Outreach, Inc. is a key civic safety net for Central Indiana teens who are homeless or at risk. Founder and CEO Eric Howard started the non-profit group nearly two decades ago, literally operating out of the trunk of his car. Now Outreach serves nearly 400 homeless young people between the ages of 14-24, has a permanent staff of 15 people plus 96 volunteers.
“We call our volunteers unpaid staff because they are so vital to our success. They are mentors and tutors to our young adults, and also perform administrative duties and data entry,” Howard said.
After operating out of a home on Indianapolis’ Eastside for many years, Outreach recently broke ground on a new facility four blocks away that is almost four times as large as their present space. That has brought expanded ambitions, but also new challenges.
A Christian-centered group, Outreach offers a broad range of services, from meals and a place to shower to counseling and referral to other community resources. They also run a telephone resource line for teens who find themselves in need of their services..
For a number of years now Outreach has turned to Sponsel CPA Group for help. Not only does the firm assist them in meeting all their important filing deadlines and state and federal disclosure requirements, they serve as proactive advisors who bring new ideas and opportunities to the table. This includes streamlining their new service model, launched in June, which promotes health and capacity amongst youth, staff and partners.
“We couldn’t do what we do without Sponsel CPA Group. They not only celebrate our success but want us to thrive. They are partners, and I’m surprised how excited they get about our successes,” Howard said, adding that members of the Sponsel staff attended their groundbreaking and other events.
“This is hard to believe, but our staff loves it when they come to audit. The audit is more than catching mistakes. It’s about helping us become a better steward with the resources entrusted to us.”
Unlike previous accounting firms that seemed more interested in racking up billable hours than lending assistance, the Sponsel team is always ready to help, Howard said. “We are never embarrassed to ask Sponsel CPA Group a question. They know filing deadlines and state and federal requirements are their focus, which frees us up to focus on our business.”