We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Loute recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, folks often look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight – but that often obscures all the nitty, gritty details of everything that went into the growth phase of your business. We’d love to hear about your scaling story and how you scaled up?
When people see the success of Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County today—serving thousands of children and families, expanding facilities, and thriving in a competitive nonprofit landscape—they often assume this level of achievement came easily or quickly. But our story, like so many others, is one of grit, resilience, and strategic thinking. The truth is, it has taken years of hard work, dedication, and countless lessons learned along the way to lay the foundation for the success we see now.
The Foundation: A Clear Vision
Scaling up required a unified mission and vision—one that resonated deeply with our community and stakeholders. It was never just about expanding for the sake of growth but ensuring that every step forward created a bigger impact for the youth we serve. Our journey began with answering a key question: What do our children need, and how can we meet those needs sustainably?
Our President & CEO, Steve Giordano and Board of Directors recognized early that growth would only be possible if we stayed laser-focused on creating safe spaces for kids to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. From the start, every decision revolved around this mission, and that clarity allowed us to navigate even the most complex challenges.
Phase 1: Building Trust & Establishing Processes
Before we could scale, we needed to solidify our foundation. That meant:
• Financial Transparency: We prioritized clear, transparent accounting and reporting processes to show our donors and community exactly how their funds were being used. This not only built trust but also positioned us as a responsible organization that donors could confidently support.
• Operational Efficiency: We implemented systems and processes that allowed us to track progress, monitor success, and evaluate the impact of every dollar spent. Tools like Asana and QuickBooks became integral to our operations.
Phase 2: Strategic Partnerships & Fundraising Innovation
Scaling up required resources—something every non-profit knows is easier said than done. This is where partnerships played a pivotal role.
• Corporate and Community Partnerships: We cultivated relationships with a local bank, businesses, foundations, and government agencies. These partnerships brought in not only financial support but also expertise, volunteers, and advocacy.
• Creative Fundraising Events: For years, we relied on recurring large events as major funding sources each year. However, as we grew, we realized the importance of diversifying our fundraising efforts to align with broader organizational goals. This led to launching new initiatives like a Capital Campaign, Annual Donors, and events that aligned more with our mission, such as the “Great Futures Celebration”.
• Grant Utilization: Securing federal grants (like Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center grants and USDA) became a key part of our financial strategy, but it required careful planning, detailed reporting, and constant adaptation to changing guidelines.
Phase 3: Expanding Services Without Compromising Quality or growing fixed costs.
One of the hardest challenges was growing while maintaining the level of excellence that the Boys & Girls Club brand is known for.
• Leadership Development: We invested in our people, providing training and professional growth opportunities to staff at all levels.
• Facility Growth: Expanding locations through public spaces thanks to support from PCPS and upgrading facilities we owned, like our newly renovated James J. Musso Club in Lakeland, allowed us to serve more youth while keeping them in state-of-the-art environments.
• Program Diversification: We introduced new programs targeting at-risk youth, focusing on mentoring, skill-building, and career development, ensuring our offerings stayed relevant to the challenges our kids face today.
Phase 4: Overcoming Twists, Turns, and Setbacks
Our journey has been far from linear.
• Pandemic Disruption: COVID-19 hit us hard, threatening our ability to keep clubs open and serve kids who needed us most. We pivoted quickly, offering virtual programming and meal distribution services to families.
• Economic Challenges: Like any nonprofit, we’ve faced funding gaps and resource constraints. But we leaned into transparency and communication, rallying our community to step up in critical times.
• Evolving Leadership: Scaling up also meant evolving our leadership structure. Transitioning from hands-on roles to a more strategic, executive-level approach was a challenge but ultimately necessary for sustainable growth.
Key Lessons Learned
• Communication and Collaboration are key: Scaling was only possible because we involved our staff, board, donors, and community in every step of the journey.
• Stay Mission-Focused: Every decision, from adding a new location to rolling out new programs, was tied back to our mission and values.
• Embrace Innovation: Whether it was implementing new technology or rethinking fundraising strategies, embracing change allowed us to move forward.
• Run your Non-Profit like a for Profit Business. Balance the dynamics of your precious resources (Human and Capital) just as GREAT businesses do and be Transparent: Sharing both our successes and challenges-built trust and rallied support when we needed it most.
The Present and Future
Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County serves more over 5,000 youngsters per year, and our impact is felt throughout the community. But we know our work is never done. Scaling up wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning of a larger vision. As we look to the future, we’re committed to staying nimble, innovative, and mission-driven to create even greater opportunities for the kids who depend on us.
This is the real story of how we grew—not overnight, but over years of focused effort, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment. We hope it inspires others to embrace the journey and know that every step, no matter how small, moves you closer to your vision.
Ashley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My journey into the non-profit world has been both deeply personal and professionally rewarding. Growing up in a community where resources for youth were limited, I understood firsthand the transformative power of safe spaces, mentorship, and opportunities. That understanding fueled my passion for joining Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County, where I now serve as the Vice President of Assets.
Our organization provides life-changing programs for children and teens, focusing on academics, leadership, health, and wellness. We aim to create a nurturing environment where every young person can reach their full potential. Through a combination of innovative programs, strategic community partnerships, and unwavering dedication, we’ve expanded our impact to serve thousands of youth annually.
What sets us apart is our commitment to running a non-profit with the efficiency of a for-profit business. We prioritize transparency, operational excellence, and sustainability, ensuring that every dollar and every decision is maximized to benefit the children we serve.
I’m particularly proud of how our team navigates challenges, whether it’s pivoting during a pandemic to keep kids safe or launching a new capital campaign to invest in future generations. Our success comes from being mission-driven and people-focused.
What I want people to know is this: Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County is more than an organization—it’s a movement fueled by passionate individuals who believe in creating great futures for kids. Together, we’re building a legacy of impact, one child, one program, and one community at a time.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Over the years, several transformative books and resources have shaped my thinking about leadership, management, and the entrepreneurial mindset. Here are a few that have left a lasting impact:
Radical Candor by Kim Scott:
This book redefined how I approach communication and feedback. It taught me the importance of being direct while also caring deeply about the people I work with. The idea that you can challenge directly and show empathy simultaneously has become a cornerstone of my leadership style. It’s a reminder that honest conversations, though sometimes uncomfortable, foster trust, growth, and stronger teams.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni:
Lencioni’s framework for understanding team dynamics has been invaluable. It’s helped me recognize that trust is the foundation of any successful team and that conflict, when handled constructively, can lead to better outcomes. His emphasis on accountability and commitment has been a guiding principle for building cohesive, high-performing teams at Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County.
Good to Great by Jim Collins:
Jim Collins’ concept of “Level 5 Leadership” and the importance of disciplined people, thought, and action deeply resonate with me. His research-backed insights into how organizations achieve sustained greatness have influenced how I approach strategy and operational efficiency. This book is a constant reminder to focus on the long game and maintain clarity of mission.
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg:
Sheryl Sandberg’s book has been both inspiring and empowering, particularly as a female executive in a leadership role. Her call to “lean in” and embrace opportunities while challenging societal norms has encouraged me to advocate for myself and other women in leadership. Sandberg’s vulnerability in sharing her struggles and triumphs reinforced the idea that leadership is about resilience and authenticity.
These resources collectively shaped my belief that great leadership is a blend of empathy, strategy, accountability, and vision. They’ve helped me navigate challenges, inspire my teams, and continuously strive for personal and professional growth.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn HOW I learn. For years, I thought consuming endless streams of information—Instagram reels, Facebook shorts, YouTube videos—was an effective way to grow my knowledge and skills. The constant dopamine rush from quick, bite-sized content felt productive in the moment, but I realized that nothing ever truly stuck. Add to this the unique way my ADHD brain works, and it became clear that this approach wasn’t helping me retain or apply what I was learning.
The turning point came when I read an article about unlearning traditional methods of learning. It emphasized the importance of moving away from “one-size-fits-all” learning events and embracing a more flexible, personalized, and integrated approach. I began to see that real learning happens when it’s part of the flow of work—when I actively engage with new skills or knowledge and apply them immediately in meaningful ways.
For me, this meant setting aside time for deep focus, deliberately choosing resources like books, podcasts, and webinars that required active participation, and finding ways to connect what I was learning to my work and personal goals. I also embraced tools like journaling and mind mapping to help my ADHD brain retain information more effectively.
Unlearning traditional methods of learning wasn’t easy, but it was transformative. I’ve become more intentional about the way I consume information, prioritizing quality over quantity. By focusing on a “learn-it-all” mindset instead of a “know-it-all” approach, I’ve cultivated deeper knowledge, greater curiosity, and a passion for continuous growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bgcpolk.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bgcpolk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BGCPolk/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-loute/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaZT2AuFImfuiBmptR9Jexg
