Help us welcome Erin Steel to the Habi-Team!
Habitat Monroe is thrilled to welcome a new team member to our office. Let’s all give a cheerful welcome to our new Director of Fund Development, Erin Steel! Erin joined our team on July 25th, and has brought her next level expertise to our affiliate!
Erin has extensive non-profit experience, as she previously worked in the Fund Development Department of The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, which is The Toledo Symphony and The Toledo Ballet. She worked as their Gift and Stewardship Coordinator!
Get To Know Erin!
Tell us a little about yourself!
I am a Monroe native, born and raised. I moved away for 20 years, and during that time, I got my education and gained many experiences from all over the place. I moved back to Monroe around 4-5 years ago. I’m super excited to be using my skills that I’ve developed over the last 20 years to be doing fundraising for a local organization.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us!
I am a certified rescue diver. I spent a summer tagging sharks in the Florida Keys.
What did you do before joining the Habi-Family?
I worked for another non-profit organization. I worked in the fund development department of The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, which is the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet. I worked as their Gift & Stewardship Coordinator, so I mostly worked with donor stewardship and events.
What was the most unique or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I would say the most interesting experience I’ve had was when I started my own business doing zero-waste solutions for large scale events. Working in the trash and recycling industry as a female business owner was really unique, and I learned a lot.
How did you first learn about Habitat for Humanity?
I’ve always known about Habitat for Humanity. I went on a Habitat trip when I was in college, down to Sebring, Florida. I’ve always known about this organization. I actually know a couple families in Monroe that live in Habitat houses. I’ve always known about the organization internationally, but I was surprised to learn how many houses Monroe has accomplished on their own.
Why did you decide to take this job?
A ton of reasons. I love working in the arts, but sometimes I felt like I needed to be using my skills for a greater good. I wanted to work on issues that were more critical to my local community. Housing and poverty are huge issues right now, not only in this community, but also across the U.S.
I believe these issues are expanding and becoming crises in our nation, so the work in counteracting this matter is a priority. I think the tremendous need for fundraising is here, and I am ready to aid in Habitat’s mission.
What is your role at Habitat?
I am the Director of Fund Development. I am working across the team to sustain the current levels of income and find new avenues to bring in new funding.
How do you balance your career at Habitat with family time?
One of the great things about taking this job is that it is part time. I am here 3 days a week, which has been extremely helpful. This flexibility is allowing me to spend more time with our 8-year-old son, Riley, as well as my husband and my parents.
What do you like to do on your days off?
I am a Monroe native, born and raised. I moved away for 20 years, and during that time, I got my education and gained many experiences from all over the place. I moved back to Monroe around 4-5 years ago. I’m super excited to be using my skills that I’ve developed over the last 20 years to be doing fundraising for a local organization.
Do you think Habitat will help you in your career development?
Tremendously. The one thing I have not had the opportunity to do in my previous positions across the board, is to work for an organization that has an international reach. Habitat has so many layers: Habitat International, the state-level, and the affiliate level.
It’s great that affiliates partner with each other for different programs, like we’re doing with Maumee Valley. I look forward to networking opportunities and learning how an organization that has that international reach works. How our state agencies work together. I think that will be a huge help and an asset to add to my list of skills.
What would you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses?
My weakness is physical space organization, i.e. it’s difficult for me to keep a neat and tidy office. It’s just not a skill that I have, I try to be good at it, to no avail.
My strength is being a people person, as it is a huge help in this type of position. It’s important to be somewhat fearless, not being afraid of people saying no, and having a thick skin. 9 Times out of 10, people are going to say no, and you have to be okay with that.
How have you felt since you arrived in the office?
Amazing! It’s been great, fantastic. I’ve never worked for an organization that is Christian based. It’s new and unique for me and very cool. I love the idea of the readings that Dave gives us before meetings, that we open our meetings with prayer, and that it is a God-centered organization.
What is on your wishlist for the next 5 years with Habitat?
I look forward to the future organization of our database. I see so much potential here in Monroe, for fund development that’s been untapped. I see a lot of growth financially in the next 5 years. That is on my wish-list, getting out to engage more top end donors.
We don’t have big corporations based here and we have a lot of individual donors. I want to find who those top donors are and start to make Habitat one of their top three that they give to every year.
What is your favorite experience thus far?
Team meetings! That’s when I learn what everybody else is working on, and how I can facilitate ensuring that the funds are there for everything that people are working on!