When it comes to expanding their reach and who they help, nonprofits have a lot of considerations to make; how can they utilize their community? Do they need more funding? In addition to ensuring that their efforts are financially protected with the right insurance for non profit organizations, they have to make sure their actions and efforts are ethical. Finally, a nonprofit’s main goal is to ensure they are helping all that they can, hence the importance of expanding their reach. So how is this done? One Forth Worth Homeless Shelter may have the answer.

Many times, it’s all about branding. Fort Worth’s ACH Child and Family Services formerly was referred to as All Church Home five years ago. Their mission is to protect children from abuse, neglect, and family separation. The nonprofit has been around for a century, however in the last couple of decades had been unintentionally excluding a large group of youth they could have been helping. This group? The LGBT community.

As ACH representative Sean Allen puts it, “They’ve [LGBT youth] been found out or they come out to their family,” he continues, “They’re facing high levels of rejection, and they either get kicked out of the house or choose to leave the house and begin couchsurfing and that’s their entry into homelessness.”

So how has ACH excluded this needy group? Research had revealed that many of these kids were avoiding ACH under its former name due to its reputation as a church shelter. LGBT youth are typically used to being rejected by devout staffers at these types of shelters. ACH Vice President Alan Schonborn admits that many shelter workers saw ACH as a haven for heterosexual youth only. Unfortunately as a result, many of these excluded youth felt safer on the streets than they do in these shelters.

Nell Gaither, president and found of the nonprofit Transpride Initiative, reminds people that LGBT youth are “still human,” and deserving of the care provided by nonprofit homeless shelters. This inclusive attitude is one that Sean Allen says that ACH now strives for every day. He even points out that some employees considered leaving the organization once the name and mission started including these youth, but actually changed their minds. Allen points out that he’s seen a significant change in his employees; they are not open and secure about various sexual identities and orientation.

This progressive and accepting nature may be the answer that nonprofits need to expand their reach, help more people, and perhaps even gain more funding from investors that support these life-changing causes.

At Charity First, we understand the risks faced by nonprofits of all types, and we are committed to helping you place coverage for your nonprofit clients. Our mission is to provide coverages tailored to meet the unique needs of this market segment. Please contact us today to learn more at (800) 352-2761.