Innovation for Nonprofits: Evaluation Tools: (Part 3: Develop)
You know how some organizations seem to have a magic touch? They take good ideas and somehow make them absolutely brilliant! For example, like how Feeding America evolved from traditional food banks to sophisticated mobile pantries and meal delivery services. Well, I've got great news - there is no magic involved, and you don’t have to be a genius, just try to use smart evaluation techniques, consistently. These are techniques that anyone can learn.
After diving into the clarification (step 1) and ideation (step 2) phases of innovation in our previous posts, I'm excited to share two of my favorite evaluation tools that could be game-changers for you and your nonprofit.
Imagine your team just came up with an amazing new community program idea. Instead of just going around the room asking "So... what does everyone think?" (we've all been there!), what if you could look at your idea from six completely different angles? Or better yet, use three simple but powerful perspectives to spot both the goldmines and the gotchas in your plan?
That is what we'll explore today with two incredibly practical tools: "Six Thinking Hats" and "Rose, Thorn, Bud."
Tool #1: The Six Thinking Hats
Have you been in a meeting recently where everyone's stuck on their own perspective or awkwardly trying not to talk over one another on Zoom? Try the Six Thinking Hats for more structured problem-solving. So, instead of everyone arguing their own position, your team can "wear" thinking hats, exploring everything from hard facts (white hat) to creative possibilities (green hat) to potential risks (black hat). It's like having six different advisors at the table (or in your head if you’re a solopreneur), each hat offering a unique perspective for your project.
Here's a fun way to think about it - it's basically role-playing with a purpose! Let your team really get into each role as they switch hats. Your eternal optimist might discover they're great at spotting risks with the Black Hat on, while your usually cautious CFO might unleash amazing creative ideas wearing the Green Hat. It's a playful way to get everyone thinking differently and sharing ideas they might normally keep quiet about.
Here are the different hats you can ‘try on’ while viewing your project or idea:
🤍 White Hat: The Fact Finder
“What data and facts do we have right now?”
"Our survey shows 70% of clients prefer evening programs"
"Current attendance averages 15 people per session"
💛 Yellow Hat: The Optimist
“What's the best possible outcome we could achieve?”
"This could double our community reach"
"We could secure additional funding through this innovation"
💚 Green Hat: The Innovator
“How could we do this differently?”
"What if we added a virtual component?"
"Could we partner with local businesses?"
❤️ Red Hat: The Heart
“What does your gut tell you about this?”
"How do our clients feel about this change?"
"What fears might our staff have?"
🖤 Black Hat: The Risk Manager
“What could go wrong here?”
"Do we have the resources to sustain this?"
"What are the potential risks?"
💙 Blue Hat: The Navigator
“How do we get from here to there?”
"Let's step back and look at our timeline"
"What decisions need to be made today?"
Tool #2: Rose, Thorn, Bud
Sometimes, we might need a quicker way to evaluate a project as well. If so, this might be a great tool to try! Think of this exercise like tending to a garden – you need to know what's blooming, what's causing problems or weeds, and what might be ready to plant or grow. Let's break it down:
🌹 Rose (What's Blooming Right Now)
Key Question: "What makes you proud when you look at this project?"
Proven successes: "Our volunteer retention is at 90%"
Current strengths: "We're getting great feedback from participants"
Positive feedback: "Local schools are asking to partner with us"
Things you want to keep doing: "Our monthly newsletter has a 45% open rate"
🌵 Thorn (What's Creating Pain Points)
Key Question: "What's keeping you up at night about this project?"
Current challenges: "We're outgrowing our space"
Resource gaps: "We need more bilingual staff"
Bottlenecks: "Volunteer onboarding takes too long"
Areas of friction: "Our donation system isn't user-friendly"
🌱 Bud (What Could Bloom Next)
Key Question: "Where do you see untapped potential?"
Growth opportunities: "We could expand to neighboring counties"
Emerging trends: "Virtual programming could reach homebound seniors"
New partnerships: "Local businesses are interested in sponsoring events"
Innovation possibilities: "We could create a mobile version of our service"
Quick Win: The 15-Minute Garden Check!
Want to try this exercise with your team? How about this?:
Pick one project or program you're working on
Grab some sticky notes (different colors if you have them!)
Set your timer for 5 minutes each:
Celebrate your roses: "What's working beautifully right now?"
Face your thorns: "What needs immediate attention?"
Spot your buds: "What opportunities are just waiting to bloom?"
For any questions or feedback, find us at: https://fundingstrategycollab.com/. Thank you!
