UCAN

    Transforming Not-for-Profit Operations to be 5x more productive

    Business Planning
    Re-organisation
    Process Engineering

    Wild Growth Partners redesigned UCAN's business planning, structure, IT platforms, and product portfolio through a combined 4-month strategy phase and 12-month implementation program, covering vision, markets, revenue, HR, governance, and technology. This transformation upgraded outdated systems, launched six new online publications, signed key partnerships, and drove a 5x increase in weekly story output and major productivity gains across 20 Asian countries.

    Client Overview

    United Catholic Asian News (UCAN): Not-for-profit with 200 writers/reporters, 80 staff across 20 Asian countries. Annual budget: $3m USD. Outputs: 7 daily online news magazines, 2 customer publications, church information.

    Key Challenges

    • Outdated IT systems and inefficient processes in main offices.
    • Lack of structured business planning, budgeting, and governance.
    • Need for new publications, client partnerships, and organisational restructure.

    WGP Solution

    • Led 4-month business planning: Vision, SWOT, structure, markets, products, revenue, HR, policies, 3-year program.
    • Directed 12-month implementation as Project Director and interim COO: Managed time, cost, quality.
    • Restructure: Reviewed offices, coached staff, hired roles, implemented redundancies.
    • IT Overhaul: Upgraded platforms/email, outsourced to India, 3-year ICT plan, secured funding, PMP governance.
    • Product Launch: 6 new online publications from inception to go-live.
    • Business Development: Signed 4 MOUs; launched 2 client magazines; identified tech partners.
    • Coaching & Budgeting: Balanced scorecards for managers; new 2010 budgeting process.

    Results & Outcomes

    Developed strategic business plan.
    Improved business capabilities, workflow processes, and user adoption.
    Improved publications — from 1 publication to 9.
    Improved productivity — 5x increase in weekly story publication.
    Streamlined operations for growth.
    On-time delivery of plan and program.

    Key Takeaways

    • A structured strategy-first approach enables deep transformation even in complex, multi-country organisations.
    • Combining business planning with hands-on implementation ensures real outcomes, not just recommendations.