Connecting Compassion to Community

Irish Community Services (ICS) has evolved from a grassroots safety net for newly arrived immigrants into a comprehensive social and cultural lifeline across the Midwest. Along the way, navigating pivotal points of growth required more than just dedication: it demanded a clear vision.

Enter Executive Service Corps of Chicago (ESC), whose high-impact strategic planning and project consulting services have served as a steady compass throughout the organization’s developmental years.

Working Toward a Vibrant, Connected and Caring Irish Community

“Irish Community Services is worthy of the Executive Service Corps of Chicago 2026 Community Partner Award for its unwavering leadership to serve, empower and connect the Irish and Irish American Community,” said Philip I. Waitzman, President and CEO of ESC.

“It is so rewarding for our consultants to partner with community-centered agencies like ICS. Their commitment to the continued growth ensures that educational, wellness and cultural programs remain accessible to people across Chicagoland and the Midwest,” Waitzman added.

Founded in 1998 to serve the Irish community, the organization offers immigration services to people from any country of origin, including many Hispanic clients.

Beyond immigration support and services, ICS offers an abundance of community service programs for seniors, youth, and families.

A Partnership that Builds Success

“ESC has helped us formalize our financial procedures, create a comprehensive employee handbook, and is now guiding us through the development of a formal multi-year strategic plan,” said Paul Dowling, Executive Director, Irish Community Services (ICS).

“The ESC consultants have consistently been diligent, responsive, and remarkably easy to work with. They take the time to understand our organization, bring deep expertise and thoughtful questions to each engagement, and demonstrate a genuine dedication to our success.

“ESC’s support has strengthened ICS internal systems, governance, and ability to plan confidently for the future,” Dowling added.

In addition, “ESC is also providing invaluable support to the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (of which ICS is one of ten members) as it considers its future direction,” Dowling pointed out. “The ESC team has demonstrated the same diligence, accessibility, and commitment to the Coalition’s success.”

Dowling emphasized that “ESC has brought structure and clarity to a complex conversation involving organizations with different experiences and perspectives. Their ability to listen carefully, identify common ground, and help a group move toward meaningful decisions has been especially valuable.”

Executive Service Corps: Committed to the Success of Irish Community Services

Executive Service Corps has worked with ICS since 2009. In addition to the completion of an employee handbook (with the expertise of Alan Kaplan, ESC consultant), the Engagement Team completed a compensation study. Feedback on both was highly constructive in managing staff needs and bringing organizational structure to the nonprofit,” said Kevin Wilson, ESC Engagement Manager for the projects.

“Irish Community Services is a well-run nonprofit that is developing a strategic plan to ensure they continue to grow and evolve with client needs. They are very engaged and looking to determine the major strategic questions and objectives to focus on for the next 3 to 5 years, said Bob Hubberts, ESC Board member and long-time Engagement Manager.

Previously ESC consultants completed a major project to assess financial activity, processes and overall assessment of accounting and finance and accounting for the organization.

Dowling summarized the overall value of the ESC consulting team relationship: “Irish Community Services has benefited from a longstanding partnership with Executive Service Corps of Chicago across several important stages of our organizational development.”

Learn More About Irish Community Services and Executive Service Corps

For additional information about Irish Community Services visit:https://www.irishchicago.org/ Or call 773-282-8445.

To learn more about Executive Service Corps of Chicago visit: https://www.execservicecorps.org/ or call 312-880-7734.