CLIENT STORY · SOCIAL SERVICES
From merger to momentum.
The Outreach House provides food, clothing, infant and child essentials, and emergency financial assistance to families in the Lombard area. AltruNext helped unite four organizations, then build a fundraising roadmap for the next stage of growth.
The challenge
In 2021, four local organizations set out to create one centralized hub for essential services. The merger required careful alignment of governance, finances, programs, and organizational cultures while preserving mission and community trust.
By 2025, growing demand had created a new challenge: preparing for a larger facility and increased operating costs. The Outreach House needed a clear plan to strengthen fundraising capacity and sustain its next phase of growth.
Our approach
01 · Unite
In 2021, align leaders and boards around shared goals, integrate governance and operations, and guide stakeholder communication through the merger.
02 · Assess
In 2025, review three years of fundraising results, assess development readiness, and discuss the findings with leadership.
03 · Identify
Identify opportunities in individual giving, institutional giving, infrastructure, and other revenue streams, then prioritize recommendations with staff and board members.
04 · Plan
Develop a 12–24-month roadmap with goals, timelines, roles, and next steps, including staffing recommendations and a part-time development role.
One organization. A plan for sustainable growth.
The merger created a stronger foundation for coordinated community services. The Development Plan gave The Outreach House a focused strategy to diversify funding, engage donors, and manage expanded operating needs—with clear priorities, responsibilities, and next steps for staff and board members.
4
Organizations united into one community hub
3 months
Focused fund development planning process
12–24 months
Roadmap for financial sustainability and growth
“AltruNext helped us identify the core issues we needed to address to focus on our development priorities. Throughout the process, they kept us anchored on those key areas, ensuring we didn’t lose time or energy on tangential matters.”
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Catherine Lynott
Executive Director, The Outreach House