Robert Fair is a Decatur native who holds bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from University of Illinois Springfield. He originally envisioned having a career in government and worked on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus before joining Habitat for Humanity – Sangamon County in 2023 as the community outreach manager. Fair became the executive director in June 2024, following the retirement of Colleen Stone. Fair has also served as an adjunct instructor at his alma mater.
Fair cites his mother, who passed away in 2023, as his biggest influence, along with UIS professor Adriana Crocker, who mentored him and encouraged him to finish his graduate program. Fair said he strives to make the same type of meaningful impact on others.
Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job?
I was born in Decatur, Illinois, and raised there. My first job was sweeping floors at age 16 at a company called Bodine Electric. I didn't work directly for my dad, but my dad definitely got me the job.
What inspired you to become involved in the nonprofit world?
I have always had the desire to do meaningful work. When I went to college, I thought I was heading down the political science path. I spent a few years working on political campaigns and six years working in the state Senate. Around the time of COVID-19 – and I think a lot of people were doing this – I was re-evaluating where I wanted to be in life, and I started thinking about nonprofit work. I happened one night to stumble upon the community outreach position at Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County, and I applied for and got the position.
What is the greatest joy of working in the nonprofit world?
The greatest joy is seeing the work that you do. When we have new home dedications, the reactions of families to being first-time homeowners, and how grateful and ecstatic they are, and the hard work they have put in on the home – you get to see all of that in one moment. That hope for tomorrow is a wonderful thing to see and each time I see it. It keeps me motivated.
Does nonprofit work sometimes become all-consuming?
The job that any nonprofit employee or executive director does is hard work. Most of the time nonprofits have smaller staffs, so we all are doing four or five different roles. That can be taxing. It's good to find a balance and remember why you chose the career you did. It's also important to take breaks and have your own time. One thing I have learned in my role as executive director at Habitat is that the work doesn't end, you just have to find a stopping point for the day or weekend.
Does the Springfield area adequately support nonprofits, or do we have some work to do in that regard?
I think any nonprofit manager will say there's always work to be done when it comes to fundraising, getting people involved and getting your message out. But I will say that this community is definitely a community that gives back. Habitat has great relationships with faith groups from all different denominations and with the city, the county and our elected leaders. The Springfield community does like to volunteer, and they like to donate. But there's always room for improvement.
Do you recommend that everyone engage in some form of volunteer service?
In this post-COVID time, I think a lot of us have grown distant from our communities. Our volunteer numbers here at Habitat have dropped off from where they were before the pandemic. I think that people are more conscious of the time they spend with different organizations. It is important in these times to give back to your community. The world we live in is crazy, and the only way to get through crazy times is to rally together as a community. Volunteerism is extremely important if we are going to have a strong community going forward. It's good for business, it's good for civic engagement and it's good for your local nonprofits that are doing good service.
Do you recall a particularly memorable occasion when someone took ownership of a Habitat home?
Each and every Habitat home dedication has been touching in some way. A recent partner, Teresa Baker, was the first person in her family to have ever owned a home. Our homeowners buy their homes, but it comes through our homeownership program, which means sweat equity hours. They have to volunteer on the build site, volunteer in our ReStore, and they have to help build other partner family homes. Teresa is raising kids and helping to take care of grandkids while also working full time. So being able to find that balance, meet the day-to-day things that life throws at you, and to be able to be the first person in your family to own a home, you know you are changing the trajectory of your generation and those family members who are coming after you.
What advice would you give to young people who are deciding on a career field?
I think the best thing young people can do as they are getting their feet under them is to experiment with what they want to do. When we go to college and graduate, we are leaving with a mission of what we want to do. But life throws curves at you and sometimes those curves lead you down a path you never thought you'd go down. It can be very rewarding. So find your own path, but when you get an opportunity to try something new, do it, because you don't know where you might land.
What may people be surprised to learn about you?
Even though I do serious work, I have a pretty good sense of humor and I like to laugh. I like to make sure others feel included in the environment we foster here at Habitat, I love people, and that has gotten me where I'm at now.
