In 37 years of building homes and hope in our community, our affiliate has provided just over $1 million of support to partner affiliates in Nicaragua and Haiti through their tithe program.
As of April 2021, only 42 affiliates across the country had reached this milestone and only 4 (including HMC) had surpassed $500,000 in tithing. No other affiliates in the state of Illinois had achieved the $1 million mark.
Tithing is one of the cornerstones of Habitat. From the time the affiliate was established in 1986, Habitat McLean County has tithed 10% of any undesignated or unrestricted contributions to fund the international work of Habitat, creating a cycle of generosity and partnership. The practice of tithing among affiliates has its roots in 1979, when Habitat co-founder Millard Fuller and wife Linda dedicated houses in the village of Ntondo, Democratic Republic of Congo. During the dedication, the local Habitat organization took up a collection and shared half to be used to start another Habitat program. That tithe started a Habitat organization in Guatemala. From this one small gift, Habitat’s entire tithe program grew.
In addition to building shelter, international programs funded by Habitat McLean County tithing include economic recovery for vulnerable groups, support for women entrepreneurs, disaster preparedness and relief, and water and sanitation projects.
Every Habitat McLean County contribution that is designated for a specific build or program, or to stay in McLean County does so. We only tithe on undesignated or unrestricted donations.
