2 Habitat for Humanity affiliates merge, new CEO to be named

The Benton County and Washington County affiliates for Habitat for Humanity have merged to become Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Arkansas, according to a Tuesday (Sept. 10) news release. The merger took effect July 1.

A grant from the Walton Family Foundation supported the merger. Interim CEO Debby Wieneke said the merger has been in the works for about two years. She declined to provide the grant amount, saying it was “an undisclosed amount.”

Wieneke said the hiring process for the new CEO is expected to be completed by mid-October. Wieneke, who was executive director for the Benton County affiliate, said the executive director for the Washington County affiliate was not replaced after Brandon Swoboda left last year to join Fayetteville nonprofit Workmatters as president and CEO. The board took on the director’s duties after the departure.

According to the release, the merger allows the nonprofit “to approach housing needs on a regional scale, delivering more comprehensive support to those in need.”

Wieneke added that “the boundary line between Benton County and Washington County doesn’t really exist like it used to. So, this is going to help and clarify with the community that it’s all one big Habitat: Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Arkansas. It’s just putting two strong organizations together.”

When the organizations merged, the two boards became a joint board with two board presidents. Wieneke expects that after the end of this fiscal year, the board will return to having one president. The nonprofit’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.

Wieneke served as executive director for the Benton County affiliate for 18 years and retired in 2018. In May 2023, she returned to the affiliate before being named interim CEO following the merger. She expects to return to part-time staff after the new CEO is named.

“This is just my love,” she said. “I love the mission. I love the families. I love the board. I mean this community — I’m a walking billboard for Northwest Arkansas anyway.”

The nonprofit has 26 staff and 19 board members. She expects the staff number to grow as housing demand continues to rise. The nonprofit’s three-year goal is to build 20 homes annually. Last year, the two nonprofit affiliates built three each.

“To rev that up means…we’re going to have to step up our game,” she said. “But we’ve got a dynamic board and dynamic staff that are energized and ready for this. So, yeah, we’re excited.”

The nonprofit builds affordable homes for families in Northwest Arkansas with the help of volunteers and donors. Families apply and are selected after a qualification process.