Collaborative Innovation: What It Means and Why It Is Essential in the Nonprofit Sector
At Breaktime , collaborative innovation is not just a buzzword—it is the foundation of everything we do. For me, collaborative innovation means coming together to work effectively for social change. It's about recognizing that the challenges we face are far too big for any one entity to tackle alone. We must amplify each other's efforts, enhance our collective impact, and work side by side to achieve the outcomes we seek.
Collaborative innovation has been a core value at Breaktime, deeply ingrained in our DNA even before we launched as a nonprofit. During the two years, Tony and I spent working at Y2Y, we made it our mission to connect with as many people as possible—advocates, service providers, and those with lived experience of homelessness—to better understand the landscape. We wanted to see where the gaps existed in the fight against youth homelessness. Through these conversations, we discovered what others were already doing to address the issue and pinpointed the critical areas where more work was needed. These insights became the foundation upon which Breaktime was built, ensuring that our efforts would complement the ongoing work in our community.
With these learnings in mind, we turned to collaborative innovation to guide two core philosophies of Breaktime’s work: how we leverage partnerships in the community and how we problem-solve as a team. Our recent partnership with Father Bill's & MainSpring in Quincy is a perfect example of the former in action. Father Bill's has inspired me for many years, and it was an honor to bring our expertise in financial literacy to their program. We collaborated to host a three-week Launchpad program at their shelter, creating a professional experience that complemented the incredible work Father Bill's already does. The success of this partnership is a testament to the power of collaborative innovation. By working together, we amplified each other's strengths, resulting in a program that was more impactful than either of us could have achieved alone.
We recognize that our work is deeply interconnected with the efforts of others in our community, and we hold immense respect for their contributions. Our view of collaborative innovation eliminates the idea of Breaktime having “competitors” in our space. Instead, we invest in the great work our peers are doing, recognizing that the slight differences in our areas of expertise can be leveraged to more holistically benefit young adults experiencing homelessness. This allows Breaktime to focus completely on what we are best positioned to do. We know that our success in providing job and financial security is only possible because of the strong partnerships we’ve built along the way.
Internally at Breaktime, collaborative innovation means approaching every challenge with a mindset of shared problem-solving. When something goes wrong, I encourage us not to point fingers or assign blame but to focus on how we can work together to find a solution. It is not about what someone could have done differently or who was at fault—it's about facing the issue as a team and figuring out the best way forward. Given the nature of our work, frustrations and challenges are inevitable. We make mistakes, but we believe in taking accountability, collaborating, and stepping up to find solutions. I am incredibly proud of our team for committing to this approach, where everyone brings their own expertise and unique perspectives, allowing us to co-create solutions. Collaborative innovation is about understanding our role in the ecosystem, engaging in tireless collaboration, and uplifting the entire system by working together.
As we move forward, I'm excited to keep collaborative innovation at the heart of Breaktime's work. By embracing collective problem-solving and fostering strong partnerships, we are able to overcome challenges that might otherwise seem insurmountable. I'm confident that by staying true to this value, we’ll continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people facing homelessness.