Millard Fuller as an entrepreneurial leader

Millard Fuller is the founder of Habitat for Humanity International who gave his millions away to charity after deciding to redirect his life to Jesus. Fuller was an Alabama lawyer turned sales guru in the 1960’s. As a workaholic, he lost track of his family commitments and found himself making the most important decision of his life. This was to give up everything to reconcile with his wife and dedicate their life to Christ. Habitat for Humanity was born in 1976, after Millard and Linda Fuller visited Koinonia Farms and spent quite some time with its originator Clearance Jordan. It was here that the ideas revolving Habitat for Humanity started. The concept of building houses with those in need derived from Millard’s interpretation of bible passages, and what he referred to as the Economics of Jesus. The Economics of Jesus helped developed the Fund for Humanity, a revolving fund that would use the payments made the one homeowner towards the next home. Habitat for Humanity International is now building in more than 100 countries and has the goal of completing 250,000 houses by the end of 2005.

Overview of Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is an ecumenical Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness by building simple, decent, and affordable housing with those in need of such housing around the world. Millard Fuller along with his wife, Linda, developed the concept by which HFHI exists today and founded HFHI in 1976 in Americus, Georgia. Millard Fuller recognized the need for a housing ministry based on Christian love and action. During this time, there were other organizations building houses for the poor; private builders, the governments, and even small organizations would build a few houses. It was not until Habitat for Humanity came along that faith in Christ was placed in a house building ministry. This concept of building houses with the future inhabitants originated before its official conception in 1976. In 1965, Millard and Linda Fuller left their millionaire lifestyle to dedicate their lives to serving God. They traveled to Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian farming community founded in 1942 outside of Americus, Georgia. The basic principles of partnership housing and the Fund for Humanity are created when the Fullers moved to Koinonia Farm, in 1968.

The Fund for Humanity is a revolving fund that originates with an initial collection of monies, which is then repaid by the new homeowner and used to build the next house. In 1973, the Fullers took these principles abroad to Zaire, Africa that is today known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. The cost of building materials is much less in Zaire than in the state of Georgia. The Fullers, now with limited funds, needed to be good stewards of the group’s money. The model was successfully tested and Millard Fuller opens Habitat for Humanity International headquarters in Americus, Georgia in 1976. In 1978, Habitat for Humanity International expands to San Antonio, Texas opening its first affiliate in the United States outside of the state of Georgia. The first Latin American affiliate is founded in 1979 in the country of Guatemala. By the organization’s fifth anniversary, it had built 342 houses in eight countries. In 1983, Habitat for Humanity began developing National Partners in each country to support the mission of the organization and seek expansion.

In 1984, Noble Prize winner and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn become Habitat Partners and started the first annual Jimmy Carter Work Project, in New York City. Millard Fuller set out to recruit famous people in order to attract attention to the organization. President Carter is the most known volunteer. To build more awareness about this housing movement Habitat for Humanity International celebrated its tenth anniversary with a 1,000-mile walk from Americus, Georgia to Kansas City, Missouri. In 1986, Canada is added to the list of countries with Habitat for Humanity involvement. A year later, the first Campus Chapter was created at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Campus chapters are student-led organizations on high school or college campuses. Habitat for Humanity expanded its efforts to Australia.

In 1988, the Global Village program was initiated which are trips that provide the opportunity for volunteering abroad with Habitat for Humanity, and the Corporate Donor department was established. The 500th U.S. affiliate was established in Abilene, Texas in 1990. The next year Habitat for Humanity built its 10,000th house in Atlanta, Georgia. The first all-women-built house was erected in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1992, the goal of eliminating substandard housing in Sumter County, Georgia by the year 2000 was set in motion with the creation of the Sumter County Initiative. The 20,000th house worldwide was constructed in Sumter County, Georgia during a 20-house blitz build, which is an accelerated method of building houses that is normally a weeklong process. Only one year later during a 30-house blitz build, the 30,000th house is built.

At a 10,000 houses a year rate, Habitat for Humanity built its 40,000th house in 1995. The following year Habitat for Humanity expands to Romania making the total country count up to 50 nations, and finishes its 50,000th house. In 1998, the 100th house built by Campus Chapters was complete in DePere, Wisconsin. The 21st Century Challenge issued by Habitat for Humanity to its worldwide affiliates encouraged communities to determine a goal and create a plan with a date by which poverty housing will be eliminated in their local community. The 100,000th was finished during the Jimmy Carter Work Project week build. Since 2000, Habitat for Humanity International has seen tremendous growth due to the excitement of the 21st Century Challenge. The organization has built over 175,000 houses in the world, sheltering more then 900,000 individuals in over 3,000 communities around the world.

Background on Millard Fuller
Millard Fuller was born and raised in Lanet, a small town in east Alabama. His mother passed away when he was three years old. His father, Render Fuller, who remarried when he was six, instilled in him a commitment to strong moral and ethical behavior. As a young man, he attended Auburn University followed by Law School at the University of Alabama. Millard and Linda Fuller married while Millard was attending law school. After law school, they moved to Montgomery Alabama, where he and his law partner had an office. This law practice was consuming his time. Millard Fuller and his law partner where dedicated to becoming extremely successful in business activities. It was then that the wake up call arrived. Linda Fuller informed Millard that she was moving to New York with their two children and seeking a divorce. Millard followed shortly after to reconcile their marriage. Millard and Linda Fuller decided to seek reconciliation and visit Koinonia Farms to seek Christian counsel. The founder of Koinonia Farm, Clarence Jordan, a biblical scholar, became Millard Fuller’s mentor. Clarence Jordan was a visionary and sometimes considered as the spiritual founder of Habitat for Humanity. At this crossroads in their relationship, the Fullers decided to give away their wealth and dedicate their lives to God. Together, Linda, Millard, and Clarence, and others at the Farm developed the Koinonia Partners program that was the beginnings of Habitat for Humanity.

Unfortunately, Jordan passed away before the first house was completed
An entrepreneur leader is a visionary who has the end goal in mind and can see the big picture. An entrepreneur leader is a motivator of his/her followers. An entrepreneur leader can visualize change and progress as well as the creation process. The idea of the program was partnership housing, which was inspired by the Old Testament. The Fullers provided some of the seed money for the concept. The concept is to make housing affordable by building houses with no interest charged and at no profit. Instead, the homeowner payments would be used to build future houses, which would then have a no-interest, no-profit loan to pay creating a revolving fund called the Fund for Humanity

Characteristics of Servant Leadership
The servant leadership model places its focus on the followers and their accomplishment, behavior, and attitude. Servant leadership is said to be about virtue rather than skills; leaders encompass seven virtues: love, humility, unselfishness, vision, trust, empowerment, and service. Millard Fuller possess these characteristics as he displays his humility and love to promote his vision of simple, decent, and affordable housing despite his successes. As a nonprofit leader, he has expanded his vision into a possible and accomplishable reality. A servant leader exists to serve the followers. The fulfillment arises from having that as a principal goal. The servant leader expresses humility and credits others where credit is due.

Few leaders are comfortable with the openness and willingness to share successes and mistakes required of being a servant leader.
Servant leaders are regular people that have attained stature not through mighty deeds, but through those accomplishments made by the leader and followers. A servant leader is effective at bringing people together and bringing out the leader in each of the followers. Millard Fuller has created a worldwide movement that has carried on for over 25 years. He has the ability to empower community leaders to accomplish the goal of eliminating substandard housing using the Economics of Jesus, which is one method Millard utilizes to describe Habitat for Humanity’s spiritual principles.
Servant leaders serve others in order to boost their self-worth and dignity. This model of leadership requires a change in the attitude of the leader. Egos have to be let go and the belief that people perform at their best in an environment of freedom and empowerment has to be seriously adopted. It can be time consuming to adapt to a servant leadership model; it is a long-term transformation.

There are certain traits to acquire and develop, for instance, listening, empathy, awareness, persuasion, foresight, and stewardship. These traits and qualities are not developed over night; they are leadership qualities of a servant that sometimes can be in continuous development. Millard Fuller’s excellent Christian mannered stewardship of the organization would be the most noted trait of the ones listed. After his reaffirmation of Christ, his concentration and focus on the mission that give attention to those in need of affordable housing has driven organizational planning and execution. The servant leadership style characteristics and traits fit those of Millard Fuller.

Innovative and creative leadership
Millard Fuller is an innovator who developed a growing movement of housing development with a model that incorporates both homeownership and community. An innovator is one who develops something original by utilizing new or untried processes that are often outside of the existing guidelines. Fuller’s creative idea of having people working together towards a goal to build affordable houses was innovative when he applied the Economics of Jesus concept. This unique interpretation of biblical passages creates the vision of Habitat for Humanity.

The volunteer relations department of Habitat for Humanity focuses on volunteer recruitment. They do this by incorporating several programs that appeal to a varied audience such as Collegiate Challenge for high school and college students, RV Care-A-Vanners for the retired traveling recreational vehicle owners, and Global Village for those interested in volunteering and traveling, amongst other incentive programs. These volunteer opportunities draw upon Millard’s interpretation of the bible and promote a sense of community. Millard Fuller’s interpretation embraces five main principles:

1. Christ can multiply the insignificant to accomplish amazing things.
2. Value should not be placed on profit, instead on meeting human need.
3. It is expected that resources are immediately used to meet human needs and not held away.
4. Every human life is priceless.
5. People’s basic needs are immense and response to these needs should not be based on the person’s usefulness or productivity.

The second principle is the driving force of the mission and the third the catalyst for the fast growing expansion of eliminating substandard housing throughout the world.

After the establishment of Habitat for Humanity in 1976, the organization did not grow by leads and bounds. The innovative idea had to be put into place and the vision spread throughout the world. As an effective leader, Fuller was proactive to spread the message and develop new concepts that could be utilized by many. Fuller continues to grow his creativity by developing new programs to enhance the organization.

Habitat for Humanity worldwide
Habitat for Humanity has over 2,100 active affiliate offices around the world in over 100 different countries. The grassroots movement has accomplished over 175,000 houses worldwide. Habitat for Humanity has no restrictions regarding ethnic, religious, or cultural background of future homeowners, volunteers, donors, or staff. Through the Habitat for Humanity Global Village program, established in 1988, volunteers can participate in hosted tours to various countries and participate in construction activities in the host affiliate.

Millard Fuller’s strategy and ethics
The business strategies of Habitat for Humanity are a reflection of the organizations mission and philosophy. Habitat for Humanity’s principal mission is building houses with those in need of housing. This mission requires money, as many endeavors do. Part of the strategic plan of Habitat for Humanity is to raise funds to solve the shelter issue. Social Entrepreneurs, as Millard Fuller, often have a clear vision of the mission and goals to solve a particular social issue. These issues have to be solved delicately; it is not an overnight venture. Valuable resources are wasted when profits generated by social entrepreneurs are not invested in a cost effective manner.

The key is finding a resource strategy that works. Habitat for Humanity relies heavily on donations and grants. In order to be successful, Habitat for Humanity relies on the donation of other’s time and money. The primary mission of building houses is accomplished by raising funds with the combination of good financial stewardship, and the majority of the personnel being volunteers. More than 87% of funds raised are used for direct building efforts. Besides fundraising, Habitat for Humanity also seeks individuals to volunteer and provide other resources.

Ethics deals with those values and morals people and society find acceptable and desirable. Leaders make the decision between what is right or wrong, good or bad, based on these set of desirable understandings within the environment. Millard Fuller is an altruist leader. The altruist leader shows concern for others in respect to their interests and a lower sense of self-interest concern. Entrepreneurs encounter the challenge of prospering their venture and at the same time remaining ethical.

Entrepreneurs are concerned with performance, yet they should have a certain concern for their consumers because these are the people purchasing the good or service. Millard Fuller acquired his strong sense of ethical and moral behavior from his father, Render Fuller, who instilled in him these qualities of a young honest man. His hometown church also assisted in inspiring moral and ethical performance. As Millard Fuller’s devotion to Jesus Christ grew stronger so did his ethical values. His ethics deepened as his understanding of the gospel created new insight.

Habitat for Humanity changes through the years
Habitat for Humanity has grown tremendously throughout the years of its existence. The organization has completed over 175,000 houses worldwide. The latest change in the relationship of Millard Fuller and Habitat for Humanity is no longer the president of the organization. This is a sudden change as many individuals involved with the organization associate Fuller with Habitat for Humanity the International Board of Directors and Millard Fuller came to this agreement following several months of legal issues surrounding an ex-employee of Habitat for Humanity making sexual harassment accusations.

One way he is dealing with the change is by creating a new organization dedicated to the promotion of eliminating substandard housing around the world. This new endeavor is not to compete with Habitat for Humanity, but rather enhance the work of this and other organizations that have similar goals. Building Habitat, Inc, the new Millard Fuller venture, is providing a grant to the New Horizons Habitat for Humanity and Koinonia Farms, both in Sumter County, Georgia. This demonstrates the dedication Millard Fuller has to his vision of nearly thirty years ago.

Entrepreneurs are the catalyst of change in their business and/or industry. The visionary characteristic instilled in the entrepreneurial leader assists in the development of new organizational growth. Entrepreneur leaders identify how change positively or negatively will affect the organization. This new change process requires the creation of vision that acts as the theoretical map for the organization to meet the goals. A fundamental part of creating vision is the development of a mission statement; this describes the vision and is short the new map.

Millard Fuller as an effective leader
Leadership characteristics are deeply instilled in a person and are extremely hard to change. To become a "great leader" would depend on many variables such as to the extent by which the person ingrains leadership characteristics, the particular tasks, and the followers' behavior and response towards the leader. There are certain things a person can do to begin molding themselves to great leadership. Self-reflection, seeking feedback and its incorporation, setting goals, and honoring high standards are some things a person can do to begin the transition to being a good leader. A gradual self-training to be a more effective leader will result in the promotion of vision, mistake admittance, close involvement, and competitiveness. There are certain people that have particular characteristics in relation to leadership. These can be high energy, excellent intellect, intense perseverance, self-confidence, and the desire to influence and make a difference.

Having these innate characteristics absolutely assists a person be an effective leader. Millard Fuller possesses these qualities to an extent. He would not be considered as being one the greatest leaders of our time, but certainly fits the profile of an effective leader. Superior leaders do posses a number of natural born abilities. These hereditary characteristics are then complemented by environmental influence. The environmental input to individual differences comes from culture and education, parental authority, and the physical environment. These together with the hereditary traits such as genes, race, ethnicity, and gender, develop the personality of an individual, which will form their abilities, skills, and values needed to be a leader and have the leadership style and behavior of a superior leader. A superior leader's character begins with hereditary factors and is developed, molded, and enhanced with the environment.

Millard Fuller will continue his social entrepreneurial endeavors as long as he has a platform, whether it may be Habitat for Humanity International or his new organization, which has changed its name to provide a broader scope. The Fuller Center for Housing will provide financial assistance to Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other housing ministries around the world. It is meant to work in partnership with Habitat for Humanity As a social entrepreneur, Fuller has one ultimate mission, which is that of accomplishing his intended social impact. Millard Fuller’s social impact goal is housing. He is truly dedicated to this ministry and will see it through that it continues to be a working goal.

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René Cintrón has over 10 years experience in management and leadership in for-profit and non-profit arenas including annual budgets and accounting, inventory control, marketing, office administration, community development, volunteer coordination, resource development and management, grant writing, and strategic planning. Mr. Cintrón is an Accounting & Business Administration Online Faculty member with Rasmussen College, and is pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organization and Management with emphasis in Leadership from Capella University.

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