Crash Course in Design Thinking Libby, Jenny & Neese
Let s Think Together. Human Centered Radical Collaboration Bias Toward Action Be Mindful of the Process Embrace Experimentation
Design Challenge: Develop a new nonprofit service How can MAP for Nonprofits serve change agents that are not part of a 501c3 organization?
Interviews & Profiles Foundation of a human-centered design process Uncover needs that people have Guide innovation efforts Identify the right user to design for Discover the emotions that guide behavior
Interviews & Profiles Be human Seek stories Talk about feelings
Hugh Weber Founding CEO of OTA Writer Father of Two We talked to Hugh about the unique partnership between OTA and Pollen. We were both coming to the table as orgs that had previously been privately held and making transition to 501(c)3
Question & Answer Q: What opportunities did not having a 501c3 status provide? A: What it allowed in the early stages of our organizations is a more dynamic environment for partnership. We had a certain flexibility and ability to iterate prototype and pivot much more quickly. Q: What did not having 501c3 status prevent? A: It prevented opportunity for grant we were receiving. The other reality is that we saw these orgs serving community public good and wanted to transition out of privately held LLC companies. Transition required not only technical expertise and knowhow but also support and fiscal sponsorship through process as we evolved.
Question & Answer Q: What was helpful from the partnership with MAP? A: It dramatically reduced the anxiety that came with the transition. From legal, stewardship perspective, evolution of thinking around donors and partners, MAP provided a support network that really relieved the stress in that evolution. Q: What could MAP provide to support that better? A:. I think MAP has the unique opportunity to be a thought leader and catalyst in the Dakotas to provide a better framework and more support and perhaps even unify a community of nonprofit leaders in a state that needs that.
A Deeper Dive Relationship: The relationship between MAP and OTA is one of fiscal sponsorship. They are the recipient of our grant in the interim of us receiving the grant and receiving full 501c3 status. We are a contracted team living within MAP but will transition to OTA as we receive that designation. Focus in Process: OTA had always been a project that was driven by cycles. It was a sponsorship stage, a ticket sales stage, and then a programmatic planning stage. You built the programs dependent on the first few stages of revenue inflow. What MAP provided us was a broader perspective on our programs and demanded that we look at programs first and then look at funding sources and streams and budgeting, and then reflected back what the program would ultimately look like. Concerns: In the beginning I was very concerned about the legal structure around nonprofits, particularly as I still engage in for-profit consulting. My life is spread in 3 different directions. Not only making sure I was in letter and intent of law, but could run OTA at highest level of integrity and ethical consideration.
Building a Problem Statement needs a way to (stakeholder) (need) because. (insights)
Brainstorming Rules Quantity verse quality Headline! Build on the ideas of others Encourage wild ideas Be visual Stay on topic Defer judgment
How might we develop a new nonprofit service. How can MAP for Nonprofits serve change agents that are not part of a 501c3 organization?
Cluster like ideas
Vote Easy win Most likely to create change Wildest, craziest idea!
Create a Model/Prototype Develop the idea and make it visual Show don t tell Test with users and gain more empathy
Presentation of Prototypes Identify spokesperson 2 minutes per group Timekeeper will alert at the end Affirm the ideas
Continual Feedback + What s working Improvements? Questions! New ideas
Additional Resources The video at the beginning of the session was advertising for a new book called: This is Service Design Thinking. ideo.org has classes, a Human Centered Design toolkit, or you could participate in a challenge to practice: https://openideo.com/challenge/creativeconfidence/ideas?order=comments&direction=desc) Stanford's d.school MAP for Nonprofits or Youthprise may be able to assist you if you want outside facilitation. Please reach out!
Thank you! Jennifer Kramm jkramm@mapfornonprofits.org 651-632-7238 Neese Parker Neese@youthprise.org 612-564-4858 Libby Rau libby@youthprise.org 612-564-4858