Leah Kral, an expert facilitator and author, discusses the challenges and importance of innovation in nonprofits. She explores successful traits of organizations, the history of nonprofits in the US, and the story of St. Benedict's Catholic prep school. The podcast also covers the concepts of reinvention, piloting vs. autopilot, measuring success in nonprofits, and innovation in various social sectors.
Nonprofits should focus on finding new and better ways to achieve their mission, whether through big breakthroughs or small adjustments.
Nonprofits should have a clear understanding of their vision, mission, and theory of change, which guides their programming and helps prioritize their efforts.
Metrics and evaluation in nonprofits should go beyond reporting to donors and should drive action and improvement, helping organizations adjust their approaches and iterate on their initiatives.
Deep dives
Innovation is about finding new and better ways of doing things
Innovation in nonprofits is not limited to grand ideas or revolutionary changes. It can also be about small improvements and incremental progress. Nonprofits should focus on finding new and better ways to achieve their mission, whether through big breakthroughs or small adjustments. Creativity, risk-taking, and originality are all important aspects of innovation in nonprofits. The key is to constantly strive for improvement and be open to experimentation and learning from both successes and failures.
The importance of clarity in nonprofit vision and mission
Nonprofits should have a clear understanding of their vision, mission, and theory of change. This clarity guides the organization's programming and helps them prioritize their efforts. Startups may take some time to refine and define their mission, but once they have a clear direction, they can focus on iterative improvements rather than constant changes. Clarity enables nonprofits to align their strategies and initiatives with their overall goals, ensuring that they are making a meaningful impact in their respective fields.
The need for metrics that drive action and improvement
Metrics and evaluation in nonprofits should go beyond just reporting to donors. They should be tools that drive action and improvement. Metrics should help organizations understand if what they are doing is effective and lead to better results. They should inform decision-making and program design, allowing nonprofits to adjust their approaches and iterate on their initiatives. A feedback loop should be established, where data and metrics provide insights and drive continuous improvement. Metrics should be meaningful, purposeful, and help organizations better serve their beneficiaries.
Building an innovative culture in nonprofits
Creating an innovative culture in nonprofits requires intentional effort and leadership. Empowering frontline staff to contribute their ideas, challenge the status quo, and bring about positive change is crucial. Leaders should model openness, humility, and respect, creating an environment where everyone feels safe to contribute and experiment. Collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas should be encouraged across different sectors and disciplines. It is important to balance top-down decision-making with bottom-up innovation, using the expertise and insights of both leaders and frontline staff to drive organizational growth and impact.
The potential for innovative partnerships and interdisciplinary approaches
Innovation in nonprofits can be enhanced through partnerships and interdisciplinary approaches. Breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across sectors can lead to more effective solutions for complex social problems. Embracing institutional complexity and recognizing that organizations can span different sectors allows for creative thinking and resource sharing. By engaging diverse stakeholders, including for-profits, nonprofits, academia, and government, nonprofits can tap into a wider range of expertise and resources, driving innovation and achieving greater impact.
In this episode, Acton director of programs and education Dan Churchwell speaks with Leah Kral, an expert facilitator and author who helps nonprofits doing the hard work of building civil society to innovate and be more effective. Good intentions alone don’t translate to impact, so why are nonprofits like the Mayo Clinic so successful when others fail? How can innovation, creativity, originality, and risk-taking be wedded to those good intentions?
