Will County Habitat for Humanity

What Will County Habitat for Humanity does

Will County Habitat for Humanity (now operating as Will-Grundy Habitat for Humanity) is a 501(c)-affiliated nonprofit housing organization founded in 1988 as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. It is headquartered at 1395 N. Larkin Ave. in Joliet, Illinois, and serves low-income individuals and families across Will and Grundy Counties. Its core offering is the Homeownership Program, which builds and rehabilitates homes sold to qualifying partner homebuyers through no-profit mortgages capped at 30% of gross income (income limits $42,000–$126,600 depending on family size under FY25 HUD guidelines), with buyers contributing sweat equity and completing pre-purchase education. Supporting programs include Critical Home Repair (CHR), the state-funded Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP-2) offering up to $50,000 in forgivable loans via the Illinois Housing Development Authority, a Fairmont-focused Neighborhood Revitalization initiative, and a Veterans Build program.

The organization operates a diversified revenue model spanning charitable donations (monetary, vehicle, planned gifts), a ReStore home improvement retail outlet selling donated goods at 50–75% of retail, affordable mortgage repayments recycled into new construction, Cabinet Deconstruction salvage services ($250 crew fee), and event-based fundraising including the Applied Underwriters Executive Golf Invitational (raises over $150K annually), Mix of '26/Beyond Beer & Bourbon Fest, Witches Night Out, Tinsel & 'Tinis, and Bids That Build radio auction. Since founding, it has helped over 100 families achieve homeownership across Joliet, Plainfield, Lockport, Elwood, Bolingbrook, and surrounding communities. Its GTM is community-led and volunteer-driven, with corporate and government partners (Will County, IHDA, Home Depot Foundation, G&W Electric, American Legion Post 52, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Blue Ribbon Products) supplying funding and labor. Technology is non-proprietary; operations rely on third-party platforms (Blackbaud, OneCause, Smartsheet) with no public API, no mobile app, and no AI/ML capabilities. The organization is led by CEO Nicole Murray with a board chaired by Judy Mitchell (President, Joliet Junior College).

Name

Will County Habitat for Humanity

Legal name

Will County Habitat for Humanity

Website

https://habitatwill.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Will-Grundy Habitat for Humanity is a Joliet, Illinois-based nonprofit (founded 1988) that builds, rehabs, and sells affordable homes to low-income families in Will and Grundy Counties using no-profit mortgages, volunteer labor, a ReStore retail outlet, and diversified fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Nonprofit

NAICS

New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization & Home Repair Grant/Loan Programs (FSALAKAJ), Affordable Housing / Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Mortgage Origination (FSALAAAM), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Nonprofit home construction
• Critical home repair services
• ReStore home improvement retail
• Habitat for humanity affiliate

Headquarters

HQ city

Joliet

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization raises funds through monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations within the Will County community. Donations can be made in various forms including money, vehicles, materials, or planned gifts. These donations support building homes, communities, and hope.
2. ReStore Sales: The ReStore sells new and gently used home improvement items at 50-75% of retail value. Proceeds from ReStore sales support the Habitat mission of providing affordable housing to individuals and families in Will County.
3. Affordable Mortgages: Homes are sold to qualifying partner homebuyers and financed with affordable loans. Homebuyers pay an affordable mortgage which helps fund the construction and renovation of additional homes with other low-income families.
4. Home Salvage Services: Cabinet Deconstruction Services crew salvages reusable items from residential and commercial buildings. A $250 donation fee is charged for the entire crew service, and salvaged items are resold to fund Habitat's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Will County Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates affordable homes sold to qualifying low-income partner families through no-profit mortgages (capped at 30% of gross income). Partner families contribute sweat equity hours, attend homeownership preparation courses, and receive ongoing family services support. The organization also delivers Critical Home Repair (CHR) and the state-funded Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP) for low-income homeowners, with loans up to $50,000 at 0% interest.

Product overview

Will County Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services centered on affordable homeownership. The core offering is the Homeownership Program, which builds and rehabs homes sold to qualifying families with no-profit mortgages. Supporting services include Critical Home Repair (CHR) and the Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP) for existing homeowners, the ReStore retail operation for fundraising, and Cabinet Deconstruction Services for material salvage. The Neighborhood Revitalization Program takes a holistic approach in the Fairmont community. The organization also runs multiple fundraising events including Beyond Beer & Bourbon Fest, the Applied Underwriters Golf Invitational, Witches Night Out, Tinsel & 'Tinis, and Bids That Build auction, along with the Leaders Link Communities leadership development program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leaders Link Communities (LLC): A leadership program of Will-Grundy Habitat for Humanity established to develop future leaders in the Will & Grundy County area.
• ReStore
• Critical Home Repair (CHR)
• Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP)

Products and services

• Homeownership Program Affordable homeownership program that builds and rehabs homes for low-income individuals and families, selling them with no-profit mortgages to qualifying partner homebuyers who complete sweat equity hours and attend homeownership preparation courses.
• Critical Home Repair (CHR) Home repair program offering critical repairs and improvements necessary for restoring and maintaining safe living conditions for seniors, those with disabilities, or families struggling to maintain their homes, with emphasis on accessibility modifications.
• Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP-2) State-funded program administered through Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) providing up to $50,000 in forgivable loans for vital health and safety repairs and accessibility improvements for low- and very low-income homeowners.
• ReStore (Joliet Home Improvement Retail) Nonprofit home improvement retail store and donation center selling new and gently used building materials and home goods at 50-75% of retail value, with proceeds supporting the Habitat mission of affordable housing.
• Cabinet Deconstruction Services Home salvage service that salvages reusable items from residential and commercial demolition and remodeling projects, reselling materials to fund Habitat's mission while saving donors time and money. Charges a $250 donation fee for the entire crew service.
• Neighborhood Revitalization Program Holistic, place-based approach to neighborhood development focused on the Fairmont community in Will County, encompassing community cohesion initiatives, area development, economic development, homeownership support, and home repair services.
• Cars for Homes Vehicle Donation Program Vehicle donation program that accepts cars, boats, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and planes, with 100% of proceeds directly funding Will County Habitat for Humanity's local community work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 families helped achieve homeownership since 1988
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Legion, Post 52 (Romeoville, IL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2021Partnership to build affordable housing for veterans in memory of veteran Ray Holloway. American Legion Post 52 collaborated with Will County Habitat to fulfill Mr. Holloway's wish of providing safe and affordable housing to veterans in need.
• Student Veterans of America Illinois Chapter (SVA-IL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2021Participated in Veterans Build 2021 weekend alongside Will County Habitat for Humanity at the Crest Hill build site.
• G&W ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerG&W Electric provided both funding and volunteer labor for home construction. Their team spent weekends building the home for one year alongside the Habitat Senior Crew.
• Chicagoland SpeedwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicagoland Speedway partnered with Habitat for Humanity as Charity of Choice, offering volunteer opportunities during NASCAR weekend (July 3-5) including Habitat for Humanity 50/50 raffle team.
• Hollywood Casino JolietcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Mix of '26 events including Beyond Beer & Bourbon Fest. The event takes place in the parking lot of the new Hollywood Casino Joliet, with easy access to casino dining options.
• Blue Ribbon ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor for the Beyond Beer & Bourbon Fest 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Knox County Habitat for Humanity: A smaller Illinois-based Habitat affiliate offering very similar homeownership and ReStore programs in a different but comparable rural/small-city Illinois housing market.
• Will County Housing Authority: The local public housing authority administering subsidized rental and Section 8 programs in the same service area where Will County Habitat operates; a partner/competitor for affordable housing funding.
• Lake County Habitat for Humanity: Another Illinois-based Habitat for Humanity affiliate providing similar affordable homeownership, ReStore, and home repair services in a comparable suburban Illinois market.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: The global parent organization of which Will County Habitat is an independent affiliate. Operates in 70+ countries and sets the brand standards, training, and operational frameworks that the Will County affiliate follows.
• CEDA (Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County): A large regional nonprofit housing and community development organization offering housing counseling, weatherization, and rehabilitation programs that overlap with Will County Habitat's repair and counseling offerings.

Direct peers

• Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity: A larger Chicago-area Habitat affiliate that jointly recognized Will County Habitat (Habitat Heroes Award) and competes for some of the same donor and volunteer pools in the broader Chicago metro area.
• Quad Cities Habitat for Humanity: A nearby Illinois/Iowa Habitat affiliate operating affordable homeownership, ReStore, and home repair programs in a comparable Midwestern housing market.
• DuPage Habitat for Humanity: A neighboring Illinois Habitat for Humanity affiliate serving DuPage County. Operates the same homeownership, ReStore, and home repair programs in a similar suburban Illinois housing market.

Emerging players

• Rebuilding Together: A national nonprofit focused on affordable home repair and rehabilitation for low-income homeowners, directly overlapping with Will County Habitat's Critical Home Repair (CHR) and HRAP-2 programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/WillCountyHabitat
• Facebookfacebook.com/WillCountyHabitat
• Instagraminstagram.com/willcountyhabitat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/will-county-habitat-for-humanity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

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 Will County Habitat for Humanity