"I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help his people in need." Millard Fuller is the founder and former president of Habitat for Humanity International. His 29-year leadership forged Habitat into a worldwide Christian housing ministry building 200,000 homes with projects in 100 countries worldwide. Former President Clinton has said, "I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Millard Fuller has literally revolutionized the concept of philanthropy."
Fuller founded Habitat with his wife, Linda, in 1976. He travels and speaks worldwide and has earned international recognition for his work advocating decent, affordable housing for all. In September 1996, former President Bill Clinton awarded Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Clinton says "Millard Fuller has done as much to make the dream of homeownership a reality in our country and throughout the world as any living person." Jack Kemp, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former HFHI board member agrees adding, "When I'm asked about housing success stories from our inner cities, the first group that comes to mind is Habitat for Humanity."
A Life Changed by God From humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller rose to become a young, self-made millionaire. A graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the University of Alabama Law School in Tuscaloosa, he and a college friend began a marketing firm while still in school. Fuller's business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire at age 29. But as the business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered.
These crises prompted Fuller to re-evaluate his values and direction. His soul-searching led to reconciliation with his wife and to a renewal of his Christian commitment.
The Fullers then took a drastic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions, give the money to the poor and begin searching for a new focus for their lives. This search led them to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Ga., where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ's teachings.
Millard Fuller
Jan. 3, 1935: Born in Lanett, Ala.
1957: Graduated from Auburn University in Alabama.
1959: Married Linda Caldwell.
1960: Received law degree from University of Alabama and passed Alabama bar (in 1972, he passed the Georgia bar). Served briefly in the Army.
1960: Co-founder of Fuller and Dees Marketing Group Inc. in Montgomery, Ala.
1960-65: Partner in Fuller and Dees law firm in Montgomery.
1966-68: Development director of Tougaloo College in Mississippi.
1968-72: Director of Koinonia Partners Inc. Developed business operations for Koinonia Christian community in Americus, Ga.
1973-76: Became Church of Christ's director of development in Zaire. Initiated housing project for low-income families in Mbandaka, Zaire.
1976-2005: Founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International.
1996: Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton.
2005: Founder and president of Fuller Center for Housing.
The Seed Is Planted With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan and a few others, the Fullers initiated several partnership enterprises, including a ministry in housing. They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes.
Homeowner families were expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house, increased the pride of ownership and fostered the development of positive relationships. Money for building went into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes.
Testing the Model In 1973, Fuller moved to Africa with his wife and four children to test their housing model. The housing project they began in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), was a success in that developing nation.
Fuller became convinced that this model could be expanded and applied all over the world. Upon his return to the United States in 1976, he met with a group of close associates. They decided to create a new independent organization: Habitat for Humanity. For the next 29 years, the Fullers devoted their energies to the expansion of Habitat for Humanity throughout the world.
Applying Jesus' Economics The ministry the Fullers founded has an economic philosophy based upon what Fuller calls the "economics of Jesus." The no-profit, no-interest components of the program come from a passage in the Bible (Exodus 22:25) that says those lending money to the poor should not act as a creditor and charge interest.
Former President Jimmy Carter, an avid carpenter and longtime Habitat supporter, believes that Fuller is using his gifts and acting in faith. "Millard Fuller is an inspiration to all of us who have joined him as volunteers," Carter says, "and his faith and perseverance have made continual progress possible."
Public Recognition In 2002, Fuller and his wife were awarded the Bronze Medallion from the Points of Light Foundation in Washington D.C., honoring their pioneering work in service. Fuller was also awarded the Overcoming Obstacles award from the Community for Education Foundation in New York, N.Y. He was named Georgian of the Year and received the Auburn University Lifetime Achievement Award as well. The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation honored Fuller with the Frank Annunzio award in 2000, recognizing him as "a living American whose innovative thinking has led to creative work, process, product or other achievement that has made a significant and beneficial impact on society." Fuller has also been named one of the most influential people in homebuilding in the United States in the 20th century by Builder magazine and one of the 20 Georgians Who Most Influenced the 20th Century by the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. He was the recipient of a 1999 Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged. In 1995 Fuller was named Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine. He and his wife were awarded the 1994 Harry S. Truman Public Service Award. He also received the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from both the state of Georgia and the King Center. Fuller has received many achievement awards and more than 50 honorary doctorate degrees for his outstanding leadership toward meeting the goal of eliminating poverty housing worldwide.
Sharing the Story Fuller has written ten books about his life's work. His most recent book, Building Materials for Life, Volume III, is a collection of inspirational essays featuring devotions such as "Habits", "Anger" and "Humor". Volumes I and II of Building Materials for Life include devotional essays such as "Persistence", "Generosity" and "Peace Within". More Than Houses (2000) tells inspiring stories of families from around the world whose lives have been changed through the gift of homeownership. A Simple, Decent Place to Live (1995) surveys the history of Habitat for Humanity. The Theology of the Hammer (1994) explains the belief that true religion puts faith and love into action. Fuller's other books are The Excitement Is Building, co-authored with his wife Linda, No More Shacks!, Love in the Mortar Joints and Bokotola.
Promoting the Vision Fuller's vision guided Habitat for Humanity throughout its first 29 years. The growth of Habitat has been propelled by initiatives he has promoted: Campus Chapter & Youth Programs, which takes the work of Habitat on college and high school campuses around the world; Global Village Work Camps, which takes volunteers from around the world to Habitat work sites; the Sumter County Initiative, which eliminated poverty housing in Habitat's home county; the Global Village & Discovery Center, which provides visitors with a heart wrenching glimpse of poverty housing and Habitat's solutions; and Habitat University, which teaches volunteer leaders the best practices for meeting the goal of eliminating poverty housing. At the heart of Habitat's work are the thousands of affiliates in 100 countries, independent, local organizations that raise money, mobilize volunteers, and build houses. Fuller has always been the affiliates' greatest champion, motivator, and friend.
The Vision Continues In January of 2005, Millard and Linda Fuller were fired from the organization they founded and nurtured for 29 years. Rather than dwelling on the end of a career, Fuller immediately began planning for the next phase of his life's work, and in April he and Linda and a group of like-minded partners founded the Fuller Center for Housing (www.FullerCenter.org). This new organization provides a vehicle for Fuller to continue striving towards the goal of eliminating poverty housing. This ministry has gotten off to such a positive start that it is clearly another inspired venture. The Fuller Center will raise money for housing efforts around the world, and provide a base from which Fuller can continue his remarkable work in motivating donors and volunteers to join him in his quest to make decent shelter available to all of God's people.
"I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Millard Fuller has literally revolutionized the concept of philanthropy."