In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Greg Arend, CEO of the Gatesway Foundation, shares how his team is advancing safe housing, meaningful employment, and true community integration for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He explains why integrated neighborhoods reduce stigma, how donor trust is earned through consistent transparency, and what sustainable revenue looks like for a modern nonprofit.

Key takeaways

• Gatesway is developing The Villages of Rose Hill, a fully integrated community that will include 300+ affordable housing units for neurodiverse and neurotypical residents living side by side.
• Employment is framed as life fulfillment, pairing community jobs with individualized supports and new enrichment programs for those not yet in the workforce.
• Trust comes from transparency. Regular progress updates and clear impact reporting have strengthened donor engagement and accelerated capital projects.
• Sustainability requires diverse revenue streams, not reliance on a single funder or government line item.
• Centering people with I/DD in public processes can shift outcomes. Self-advocacy at a city council meeting helped secure approval for an affordable housing development.

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