habitatchicago.org and let us know that you need your gift re-allocated.
Please include:
- Your name
- The date you made the donation
- The donation amount
- Where you want the donation to go (name of the individual or team you want to support)
How do I make a donation via check?
All checks should be mailed to:
Habitat for Humanity Chicago
ATTN: WOMEN BUILD
1100 W Cermak Rd., Ste. 404
Chicago, IL 60608
Please make all checks payable to: Habitat for Humanity Chicago.
In the memo line or on an enclosed note, please indicate that your donation is for Women Build and list the name of the Women Build participant or Women Build team that you are supporting.
You can expect an offline donation to appear on your Women Builder's page within 7-10 days of receipt. If you do not see your donation, please contact us at
events@habitatchicago.org.
How quickly can I expect an online donation to post to a participant's fundraising page?
Any donation made online should post immediately. If an online donation does not post within 5 minutes, please contact us at
events@habitatchicago.org.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Habitat for Humanity Chicago is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All monetary donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Habitat for Humanity Chicago's Tax ID (EIN) number is 46-0494889.
Will I receive a tax receipt for my donation?
Yes.
If you made your donation online and provided an email address, you will receive a receipt via email.
If you made your donation offline (i.e. mailed a check), you will receive a letter in the mail once the donation has been processed.
What is Habitat for Humanity Chicago's Tax ID (EIN) number?
A Tax ID number identifies Habitat for Humanity Chicago as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Habitat for Humanity Chicago's Tax ID number is 46-0494889.
How do I set up a matching gift from my company?
How much do I have to raise to participate in Women Build? What happens if I do not meet my goal?
Each Women Builder commits to raising at least $450 to hit our overall Women Build goal of $475,000. Each Women Build team has a shared goal of $8,000. If an individual Women Builder does not hit her goal, she may forfeit her eligibility to participate in future Women Build events.
This may seem like a lot now, but give it an honest effort and you'll be surprised at how easy it is to reach that goal! Make a genuine appeal to your friends, family and coworkers - they'll most likely be thrilled to support your build (people really like supporting people that they like)!
If you truly feel that you will not be able to reach your $450 minimum, work with your Team Leader or
Habitat Chicago staff to see what your options are.
A 4% fee per online donation goes to payment processing (which donors are given the opportunity to cover or not cover); the rest goes to home construction for women-led households, covering things like cement work, lumber, insulation, finishes, landscaping, tools, and other construction costs.
How do I edit and manage my personal fundraising page? What are the resources available to me?
Visit our
Fundraising Resources page to learn the ins and outs of using https://my.habitatchicago.org/WomenBuild2022, as well as other resources available to you such as best practices and group fundraising ideas.
I'm a Team Leader! Where do I start? How do I manage my team page?
What should I do if a check is written out to me personally?
If a check has been written out to you personally, you may endorse the back of the check and mail it in with a
completed donation form to Habitat for Humanity Chicago at:
111 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 2130
Chicago, IL 60604
Can I mail in a cash donation?
It is not a good idea to send a cash donation in the mail. Please
contact us to drop off the cash at our office during business hours:
Habitat for Humanity Chicago
111 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 2130
Chicago, IL 60604
Can I enter a check online?
You can enter a check as a pledge online. You can do this from the fundraising section of your fundraiser dashboard when you are logged in by entering an offline donation.
After entering online, send or deliver the check to the Habitat for Humanity Chicago office as soon as possible. Once Habitat for Humanity Chicago receives the check, we will process it and change the donation status from pending to received. Once the donation status is updated to received, you will see it credited towards your fundraising goal.
Checks should be made out to Habitat for Humanity Chicago and mailed to:
Habitat for Humanity Chicago
111 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 2130
Chicago, IL 60604
Please include a note that says Women Build 2022 and the name of the fundraiser to whom the donation should be credited.
How quickly can I expect an online (credit card) donation posted to my page?
Any donation made online should post immediately. If your donation does not post within 5 minutes,
please contact us.
A donor is requesting a Tax ID number. What is that and how do I get it?
A Tax ID number identifies Habitat for Humanity Chicago as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Many donors will request this number to validate their donation as tax-deductible. The Habitat for Humanity Chicago Tax ID number is 46-0494889.
Where can I find a list of the people who have donated to my page?
Why am I receiving emails telling me that I've received a donation? Or why am I NOT receiving these emails?
You are receiving these emails so you can stay up to date on your fundraising progress and to be able to thank your donors in a timely manner. The default setting in your account preferences is to receive all emails, but you can modify your notifications as you wish. Please log in to your headquarters at https://my.habitatchicago.org/WomenBuild2022/Dashboard and edit your account preferences.
If you are not receiving these email updates by default, check your junk folder and be sure to mark
events@habitatchicago.org as a known sender. If they are not in your junk, you might have disabled notifications on a previous fundraising campaign. To update your settings, log in to your headquarters and edit your account preferences.
