TEAM BUILDS: AN INTRODUCTION

“I was on our build site in West Pullman one day when a young man who lived in the neighborhood walked by and stopped to watch the volunteers at work building the homes. After a while, he said, ‘There is nothing new ever built here.’ And then with absolute genuineness, he said, ‘This is exciting.’” - Jen Parks, Executive Director

Team build days matter. They send a clear visual message that there is value in the community. And when residents perceive their neighborhood as investment-worthy, that’s when real change begins.

Whether you have a team of four or forty, you can let your fellow Chicagoans know that their well-being, health and happiness matter, too.

Build Day at a Glance

There’s absolutely no construction experience required to volunteer. Your team will work directly with our Habitat construction crew for the duration of your build day.

Depending on what phase of construction we’re in, volunteer activities can include: framing, siding, painting, roofing, laying flooring, hanging doors or windows, trim work, finishing, landscaping and cleaning. Every task is critical to a finished home!  

Team Builds take place in one of our focus neighborhoods (West Pullman or Greater Grand Crossing) on the South Side of Chicago.

All build days run from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. To maintain our construction schedule and get our families moved in as quickly as possible, teams are required to participate for the full day.  

We typically have two to six houses under construction at a given time. Depending on where we are in our construction schedule, team sizes can range from 5 - 40+ volunteers.

We need the help of volunteers year round and typically build on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. However, if you have a specific date requirement, let us know! We will do our best to make it work.

Groups are responsible for providing their own lunch as well as transportation to and from the build site. We have plenty of recommendations for both, which we’ll provide once we’ve scheduled your day.

Financial Commitment

Corporate donations and team fundraisers are the foundation of our mission’s sustainability.

The average cost of tools, materials, and construction leadership for one day of building with 15-20 volunteers is $5,000. 

Corporate groups often cover this cost through a company donation or by asking employees to take on fundraising as a team. For the latter, we offer an easy-to-use online fundraising tool that makes hitting team goals quick and easy.

The exact amount is determined based on the size of your group and our construction schedule (typically, our rates decrease in the winter months as our work moves indoors). 

In addition to the team-building experience of giving back to your Chicago community, your donation includes some additional perks, such as a designated logistics coordinator, use of the Habitat Chicago logo, access to our Communications Kits, and social media promotion.

Though our build days follow a certain structure and process, we are more than happy to customize your group experience. The result is always the same: your team has an enjoyable, productive day getting their hands dirty, and together, we build a stronger Chicago. 