Habitat for Humanity of Berks County

What Habitat for Humanity of Berks County does

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, that builds and renovates affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families in Berks County. The organization is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and operates under a dual model combining volunteer labor, sweat equity from partner families (200 hours per homeowner), and subsidized 30-year mortgages to deliver affordable homeownership. Since founding it has built well over 60 homes and is currently executing the $7 million Buttonwood Gateway neighborhood revitalization initiative with developer Delaware Valley Development Co., encompassing 18 for-sale homes, 48 rental units, a community center, a park, and a vegetable garden.

The organization's core operational units are its construction program and the ReStore, a donated-goods home improvement retail store on Allentown Pike in Temple, PA, which is described as its largest revenue source and sells building materials, appliances, and furniture at below-retail prices. Supporting products include a formal Homeowner Program (requiring citizenship, one-year Berks County residency, 200 sweat-equity hours, financial education, and mortgage qualification), a Volunteer Program, the annual Birdhouse Challenge fundraiser (raising roughly $50K in recent years), a Benefit Concert, and the Building Up Campaign. The organization employs approximately 11-50 staff (around 10-14 named individuals) and relies heavily on volunteer labor for construction; there is no proprietary technology platform.

Habitat Berks monetizes its mission through a diversified mix of ReStore retail sales, individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Rooftop Sponsors, event sponsors), government and foundation grants (Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania DCED Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits, United Way, Berks County Community Foundation), and recurring mortgage payments from homeowners. Customer segments include low-to-moderate income families (primary), individual volunteers, corporate volunteer groups, and non-profit organizations needing low-cost renovation work. Strategic go-to-market combines community-led volunteer mobilization with a structured, application-based homeowner selection funnel.

Name

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County

Legal name

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County

Website

https://habitatberks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County is a Reading, PA-based non-profit that builds and renovates affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families in Berks County through volunteer labor, sweat-equity programs, and a ReStore retail operation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing and Nonprofit Homebuilding

NAICS

New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115), Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Affordable housing construction
• Nonprofit homebuilding
• Homeownership programs
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Volunteer construction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. ReStore Retail Sales: The ReStore sells donated building materials, furniture, appliances, and home goods at below-retail prices. All profits support the Habitat Berks mission. ReStore is described as the biggest revenue source for the organization.
2. Individual Donations: The organization accepts monetary donations through its website and direct mail. Donate buttons are prominently featured throughout the website.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor specific homes or projects (Rooftop Sponsors), the Birdhouse Challenge event, the Building Up campaign, and the annual Benefit Concert. Sponsors receive logo placement, recognition at events, and marketing exposure.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: Habitat Berks receives grants from entities like Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh ($600,000 for Buttonwood Gateway), Visions Federal Credit Union ($10,000 Big Give award), United Way of Berks County, and Berks County Community Foundation.
5. Homeowner Program Contributions: Families purchase Habitat homes through a 30-year mortgage. While Habitat subsidizes costs, homeowners make monthly mortgage payments that contribute to organizational sustainability.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County builds and renovates affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families in Berks County, Pennsylvania, using a sweat equity model that requires 200 hours of homeowner labor and completion of financial education before purchase through a 30-year mortgage. The organization also operates the ReStore, a nonprofit home improvement store at Allentown Pike in Temple, PA that resells donated building materials, furniture, appliances, and home goods at below-retail prices, with all profits supporting the Habitat Berks mission. Supporting revenue streams include individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government and foundation grants, and signature fundraising events like the annual Birdhouse Challenge and Benefit Concert.

Product overview

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization offering affordable homeownership opportunities through home construction and renovation. The core offerings include the ReStore (a resale/donation center), the Homeowner Program (requiring 200 hours of sweat equity), Home Construction and Renovation services, and Volunteer Programs. The organization also runs fundraising initiatives including the annual Birdhouse Challenge and Benefit Concert, plus the Building Up campaign in partnership with the Reading Science Center. All programs support the mission of building affordable housing and revitalizing neighborhoods in Berks County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of surveyed Habitat homeowners in 44 cities said they could not have owned a home without Habitat help.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Olivet Boys and Girls ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2026Representatives joined Habitat Berks to break ground on Buttonwood Street home as part of employer-supported homeownership initiative.
• Albright College Total Learning CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2024Founder Adelle Schade coined 'Innovation Corridor' moniker for northeast Reading revitalization area. Center works with Reading School District students; 10 students received patents for inventions.
• DoubleTree by Hilton ReadingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2023General Manager Craig Poole is a Board Member who referred Christina as a Habitat home buyer. Second DoubleTree employee to become a Habitat homeowner.
• Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2023Students renovating a house on Douglass Street as part of Innovation Corridor revitalization. Projects include demolition, kitchen remodeling, bathroom updates, window upgrades, boiler replacement, and staircase reconstruction.
• Fromm Electric SupplycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022Awarded Distinguished Partner of the Year. Provides building materials for Habitat homes, making the building process easier for volunteers. Has helped 35 million families construct or rehabilitate homes globally.
• Keller Williams Platinum RealtyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 May 2022Participated in RED Day (Renew, Energize, Donate) with 30 volunteers painting a duplex in Maidencreek Township. Operating Principal Susan McFadden serves on Birdhouse Challenge Committee.
• MG ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Building Up campaign sponsor and partner with Alvernia University engineering students to build a one-of-a-kind block house.
• Alvernia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Engineering students partnered with MG Architects for Building Up campaign. Building Up house displayed at John R. Post Center in downtown Reading.
• Reading Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in Building Up campaign. Fosters love of science through STEM education. Engineering, architecture and construction are key elements matching Habitat's work.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater BerkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2021Teamed with Habitat to help families realize dreams of owning a home. Built a duplex in Maidencreek Township together.
• Delaware Valley Development Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2020Private development firm managing the Buttonwood Gateway Project alongside Habitat Berks. The venture addresses affordable housing needs and creates a sustainable neighborhood.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves3 records

Direct peers

• Mercy Housing: One of the largest U.S. affordable housing nonprofits, developing and operating affordable rental and homeownership housing nationwide. Directly comparable nonprofit model combining development, services, and partnerships to serve low-income families.
• BRIDGE Housing: A regional nonprofit affordable housing developer that builds, owns, and manages affordable homes. Comparable model of mission-driven affordable homeownership and rental development, including mixed-income and neighborhood-scale projects.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks: A local affordable housing nonprofit operating in the same Reading/Berks County market. Already a documented partner (co-built a duplex in Maidencreek Township) and competes/collaborates for the same low-to-moderate income homeowners, grants, and neighborhood revitalization projects.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: The global parent organization and brand under which Habitat Berks operates as a local affiliate. Directly comparable mission (affordable homeownership, volunteer-built housing) and provides standards, branding, and programmatic resources to local affiliates like Berks County.
• Enterprise Community Partners: A national nonprofit developer and investor that builds and preserves affordable rental and for-sale housing. Comparable mission in affordable housing production at scale, with a broader national footprint and capital-markets capability.
• NeighborWorks America: National network of community development nonprofits focused on affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. Comparable model of local affiliate-driven affordable homeownership, counseling, and community building across the U.S.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): A national community development financial institution supporting local nonprofits in affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. Comparable function as a backbone funder/coordinator for community-based housing organizations, including Habitat affiliates.

Others

• United Way of Berks County: A local grant-making nonprofit that has provided financial support to Habitat Berks during COVID-19. Functions as an ecosystem partner/funder rather than direct competitor, and shares a similar donor and volunteer base in Berks County.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia: A larger Pennsylvania Habitat affiliate operating in the Philadelphia metro. Comparable affiliate model but at materially larger scale, offering a useful comparator for Habitat Berks' potential growth trajectory in Pennsylvania urban markets.
• Chester County Habitat for Humanity: A nearby Pennsylvania Habitat for Humanity affiliate operating in an adjacent county. Directly comparable affiliate-level operating model (ReStore, homeowner program, volunteer construction), with insights into regional fundraising, sponsorship, and construction costs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/berksrestore
• Instagraminstagram.com/habitatofberks
• Xx.com/habitatberks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/habitat-for-humanity-of-berks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Habitat for Humanity of Berks County