You write "Speaking of risk, the world feels heavy these days. Our field could benefit from more gatherings that delve into the strategies that lead to the most widespread change. I came away from CGI uplifted by a model our field increasingly needs: philanthropies and nonprofits coming together to find and scale solutions. We need more of it."
I completely agree that bringing together philanthropies and nonprofits to find and scale solutions is crucial for driving widespread change. In addition to these collaborations, I believe we should also focus on addressing systemic challenges within our governance structures that hinder effective decision-making and public trust.
One area that deserves attention is the democracy deficit in parliamentary governance, where bandwidth limitations and hierarchical structures can lead to inadequate governance and erosion of public trust. By 'bandwidth,' I mean the capacity of our institutions and leaders to process complex information, deliberate effectively, and make informed decisions that reflect the diverse needs of society.
To combat this, we can explore innovative approaches that enhance our deliberative processes. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into governance can be a breakthrough. AI technologies can help manage vast amounts of information more efficiently, facilitate inclusive participation, and improve communication channels between policymakers and citizens. This doesn't replace human judgment but augments our capacity to make better decisions collaboratively.
Moreover, adopting best-in-class facilitation techniques from non-hierarchical decision-making models can flatten hierarchies and empower more voices in the decision-making process. By redesigning our deliberative frameworks to be more inclusive and effective, we can restore faith in leadership and ensure that our policies better serve the public interest.
In essence, while collaborations among philanthropies and nonprofits are vital, we should also consider innovating our governance processes to address the root causes of systemic challenges. This holistic approach could lead to more sustainable and widespread change.
I appreciate your thoughtful response, Jean-Daniel.
It's true that we need a multi-faceted approach to solve our social issues. Philanthropy and nonprofits are much too limited in resources to do the job in isolation. This feels like an all-hands-on-deck kind of moment. Governance certainly plays a key role.
Loved reading this! As someone who works with nonprofits on branding and outreach, I completely agree that scaling requires creativity and collaboration. The examples you shared from Sandy Hook Promise and Emerson Collective are such great reminders of how important it is to pair research and strategy with bold action. I’m always inspired by how nonprofits, despite limited resources, find innovative ways to grow their impact. Thanks for sharing these insights, Susan
Bil, I'm a believer in the power of branding and outreach to impact scale, so your feedback is meaningful. Thanks for reading, and thanks for all you do on behalf of the nonprofits you serve!
Thanks so much. It’s always great to connect with others who understand the importance of branding in helping nonprofits. Excited to keep following your work and learning more from your insights!
Thanks, Leah! There's a lot of overlap between these ideas and those in your terrific book, Innovation for Social Change. For readers here who haven't yet checked out that book, I highly recommend it!
You write "Speaking of risk, the world feels heavy these days. Our field could benefit from more gatherings that delve into the strategies that lead to the most widespread change. I came away from CGI uplifted by a model our field increasingly needs: philanthropies and nonprofits coming together to find and scale solutions. We need more of it."
I completely agree that bringing together philanthropies and nonprofits to find and scale solutions is crucial for driving widespread change. In addition to these collaborations, I believe we should also focus on addressing systemic challenges within our governance structures that hinder effective decision-making and public trust.
One area that deserves attention is the democracy deficit in parliamentary governance, where bandwidth limitations and hierarchical structures can lead to inadequate governance and erosion of public trust. By 'bandwidth,' I mean the capacity of our institutions and leaders to process complex information, deliberate effectively, and make informed decisions that reflect the diverse needs of society.
To combat this, we can explore innovative approaches that enhance our deliberative processes. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into governance can be a breakthrough. AI technologies can help manage vast amounts of information more efficiently, facilitate inclusive participation, and improve communication channels between policymakers and citizens. This doesn't replace human judgment but augments our capacity to make better decisions collaboratively.
Moreover, adopting best-in-class facilitation techniques from non-hierarchical decision-making models can flatten hierarchies and empower more voices in the decision-making process. By redesigning our deliberative frameworks to be more inclusive and effective, we can restore faith in leadership and ensure that our policies better serve the public interest.
In essence, while collaborations among philanthropies and nonprofits are vital, we should also consider innovating our governance processes to address the root causes of systemic challenges. This holistic approach could lead to more sustainable and widespread change.
I appreciate your thoughtful response, Jean-Daniel.
It's true that we need a multi-faceted approach to solve our social issues. Philanthropy and nonprofits are much too limited in resources to do the job in isolation. This feels like an all-hands-on-deck kind of moment. Governance certainly plays a key role.
Loved reading this! As someone who works with nonprofits on branding and outreach, I completely agree that scaling requires creativity and collaboration. The examples you shared from Sandy Hook Promise and Emerson Collective are such great reminders of how important it is to pair research and strategy with bold action. I’m always inspired by how nonprofits, despite limited resources, find innovative ways to grow their impact. Thanks for sharing these insights, Susan
Bil, I'm a believer in the power of branding and outreach to impact scale, so your feedback is meaningful. Thanks for reading, and thanks for all you do on behalf of the nonprofits you serve!
Thanks so much. It’s always great to connect with others who understand the importance of branding in helping nonprofits. Excited to keep following your work and learning more from your insights!
Love it!
Thanks, Leah! There's a lot of overlap between these ideas and those in your terrific book, Innovation for Social Change. For readers here who haven't yet checked out that book, I highly recommend it!