Leveraging financial gifts with in-kind assistance for increased impact.
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Volunteer your expertise on a shelter-related project
Become a Builder Captain
Through our charitable construction programs, the Home Builders Care Foundation in suburban Maryland and our affiliate HomeAid Washington DC chapter in the District strive to improve the living conditions for homeless and at-risk families and individuals. Our project selection focuses on increasing capacities and improving space at housing facilities and shelters where housing and supportive social services are delivered hand-in-hand.
In the Washington DC metropolitan area, the need to build supportive housing and provide shelter for the homeless is continuous. In May 2011, the annual assessment of homelessness in our region, conducted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments reported a total of 11,988 homeless individuals. Our region requires more resources and greater visibility in helping end homelessness. Home Builders Care (and HomeAid Washington DC) is one such resource that is able to help to improve the lives and living conditions of our neighbors who are homeless or at-risk.
The volunteer Builder Captain is the centerpiece of our program. For each project, we match our non-profit partnering organization with a homebuilder, developer, general contractor or trade partner (“Builder Captain”) who spearheads a project along with an HBCF Board Member. The HBCF Program Manager and the HBCF Board of Directors at large provide further project support. HBCF donations and other project contributions have historically covered most project costs. The Builder Captain is rewarded with a tangible way to give back to the community by volunteering expertise. We need your help.
Basic Builder Captain Responsibilities:
- Help develop and fine-tune the scope of work for the project
- Create, implement and maintain the construction budget
- Help recruit and secure trade partners, suppliers and subcontractors for the project
- Provide a project manager/superintendent to oversee construction
- Help maintain records on trades which include contact information and the dollar value of in-kind donations
- Participate in donor recognition for all the trades and volunteers
Builder Captain Benefits:
Involvement in charity work is a great motivating & teambuilding opportunity for Builder Captains, their staff and trade partners. We understand the time commitment necessary for Builder Captains and deeply value these partnerships. HBCF, the Program Manager, Board of Directors and the specific Board member assigned to the project support and collaborate with the Builder Captain in the following ways:
- We screen prospective shelter projects to ensure that the necessary funds and organizational stability are in place to ensure a successful project.
- On larger, longer-term projects, we sometimes are able to compensate the Builder Captain for the costs of his/her on-site supervisor.
- We feature the Builder Captain in media outreach campaigns and printed materials related to the project and promote the project from beginning to dedication.
- We recognize the Builder Captain as well as all suppliers and subcontractors at all events related to the project.
- We feature Builder Captains with their project on our website & can link to your website.
- We feature our partners in MNCBIA’s quarterly “Community Builders” newsletter, which reaches 1,200 industry members, government officials and community leaders.
- We strive to limit paperwork for the Builder Captain.
- We can provide the necessary insurance for the project.
- We assist with project management including documenting the scope of work, bookkeeping, the tracking in-kind donations, and acknowledging contributing trades and partners appropriately.
- We provide an opportunity for you to make a public, meaningful, lasting contribution to the community by doing what you do best – build!
We hope that you will join us and take advantage of an opportunity to give back to your community by volunteering as a Builder Captain. The support of the building industry is what makes our program successful.
If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact the HBCF office at 301-445-5410.
Thank you for your consideration to support Home Builders Care!