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Why Entrepreneurs Struggle With Growth (and What to Do Instead)
CASE STUDIES
Case Study: Arts Alliance Illinois
How Arts Alliance Illinois Transformed Financial Chaos into Strategic Growth Infrastructure During 300% Organizational Expansion
Challenge
Arts Alliance Illinois experienced 300% growth but lacked the financial infrastructure to support it. They faced grant compliance risks, leadership transition, manual processes, and delayed financial reporting that jeopardized daily operations and funding.
Solution
EJC stepped in as Interim Director of Finance & Operations, stabilizing the organization and leading a full financial transformation. This included system migrations, automation of processes, new financial controls, investment strategy development, and comprehensive grant management upgrades.
Results
- 85% reduction in accounts payable and reimbursement processing time
- 60% faster financial closes
- 425% increase in subgrant distribution efficiency
- Seamless management of $2M+ in grants with full compliance
- Built scalable systems to support continued mission growth across Illinois
Case Study: Urban Juncture
How Urban Juncture Secured $35 Million in Capital for Historic Bronzeville Revitalization While Building a Community-Driven Economic Development Strategy
Challenge
Urban Juncture needed to secure $35M to redevelop a National Historic Landmark and launch seven local enterprises—but lacked the financial modeling, stakeholder alignment, and operational systems to make it viable. Complexities around historic preservation, grant compliance, and community engagement added pressure.
Solution
EJC delivered a comprehensive development strategy:
- Built financial pro formas and capital strategy for the $35M initiative
- Created tailored pitch decks for public, private, and philanthropic stakeholders
- Managed grant compliance and contractor processes
- Led senior team development and community engagement strategies
Results
- Secured $35M in funding
- Positioned 7 culture and food-based enterprises for local growth
- Restored a National Historic Landmark
- Implemented financial controls, contractor systems, and org-wide process improvements
- Maintained authentic community voice while building professional infrastructure
Case Study: DCASE TWHCP TA
How Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs Transformed Post-COVID Arts Recovery from Crisis Management to Community-Driven Cultural Healing Across 77 Neighborhoods
Challenge
DCASE awarded recovery grants post-COVID but lacked the technical assistance infrastructure needed to help 47 grantee organizations implement projects. Communities remained disconnected, and grantees struggled to navigate City systems, risking the impact of public investment.
Solution
EJC delivered hands-on technical assistance, peer learning cohorts, funding sustainability training, and a digital platform to guide 12 grantees through cultural recovery. Support included one-on-one coaching, program development, and community engagement strategy.
Results
- 12 cultural healing projects successfully completed
- 1,186+ participants reached in a single initiative
- Cross-neighborhood collaboration across Native, South Asian, Latinx, Chinese, Haitian, and African American communities
- Permanent cultural assets and sustained community reconnection
- Strengthened trust between City agencies and grassroots organizations
What Our Clients Say
Simone Walker | Lotus Bloom Marketing
"I recently had a VIP Day with EJ Consortium, and it was genuinely transformative for me. During our session, Rachel helped me register and establish my business entity—Lotus Bloom Digital Marketing Consulting—including setting up the LLC, DBA, EIN, and registering with the state. She also assisted in setting up a business bank account, laying the groundwork for accounting through Gusto so I can streamline payroll and manage finances, and provided an in-depth review of my operational setup and structure. On top of that, Rachel gave me tools to develop my financial plan and strategically build out service packages at different price points.What I really appreciated about the VIP session was the hands-on support. By the end of our time together, I had achieved milestones that had been on my plate for months and were a real roadblock to getting started the proper way. Business structure and accounting are not my cup of tea, and just the thought alone was overwhelming, which caused me to delay starting my business. It wasn't just about checking items off a to-do list—Rachel's guidance gave me a clearer picture of how to structure my business to set myself up for long-term success. Now, I have a legitimate business, and when I start taking clients, I have a firm foundation in place to operate smoothly. I'm really looking forward to our next session, where we'll review the financials and operational structure I've worked on using the tools she provided."
"I was really struggling with finding time and knowing what to do to get my business up and running out of the sole proprietor phase. I wanted to do all these foundational things like get a website, a bank account, business credit, and maybe form an LLC. It was a lot of little pieces that required time I didn’t really have. So, it sounded good for the money to get help with all of those pieces—and some pieces I probably didn’t even know about. That’s really what made me go over the edge—the time I’d save, the knowledge I’d get, and the finished pieces I would walk away with.And Rachel helped me understand the reason for the VIP day. I think being able to accomplish a lot in one day made it feel like the money was worth it, like there were tangible outcomes at the end of that day."
Coya Castro | Excel In Leadership Institute
"My goal was to walk away with clear decisions made, and that’s exactly what happened. Within the first 20 minutes, I already felt like, ‘This is great.’ Especially for a business owner like me, with my size and level of experience, just having a thought partner to help validate my ideas was really helpful [...] and made a big difference."And something I didn’t fully realize at the time, but appreciated so much, was that people were doing things in the background while we were on the call. You were showing me updates during the meeting, like, ‘Yep, this is done,’ and I was like—wait, what? Okay! I’d say it’s a net positive across the entire experience.”
Crystal Coats | Legacy Consulting Group
"EJ Consortium offers valuable administrative and operational support, especially during staff transitions. They provide thoughtful systems advice, employ capable front-line staff, and maintain proactive communication, ensuring smooth operations and a seamless transition process. The team's adaptability and attention to detail consistently exceed our expectations. We are impressed with their professionalism and dedication, making them a trusted partner for our temporary support needs."
Claire Rice, Executive Director | Arts Alliance Illinois
"I have had the tremendous pleasure to partner with EJ Consortium over the last year to provide technical assistance to a cohort of recipients of the City of Chicago’s Together We Heal Creative Place grant program. I have been greatly impressed with the breadth and the depth of the advice that EJC provides its clients across business development, finance, operations, technology platforms, and more. Rachel is a great listener and is able to quickly synthesize complex challenges to offer custom solutions that are mission-driven, practical and sustainable over the long-term."
Henry Wishcamper | Bustling Spaces LLC