Large Nonprofit Evolving Around Outcomes

One of the largest international impact nonprofits in Canada is evolving to focus on value it provides

COVID caused many shifts for international impact nonprofit organizations. Shifts in funding sources and donor behaviours. Shift in programs. Shifts in ways of working. Shifts in staff (significant turnover). And for an industry that’s known for slow change, significant shifts in senior leadership.

How can an organization so large and complex evolve quickly in response to all these shifts? The first part was about focusing and relying about what’s most important aka Impact (e.g. field impact first and fundraising dollars second). Second part was about de-scaling and de-complicating and empowering the organization around that Impact by evolving how they organize and work.

In this case, we had a wide range of engagements (some pro-bono and some paid) over the last 8 years. Some focused on accelerating leadership mindset shift via low-threat and low-disruption training. Others focused on shifting large parts of the organization to empowered “Value Streams” able to pivot programs and services quickly and efficiently. Other focused on accelerating new product strategy and discovery.

Context

• 70+ years nonprofit
• Over $16 mil. each year invested in programs across 50+ countries
• Focused on ~20 Director+ Leaders
• Engaged ~100 Director+ leaders

Outcomes

• Accelerated organizational change
• Increased business outcomes
• Increased employee engagement

Services

• Senior leadership training & coaching
• Advisory to Executives architecting organizational shifts
• Value stream design workshops
• New product strategy and discovery workshop (Canada and International)