We had the opportunity to speak with Jessica Diederich, Executive Director and CEO of Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity, to learn more about the organization’s mission, impact, and the work they are doing in our community. Below, she shares her insights on affordable housing, Habitat’s programs, and what drives their continued efforts in Brown County.
Executive Director and CEO Q&A: Jessica Diederich
As a nonprofit leader, what accomplishments are you most proud of—both personally and for your organization?
I’m incredibly proud of how much Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity has grown in just a few years. Personally, launching the Rock the Block program and expanding the Homeownership Program to reach more community members has been deeply rewarding. To me, these initiatives are about so much more than home construction and revitalization; it’s being able to witness the moment future homeowners finally feel like they’ve realized their dream of feeling safe and stable in an affordable home. During our Rock the Block event, it’s watching homeowners gain a renewed sense of pride in the home they’ve worked so hard to keep up with.
What is the most inspiring part of your job?
One of the most inspiring parts of my job is seeing future homeowners put in the work, what we call the ‘sweat equity’, to build Habitat homes alongside our volunteers, and prepare for ownership as first-time homebuyers. The mission truly works on partnership, and our future homeowners show up, day after day, contributing hundreds of hours, getting hands-on experience to lead with success beyond the Homeownership Program. They take classes to become mortgage-ready and understand the duties of maintaining a home and property. So, when our homebuyers finally sign the papers to purchase their house, you can feel the incredible amount of pride they have at that moment.
The work we do as an organization transforms lives. With affordable homeownership, families no longer have to worry about tough tradeoffs – sometimes choosing between rent and essentials like healthy food, transportation, and their health. They feel stability, and for most of our homeowners, it’s the first time they’ve felt that relief. Our homeowners with children experience greater opportunities to thrive through learning and a safe place to play, and they feel connected to their neighborhood and larger community. Being part of that journey is what motivates me every day to get up and go to work.
What are some of the biggest challenges your organization is facing, and how are you adapting?
The consistently high cost of home building materials and access to land are ongoing challenges that we are facing at Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity. We’re adapting by exploring creative development models, like urban infill lots, exploring alternative opportunities like community land trusts, and by strengthening partnerships with stakeholders to identify areas where alignment makes sense as an effective affordable housing solution. For example, we are working with local contractors to support the increase in homes completed each year. We focus on advocacy, relationship-building, and bridging gaps to strengthen support systems that address systemic barriers. At the same time, we work to diversify funding streams to ensure long-term organizational resilience.
Housing affordability remains a major issue nationwide. How has this affected your work locally, and what creative approaches have helped you continue meeting the demand for affordable homes?
In our community, 68% of households who rent are considered cost-burdened, which means they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. This makes it incredibly difficult to build generational wealth, stability, or plan for the future. To meet this growing need for affordable housing, we’ve expanded our approach and embraced creative solutions.
One of these initiatives is Habitat Homestead, a 14-home development on Green Bay’s east side. We announced the large-scale, multi-, single-family housing development in 2023, and very recently had the honor of dedicating the neighborhood as it is nearing completion before the end of the year. We collaborated with city partners, engineers, board members, and industry experts to design a new housing model that blends single-family homes and townhomes. By strategically utilizing undeveloped land and working with local contractors, businesses, and municipalities, we are able to accelerate the construction process and make a larger impact on the community.
How has partnering with a CPA firm like Hawkins Ash CPAs supported your mission—whether through audits, budgeting guidance, or helping your board make data-driven decisions?
Working with Hawkins Ash has been instrumental in our operations as our partner in payroll, audits, and more. As a rapidly growing nonprofit in Brown County, we simply couldn’t do what we do without this kind of help. We have a complex operating model that spans from mortgage lender, home builder, to nonprofit retail store, and we need the right professionals and experts with the capacity and expertise our organization demands. We truly have been able to exceed excellence and propel operations through precision and transparency – giving our stakeholders and donors great confidence when making decisions. Knowing that we have a community partner like Hawkins Ash bolsters our team’s confidence to be decisive.
As you plan for the future, what priorities or goals are shaping the next few years for Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity?
Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity remains deeply committed to working closely with our Board of Directors to advance a strategic plan focused on delivering optimized and innovative solutions in affordable home building and homeownership. Our priorities include achieving operational excellence through efficiency and continuous improvement, while fostering a competitive benefits package and cultivating a vibrant, people-first culture that drives employee retention and work-life balance.
We are whole-heartedly committed to our mission to serve the community by building 15 homes each year, activating passionate volunteers who share the Habitat for Humanity vision – a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
We also prioritize meaningful connections with our diverse stakeholder groups to collaboratively build a stronger, more resilient community. Through these efforts, we aspire to not only provide quality homes but also create lasting impact by aligning strategy, culture, and community partnerships.
What advice would you share with other nonprofit leaders who want to strengthen their organizations and remain mission-focused during challenging times?
Stay rooted in your mission while maintaining flexibility in your approach. Build strong relationships and meet challenges with innovation. Transparency, collaboration, and a clear strategic plan help navigate even the toughest seasons. Cultivate a passionate team that drives growth through accountability to both the mission and community.
The nonprofit sector often faces unique vulnerabilities, but our organization has embraced rapid growth with grace, openness to change, and perseverance. Empowering team members to lead in their areas of expertise has given us a competitive edge and created more opportunities for scalability and impact in our community.
By fostering strategic resilience and adaptive leadership, nonprofit leaders can strengthen their organizations and remain mission-focused despite external pressures.
For community members who want to make a difference, what are the best ways to support Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity?
Supporting Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity can take several impactful forms. Volunteering your time on our build sites is one of the most direct ways to help. No prior construction experience is necessary, and volunteers contribute to building safe, affordable homes alongside the future homeowners in the Homeownership Program. Opportunities are available regularly, and volunteers gain a hands-on role in transforming lives and strengthening our community.
Volunteering at our Habitat ReStore is another powerful way to support our mission. The ReStore sells donated home improvement items, with proceeds funding homebuilding efforts. Volunteer roles range from sorting donations to merchandising and cashiering, providing diverse ways to engage with the community and support our mission.
Donations, whether monetary or in-kind gifts such as building materials, are also vital. Every contribution helps us sustain and expand our efforts.
Finally, spreading awareness, advocating for affordable housing, and inviting others to join our volunteer and donor community amplifies our collective impact. By partnering with us, community members become architects of positive change, helping turn the dream of homeownership into reality for hardworking people and families in Brown County.
More Info about Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity
Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1987, exists to put “God’s love into action” by uniting people to build homes, strengthen communities, and inspire hope. Their vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Over the years, they’ve built around 140 homes in Brown County, serving more than 200 adults and 400 children.
They run a Homeownership Program in which qualifying families build their homes alongside volunteers and then buy them at no profit via a 0% interest mortgage. Their ReStore—a nonprofit home improvement store—sells donated furniture, appliances, building materials, and decor; proceeds from those sales help fund their home building efforts.
In addition, the ReStore operates a metal recycling program, turning scrap that can’t be sold into revenue to support Habitat’s mission.
Their impact is significant: in the 2024–25 fiscal year, they logged 30,672 volunteer hours from 938 volunteers. Their homeowners also contribute to the local economy—paying nearly $465,000 annually in property taxes, and since 1987, they’ve added $24.3 million to Brown County’s tax base.
Currently, they are working on a major development called Habitat Homestead, a $4 million project on Green Bay’s east side that will add 13 new homes (including ADA-accessible units) to address the local affordable housing shortage.
Learn more about Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity: www.greenbayhabitat.org
