Reimagining Revenue Streams & Possibility: How Idaho Youth Ranch Went from Operating at a Loss to Statewide Impact
At any given time, an average of 130 Idaho children struggling with psychiatric issues used to be sent hundreds of miles away from their families to receive residential treatment in other states. For these young people, distance created barriers to the family engagement that modern behavioral health care demands. Idaho Youth Ranch saw this gap and dared to envision something different—a residential treatment facility just outside of Boise, where kids could heal while staying close to home.
When Scott Curtis joined the team as CEO of Idaho Youth Ranch, he knew this vision would require more than hope and significant donor support—it would require expertise, strategic thinking, and the kind of fundraising precision that turns ambitious dreams into reality.
Having supported organizations through some of the most complex and rewarding projects over the last 20 years, DBD Group was honored to provide guidance. Together, we tackled leadership transitions, financial restructuring, strategic planning, and a $35 million capital campaign to change how Idaho supports its most vulnerable youth.
In this case study, see how an organization went from operating at a loss to becoming a beacon of hope for families across the state—and how the right partnership can turn even the most daunting challenges into victories!
The Client: Idaho Youth Ranch
Idaho Youth Ranch has served Idaho's youth and families for over 70 years, operating as a comprehensive behavioral health organization for youth ages 11-17. Their programs now include a brand new 64-bed residential treatment center, a runaway and homeless youth shelter, outpatient clinical services, equine-assisted therapy, workforce training, adoption services, and a network of 24 thrift stores across the state that employ over 450 people.
What makes Idaho Youth Ranch unique is its holistic approach—combining traditional behavioral health services with innovative programs on its beautiful 258-acre ranch. The organization also maintains deep community connections through its network of 24 thrift stores, serving as both a social enterprise and the face of the organization across Idaho.
Background: Why Their Work Matters
In Idaho, a rural state with limited public services, there's often a "pick yourself up by the bootstraps" mentality that, while fostering self-sufficiency, can create gaps in behavioral health support. "One of the things about Idaho is there are not a lot of subsidized or public services for youth or families, particularly people from lower socioeconomic groups," Scott Curtis explains. "When it comes to things about behavioral health, there are some real gaps."
These gaps had heartbreaking consequences. Prior to building the accredited residential treatment center, Idaho Youth Ranch was able to offer services for youth and families, but it couldn’t yet support youth who required psychiatric residential treatment. Unfortunately, this meant youth were being sent to facilities in other states. "At any point in time, we had an average of about 130 Idaho kids in other states getting residential treatment. But their families couldn’t be as engaged in the program because of the distance, travel, and things like that," Scott recalls. This reality demanded a solution that would keep Idaho's kids home while providing the highest quality of care.
Before Working With DBD Group: Operating at a Loss
Before DBD started working with Idaho Youth Ranch, and before Scott Curtis became their new CEO, the organization was facing a crisis. "The organization was operating at a loss, and they were starting to deplete cash reserves that had been built up over many, many years,” Scott explains.
The challenges this presented were multifaceted. Their business model, which relied primarily on revenue from thrift stores across the state, didn’t cover all their operations. Financial distress was exacerbating operational struggles, and together, they were having a negative impact on the team’s culture. They had to make a pivotal choice. "The staff and the board drew a line in the sand and said, 'We're going to fight for this thing,'" Scott recalls.
Ultimate Goal: Create Idaho's First Accredited Youth Treatment Facility & Get Financially On Track
Idaho Youth Ranch's ultimate goal was audacious, yet crucial for families. They wanted to build the state's first accredited residential psychiatric treatment facility for youth, ensuring that they could bring Idaho’s kids home rather than have to send them to other states for support. This effort would require a $35 million capital campaign.
Their goal encompassed not only constructing a facility but also creating a comprehensive 64-bed residential treatment center with year-round schooling, 24-hour nursing, psychiatric care, and robust family engagement programs on a stunning 258-acre ranch campus.
Beyond the major construction project, they had to fundamentally transform their financial sustainability to ensure long-term survival. They needed to move beyond sole reliance on their thrift stores for revenue and build a diversified funding model that included Medicaid reimbursement, insurance contracts, and robust philanthropic support.
One thing we appreciated about our partnership was the opportunity to help pioneer a new model of family-centered residential care that could influence treatment approaches far beyond Idaho's borders.
Recommended Solution: A Comprehensive Multi-Year Partnership
We recommended a holistic approach that would address Idaho Youth Ranch's challenges on multiple fronts simultaneously. The solution began with financial restructuring and organizational stabilization, followed by strategic planning, which culminated in a major capital campaign.
The recommended approach included several key components:
- Supporting a leadership transition with an interim CEO until hiring Scott Curtis
- Conducting a comprehensive feasibility study to test campaign viability and community support
- Developing compelling case materials that would resonate across Idaho's diverse regions
- Implementing sophisticated “moves management” strategies for major gift prospects
- Building a volunteer leadership cabinet to open doors and provide campaign credibility
"DBD brought a lot of that gravitas as well as just really, really good advice that helped us to be successful," Scott explains.
The campaign's success also depended on recruiting exceptional volunteer leadership. So, we worked together to secure what Scott describes as "absolute rock star co-chairs—people that had not actually done too many high-profile capital campaigns or anything like that... but they were well known within their communities. And they were the kind of people that if they called somebody and said, 'Hey, could I get an hour?' They got an hour with those people."
Process: Navigating Change with Strategic Collaboration
The process began when our team stepped in to help stabilize operations, initially providing interim CEO leadership through Jason Fry, who guided the organizational recovery and planning while a permanent CEO was sought. This interim period set the groundwork for strategic development and provided comprehensive support, including operations, board development, planning, fundraising, communications, and a major gifts strategy. Once Scott Curtis joined as CEO in early 2019, the collaboration expanded to long-term planning and campaign preparation.
“DBD Group had been really helpful in trying to turn things around,” Scott shares, recalling why he took the role. He thought, “Wow, I could step in and be a part of a pretty incredible staff team trying to do something special and save this organization that does really good work. That turned out to be true. It has been an absolute privilege and honor to come here.”
Knowing your Audience
One of Scott’s first major projects was a comprehensive feasibility study that provided clarity and direction for the campaign. "I had a suspicion that people were going to be a little more provincial... That is not what came back. People were so moved by the case," Scott recalls. “Without doing the feasibility study, we would not have known some of those connections and opportunities that ended up making the difference in the campaign.”
The feasibility study surfaced two major discoveries:
- First, there was broad, statewide support for keeping Idaho’s kids in-state for residential care—much greater than initially expected.
- Second, the campaign’s core message resonated powerfully. “When I was sharing data with people about our mental health statistics... but then sharing about Idaho kids being sent to other states, and that our own Department of Health and Welfare was sending them to other states, they were kind of appalled and also motivated to try to fix it,” Scott recalls.
Adapting in a Pandemic
The next phase required adapting to major disruptions. “We recruited our co-chairs and were recruiting the rest of our cabinet in January and February of 2020. You know what happened in March of 2020,” Scott shares. Undeterred, the campaign cabinet decided to proceed, launching the capital campaign in June 2020 despite pandemic uncertainty.
The timing, while challenging, brought the unexpected advantage of engaging supporters through the ranch’s open campus. “For about the next year, we were the only thing happening. And we really benefited from the fact that our campus was 258 acres of outdoor space. So, even when people were not socializing or going out much, they would drive out to our campus and walk around, and drive around in the open air,” Scott explains.
Creating Funding Streams
In addition to raising funds, the Idaho Youth Ranch also revised its approach to the thrift store business model and funding streams. “When my first board meeting showed positive financials, that had to do with a year and a half of really retooling the stores—doubling down on certain aspects of thrift, getting efficient, and closing seven stores in order to become more efficient with the 24 that remained,” Scott explains.
We guided the team through difficult decisions, including closing underperforming locations, investing in workforce training, and transforming thrift stores into mission-driven community hubs that drive both revenue and outreach. During this time, Idaho Youth Ranch also shifted its clinical programs to accept Medicaid and insurance payments, opening up new, consistent reimbursement streams. “We became a Medicaid agency and have contracts with insurance companies—so we can serve anyone, whether they’re insured or not. That was a significant shift for us,” Scott reflected. These changes not only stabilized operations but positioned the organization for its next stage of expansion and impact.
Outcome & ROI: Changing Lives In Idaho
The capital campaign exceeded expectations, successfully raising $35 million to construct Idaho's first accredited residential psychiatric treatment facility for youth. The facility opened in August 2023, featuring 64 beds, year-round schooling, 24-hour nursing and psychiatric care, and comprehensive family engagement programs.
"We have 30 youth there today. So we've been on a growth trajectory. The average stay is probably about four to six months. More than 100 youth will completely come through the program in a given year," Scott shares.
The impact extends far beyond the numbers. The stories show the real impact. "We had a girl come to the residential center about a year and a half ago. When she arrived, she was not functioning well. She could hardly even come out of her room. She was curled in a ball. She had not been successful academically for a number of years." But after seven months in the program with active family participation, "She successfully transitioned back, and she graduated last May, and she's enrolled in college this fall.”
Key Learnings & Discoveries
The partnership between Idaho Youth Ranch and DBD Group generated insights that extend far beyond this single campaign, offering valuable lessons for other organizations facing similar challenges.
- Feasibility studies boost campaign success. "I am a huge believer. Without doing the feasibility study, we would not have known some of those connections and opportunities that ended up making the difference in the campaign."
- Fundraising is about building connections. One of the most transformational discoveries for Scott was recognizing that fundraising is less about asking for money and more about building authentic connections. "I really do believe that fundraising is about relationship building. It's actually a gift. It's a gift to both the organization but also to the donor if they get tied to something that they really do care about and is worth them sharing their gifts," Scott reflects.
- Leadership cabinets open doors."When they say to somebody, 'Hey, will you join me in supporting this?' That carries a weight that I can't," Scott explains. When you have someone who believes in your mission and is willing to speak on your behalf, it creates credibility and opens doors that might otherwise remain closed.
- Vision tours create an emotional connection to your cause. Physical site visits proved to be a key element in their campaign’s success. The 258-acre ranch setting allowed donors to literally envision the healing that would take place there, creating emotional connections that translated into major gifts.
Conclusion: Partnership Transforms Lives and Organizations
The relationship between Idaho Youth Ranch and DBD Group exemplifies what becomes possible when nonprofit expertise meets organizational passion and community need. During our collaboration, we were honored to help guide Idaho Youth Ranch from near financial collapse to becoming a nationally recognized leader in youth behavioral health care.
"I cannot tell you the most meaningful impact story. And that's one of the most beautiful things about my work—they come every day. There are just such phenomenal, phenomenal transformations," Scott reflects. Today, Idaho children no longer need to leave their state to receive residential psychiatric treatment, and families can engage fully in their children's healing journeys.
"If you're going to use DBD Group, lean in, because they're going to lean in, and you should lean in listening. I'm telling you, the ideas I got from DBD Group were fabulous. I would encourage you to be a sponge, especially because it's all done with good intent. They want the same result."
For DBD Group, Idaho Youth Ranch represents the culmination of 20 years of meeting clients where they are and helping them make a meaningful impact. As Bruce Berglund notes, "We always say leadership is everything. We were proud to work alongside Scott as Idaho Youth Ranch navigated an ambitious campaign, weathered adversity, and opened a transformational facility for young people in need."
The success of this partnership demonstrates that with the right expertise, strategic thinking, and genuine commitment to mission, even the most daunting challenges can become extraordinary victories that transform not just organizations but entire communities.
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