Five Good Ideas about futureproofing your non-profit

In this engaging presentation, Sanjay Khanna explored the need for non-profits and social sector organizations to step up to the challenges of economic and social conditions the future brings. He examined why and how to be ready for the long-term risks in four key areas: economic reordering, mental health burdens, extreme weather and climate change, and technological acceleration. How might non-profits re-imagine their role in the 21st century and maintain the ability to reinforce the social fabric through foresight, insight, and innovation?

Five Good Ideas

1. Consider: For how many years ahead is it possible for your not-for-profit to prepare?
   Prediction is hard in increasingly uncertain times. Hypothetical scenario: If the Snakes and Ladders board layout were updated for the 21st century, you’d notice a larger number of snakes and fewer ladders. In other words, more risk, less opportunity. To plan ahead, your organization needs to understand risk from new angles and capitalize on opportunity with heightened awareness.
2. Imagine: If your organization fails, what seeds of its mission could be planted in a new structure?
   Your not-for-profit is an entity whose mission is supported by values, beliefs, donor support, social innovation, tech innovation and more. Which emerging business models or approaches could help build scale and resilience from the ashes of your not-for-profit’s potential failure?
3. Ask: What are my personal and professional needs in a more challenging future?
   This century is as stable as it will ever be. What are your needs amid major economic, climatic, and societal shifts? Are there places you need to go while the climate is still relatively stable? People you need to meet? Children you’d like to have? Engaging with life-as-it-is could endow you with inner strength to be of service in a climate-changed Canada.
4. Assess: The quality of your leadership – Is it 21st-century ready?
   Do your organization’s leaders deeply understand the emerging risk environment? How mindfully do they explore the potential impact of massive change on your not-for-profit’s mission? Assess this realistically and compassionately as part of your personal adaptation toolkit. Hint: Your personal adaptation is part of your not-for-profit’s future proofing.
5. Understand: How to map philanthropic intent with human needs?
   Philanthropists who understand the nature of emerging risk and opportunity will be increasingly important for not-for-profits’ success. The co-creation of not-for-profit goals and objectives among philanthropists, management, employees and communities will help address societal disruption caused by accelerating change. Bonus: Co-creation will also help with future proofing.

Resources

1. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
   Nobel Prize-winning behavioural economist Kahneman isn’t optimistic about humans’ ability to adapt cognitively and behaviourally to risks as all-encompassing as climate change. The book provides a solid basis for understanding human limitations.
2. Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner
   Dan Gardner is a new advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office, and this is an interesting book about predictably good forecasters.
3. Managers Not MBAs by Henry Mintzberg
   Vital book about the importance of managers who understand people at least as well as they understand spreadsheets.
4. Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir
   Builds on Kahneman’s work, demonstrating how poverty affects decision making from a biological standpoint. Evokes compassion about how challenging material conditions correlate with suboptimal decision making.
5. Dark Age Ahead by Jane Jacobs
   Richly insightful book about societal patterns indicative of challenging times ahead.