How can you design and deliver non-profit programs for the future?

1 Understand your purpose and vision

Before you start designing or delivering any program, you need to have a clear understanding of why you are doing it and what you want to achieve. This means defining your mission, goals, and objectives, as well as your theory of change and logic model. These elements will guide your decisions and actions throughout the program cycle, and help you communicate your value proposition to your funders, partners, and participants. You also need to align your purpose and vision with the broader context and trends that affect your issue area and target population, such as social, economic, political, technological, and environmental factors.

2 Involve your stakeholders and beneficiaries

One of the most important aspects of designing and delivering non-profit programs for the future is to involve your stakeholders and beneficiaries in the process. This means engaging them in meaningful and inclusive ways, such as co-designing, co-delivering, and co-evaluating your program. By doing so, you can ensure that your program is relevant, responsive, and respectful of the needs, interests, and preferences of those who are affected by it. You can also build trust, ownership, and empowerment among your stakeholders and beneficiaries, and foster collaboration and innovation.

3 Embrace learning and adaptation

Another key principle for designing and delivering non-profit programs for the future is to embrace learning and adaptation. This means adopting a continuous improvement mindset, and collecting and using data and feedback to inform your program design and delivery. You also need to be flexible and agile, and ready to adjust your program to changing circumstances and opportunities. By doing so, you can enhance your program quality and effectiveness, and demonstrate your accountability and transparency to your stakeholders and beneficiaries.

4 Leverage technology and innovation

Technology and innovation can offer many opportunities and benefits for designing and delivering non-profit programs for the future. For example, you can use digital tools and platforms to reach and engage more people, deliver your program more efficiently and effectively, collect and analyze data more easily and accurately, and communicate and collaborate more seamlessly and securely. You can also explore new and creative ways to address your program challenges and opportunities, such as using design thinking, social innovation, or systems thinking. However, you also need to be aware of the potential risks and limitations of technology and innovation, such as ethical, legal, or accessibility issues, and ensure that you use them appropriately and responsibly.

5 Align with best practices and standards

Finally, designing and delivering non-profit programs for the future requires that you align with best practices and standards in your field and sector. This means following the principles, guidelines, and frameworks that are established and recognized by your peers, funders, regulators, and beneficiaries. For example, you can use the Project Management Institute (PMI) standards for managing your program, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) criteria for evaluating your program, or the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for aligning your program with global priorities. By doing so, you can ensure that your program is consistent, credible, and compatible with the expectations and requirements of your stakeholders and beneficiaries.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?