Featuring: Wes Tillett, Executive Director
The Challenge
Lafayette Urban Ministry had gone several years—possibly decades—without a strategic plan. Leadership recognized the need for a clear, comprehensive roadmap that reflected community needs, organizational strengths, and long-term priorities. They sought outside expertise to guide the process from start to finish.
“We knew it was time,” said Lafayette Urban Ministry Executive Director Wes Tillett. “And we knew we needed outside expert help to do it well.”
Why LSA?
LSA came highly recommended by peer organizations with missions aligned to LUM’s.
- Strong Reputation: Known for listening deeply and understanding local context.
- High-Quality Results: Deliver comprehensive, actionable strategic plans.
- Trusted by Peers: Several local nonprofits had excellent experiences with LSA.
- Alignment of Values: After interviewing multiple consultants, LUM chose LSA because of the clear quality of their heart, mind, and work.
Said Wes, “We chose LSA because we could see for ourselves the quality of heart, mind, and work.”
The Approach
LSA led LUM through a full strategic planning process, designed to be learner-centered and community-informed. Their work included:
- Identifying key stakeholders from across the organization: clients, donors, volunteers, staff, board members, and community partners.
- Facilitating multiple focus groups with well-crafted, open-ended questions.
- Designing and distributing a community-wide electronic survey based on focus group insights.
- Analyzing all qualitative and quantitative data to uncover themes and strategic opportunities.
- Guiding leadership through selecting and refining strategic goals.
- Presenting a polished Strategic Plan to the LUM Board of Directors—who unanimously approved it.
A “Wow” Moment
An immediate impression came after LSA facilitated the first focus group session:
“I returned after two hours to thank the participants, but they were thanking me,” Wes said. “Every person felt seen, heard, energized, and eager for what was next. Only a skilled facilitator can generate that kind of response from such a diverse group. Wow!”
LSA’s facilitation not only gathered information; it built excitement, trust, and shared ownership.
The Results
With LSA’s leadership, LUM achieved:
- Its first formal strategic plan in years (if not decades).
- A clear set of strategic goals rooted in broad stakeholder input.
- Renewed energy and unity across staff, volunteers, and community partners.
- A unanimously adopted plan embraced by the full Board of Directors.
Final Thoughts + Impact
LSA helped LUM create a strategic plan that reflects the organization’s mission, community, and future, energizing stakeholders and laying a strong foundation for years ahead.
“LSA is worth every penny. They do great work from the heart. They bring humor, genuine care, and real skill to the room. They enjoy the work—and it shows.”
About the Organization
Lafayette Urban Ministry is an organization of more than 52 churches that serves as a social safety net for individuals, children and families in Tippecanoe County. For more than 50 years, LUM has worked to give back the hope, the future, and the self-respect to its neighbors in need. LUM takes an active role in trying to change social injustices and improve the quality of life for the individuals, children and families in the community.
LUM is committed to loving neighbors, seeking justice, empowering the least among us, and renewing the social ministry through its food programs, financial assistance, youth programs, immigration services, and homeless services.
Learn more here.
