What Will Define Nonprofits?

To adopt the role of futurist also demands that we ask ourselves and our organizations some difficult questions, such as:

• Are we truly and effectively engaging the right individuals, communities, and networks in our work?

What elements of our culture might be holding us back?

• What are we positioned to do uniquely better than anyone else? Is a 501(c)(3) the best structure to accomplish this goal? Do we even need to be an organization to accomplish our work?

• How do we keep on top of ways that our environment is changing? Are we as prepared as we can be for the uncertainty that is the future, and if not, what can we do to change that?

• What if the sector explored creative competitions to spur collaboration and knowledge sharing?

How Can Technology Help?

Technology, which is a significant driver of change, also affords powerful tools for collective thinking and action to position the sector to be proactive — not reactive — regarding these trends. Nonprofits must ask:

• What if the sector launched an open-source process for identifying and aggregating important new challenges and cutting-edge ideas?

• What if the sector employed social media tools to engage both professionals and volunteers in designing new approaches to service delivery or grantmaking?

• What if the sector explored creative competitions to spur collaboration and knowledge sharing?