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Jul 27

Using AI Responsibly: Protecting Your Nonprofit While Embracing Innovation

By Sponsor Insight

Artificial intelligence is already transforming how nonprofits write grants, communicate with donors, manage operations, and improve productivity. But as AI adoption grows, so do the risks—from sophisticated phishing attacks to accidental data exposure.

At Dean Dorton, we encourage nonprofits to embrace AI with the right safeguards in place. A few key best practices can significantly reduce risk while allowing your organization to benefit from AI’s efficiencies:

  • Protect sensitive information. Never enter donor data, financial information, PII, or confidential organizational information into public AI tools.
  • Know where AI is being used. Inventory the AI tools your staff and volunteers are using, including features built into Microsoft 365, CRMs, and other business applications.
  • Limit access. Apply least-privilege permissions and restrict AI assistants to only the data they truly need.
  • Create a simple AI policy. Define approved tools, prohibited data, and expectations for staff and volunteers.
  • Train your team. AI-powered phishing, deepfakes, and executive impersonation attacks are becoming more convincing. Regular cybersecurity awareness training is essential.
  • Verify before you trust. AI-generated content should always be reviewed for accuracy before being used in grant applications, reports, or external communications.

For organizations just getting started, focus on the fundamentals during the first 90 days: establish an AI use policy, identify where AI is being used, strengthen identity and access controls, provide staff training, and regularly review AI permissions and vendor security practices.

AI is a powerful tool—but it should never replace sound governance, strong cybersecurity practices, or human judgment. With thoughtful policies and practical safeguards, nonprofits can confidently leverage AI while protecting their donors, beneficiaries, and mission.

Need help developing an AI governance strategy or strengthening your cybersecurity posture? Dean Dorton’s Technology Services professionals can help your nonprofit implement practical AI policies, strengthen security controls, and confidently adopt AI while protecting your organization, donors, and mission. Contact Dean Dorton today to learn how we can help you use AI securely and responsibly.

Dec 01

United Way’s Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative leads to industry credentials, jobs, better wages

By Sponsor Insight

Five local nonprofits are offering the initiative in its second year

Submitted By United Way of Central Indiana

Careers that require credentials – a commercial driver’s license or health care certification, for example – can earn people livable wages that help their families thrive.

But barriers stand in the way.

First, there’s the price tag. Earning a commercial driver’s license can cost at least $5,000. Certified medical administrative assistant: $4,900.

Then, there’s the time commitment: often months of training.

On top of that, families must find – and pay for – child care. They may need a laptop or equipment for training that they can’t afford. They may have an unreliable car or lack transportation to get to and from training.

Now in its second year, United Way of Central Indiana’s Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative is designed to be an “on ramp” for people seeking industry-recognized credentials. The initiative eliminates barriers and helps participants earn certifications and land jobs that pay livable wages – on a quick timeline.

Beginning in July 2024, Dress for Success Indianapolis and Indianapolis Urban League piloted the initiative in its first year. United Way funding covered the cost of participants’ training and certification testing, helped eliminate barriers and allowed the nonprofits to hire a coach to guide them through training and employment – and beyond.

In that first year, the initiative served more people than United Way and its partners anticipated: 76 enrolled – and 41 earned credentials.

In July 2025, United Way expanded this work: Fathers and Families Center, Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry (PACE) and Indiana Plan joined Dress for Success Indianapolis and Indianapolis Urban League in offering the initiative.

What is the impact? In the first year, Dress for Success Indianapolis helped women earn Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) credentials, in a field where jobs are essential and in-demand.

Karrise was one of the program’s graduates. After a stroke in 2016, Karrise could no longer work the physically demanding jobs she one held. Now with her CMAA, Karrise can see herself in a health care job that is meaningful, where she can stay for the long term and work up the career ladder.

“Our work doesn’t stop. There is a huge need for this type of programming,” said Bernadette Monk, United Way’s economic mobility director. “Residents and neighbors are interested in short-term credentials, because it gives them hope. In that quick amount of time, they’re able to see their income increase.”

Read – and watch – more about Karrise’s journey and the Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative’s first year on United Way’s website: https://www.uwci.org/blog/2025-dress-for-success-workforce-pathways-initiative

Sep 02

3 Podcasts for Nonprofit Leaders: September Picks for Motivation and Advocacy

By Feature

Charitable Advisors

As nonprofit leaders navigate the complexities of the sector, staying informed and inspired is crucial. With the arrival of a new month, several podcasts have emerged as valuable resources for motivation, advocacy, and organizational growth. Here are three standout podcasts that are currently popular and relevant for nonprofit professionals.

  1. Inspired Nonprofit Leadership
    Hosted by Sarah Olivieri, Inspired Nonprofit Leadership offers a blend of strategic insights and motivational content tailored for nonprofit executives and board members. The podcast delves into topics such as organizational health, leadership development, and effective communication. Recent episodes have featured discussions on building organizational courage and fostering inclusive leadership practices. With a 5.0 rating on Apple Podcasts, it stands out for its practical advice and empowering messages.
    Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inspired-nonprofit-leadership/id1446218521
  2. Nonprofit Leadership Podcast
    Dr. Rob Harter’s Nonprofit Leadership Podcast provides in-depth conversations with nonprofit leaders across various sectors. The episodes explore challenges and successes in areas like fundraising, community engagement, and strategic planning. Listeners gain insights into real-world applications of leadership theories and practices. The podcast’s consistent release schedule and diverse guest lineup make it a valuable resource for those seeking to enhance their leadership skills.
    Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nonprofit-leadership-podcast/id1102505312
  3. Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
    Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership provides a platform for emerging and established leaders to explore career development and organizational growth. Recent episodes like “5 Essential Topics Every Nonprofit Leader Should Know” and “The Strategic Leap: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Scale with Intention” offer guidance on scaling organizations and navigating leadership challenges. Hosted by Dr. Patton McDowell, this podcast is tailored for those seeking to enhance their leadership journey and organizational impact.
    Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-path-to-nonprofit-leadership/id1487854841

As we enter a new month, these podcasts provide nonprofit leaders with the tools, insights, and inspiration needed to navigate the evolving landscape of the sector. Whether seeking to enhance leadership capabilities, develop strategic plans, or stay informed on industry trends, these podcasts offer valuable content to support nonprofit missions and objectives.

What are your favorite podcasts for nonprofit leaders and staff? Email your recommendations to chelsea@charitableadvisors.com

Jul 07

Beyond the Basics: How Algorithm-Aligned Storytelling Can Transform Your Nonprofit’s Social Media Impact

By Feature

Charitable Advisors

In the crowded digital space, where every scroll competes with breaking news, celebrity drama, and viral trends, nonprofits face a daunting challenge: how do we rise above the noise and truly connect with people who care?

The answer isn’t just posting more frequently or sharing an occasional success story. The real game-changer is intentional, algorithm-aligned storytelling—a powerful blend of emotional narrative, platform-specific strategy, and data-driven creativity that cuts through the noise and gets seen, shared, and supported.

If your organization is still treating social media as an afterthought or a basic update channel, it’s time to evolve.

Here’s how to elevate your impact, visibility, and donor engagement by using the algorithm to your advantage—and telling stories that can’t be ignored.

Why Storytelling + Algorithm Strategy = Visibility and Growth

At its core, social media is about connection. And nothing connects like a story. Research from Stanford shows that people are 22 times more likely to remember information when it’s embedded in a story versus a standalone fact. But even the best story will fall flat if no one sees it.

That’s where understanding algorithms comes in.

Each platform—Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube—prioritizes content differently. And yet, they all reward the same behaviors:

  • High engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves)
  • Longer watch or scroll times
  • Content that encourages meaningful interaction

In short: the better your story, the more time people spend with it—and the more the algorithm rewards you.

Key Action #1: Create “Story Arcs” Over Time, Not One-Off Posts

Most nonprofits post a single photo with a caption about someone they’ve helped. That’s fine—but not transformational.

Instead, think like a content creator or documentary producer: break your impact into episodic content. Use story arcs to take your audience on a journey.

How to implement:

  • Introduce a beneficiary, community, or issue in Part 1.
  • Share the challenges in Part 2.
  • Show the transformation or impact in Part 3.
  • End with a call to action: donate, share, or join your cause.

🎯 Pro Tip: Instagram Reels and TikToks that follow 3–5 part storytelling arcs generate 35–70% more engagement than standalone posts, according to data from Hootsuite (2024).

Key Action #2: Use “Relatable Anchors” in Your Storytelling

Your story might be about advocating for school transportation in Indianapolis or a housing crisis impacting the entire state. But the algorithm—and your audience—need a reason to stop scrolling.

Use relatable anchors—universal emotions or situations that make people feel seen.

Example:

  • Start a post with “Imagine not being able to send your child to school because there’s no bus service.”
  • Then reveal the location, the community, the work you’re doing.

This human-first framing invites curiosity and relatability, which drives higher engagement and time-on-post—two critical algorithm signals.

Key Action #3: Lean Into Native Video and Closed Captioning

Video is king—but only if done right.

Native video (uploaded directly to platforms) outperforms shared YouTube links by 2x to 3x, according to Sprout Social. Videos under 60 seconds with auto-captioning and hook lines in the first 3 seconds perform best.

Make it work:

  • Start videos with a surprising stat or emotional question.
  • Keep captions on for silent scrolling (which accounts for 85% of Facebook video views).
  • Add direct CTAs (“Double-tap if this made you feel something” or “Comment with ❤️ if you agree”).

Key Action #4: Hack the Algorithm with “Meaningful Engagement” Prompts

The 2024 updates across Instagram and Facebook favor “meaningful interactions” over passive likes. This includes DMs, comments, shares, and saves.

Post ideas that entice interaction:

  • “What would you do in this situation?”
  • “Tag someone who inspires you to give back.”
  • “Save this post to read later.”

📊 Meta’s data shows that content generating comments and saves gets 4x more reach than content with likes alone.

Key Action #5: Turn Donors and Volunteers into Micro-Influencers

Your nonprofit likely has dozens—if not hundreds—of supporters who would be thrilled to help you grow, but they don’t know how.

Action Step: Build a “digital advocacy kit” with branded Canva templates, captions, and hashtags. Encourage monthly donors, board members, and volunteers to post about why they support your cause.

Even accounts with 300–1,000 followers can have big impact when posts are authentic and timely. This is called networked visibility—and it costs you nothing.

🔎 According to Edelman’s Trust Barometer, people trust friends and “people like them” more than celebrities or brands—making peer-driven content 2.5x more effective at converting interest into action.

Key Action #6: Use Data to Drive and Adjust Your Content Strategy

Don’t just post and hope. Use analytics to refine your approach weekly.

Look for:

  • Retention time on Reels or video posts
  • Which posts get shared or saved most (these indicate high value)
  • Optimal posting times (often early morning or post-dinner)

Pro Tool Suggestions:

  • Meta Business Suite Insights (free)
  • Later or Buffer for scheduling + performance tracking
  • TikTok Analytics for engagement drop-off points

Set monthly KPIs for impressions, engagement, and CTR to donation or newsletter sign-ups. Treat social media as a living lab—not a billboard.

The New Era of Impact: Be Seen to Be Supported

Visibility isn’t vanity—it’s viability. If people don’t see your work, they can’t support it. If they don’t feel your mission through your stories, they won’t give, volunteer, or share.

When you harness the power of storytelling plus a platform-aware strategy, you go beyond just broadcasting. You build community, drive action, and increase impact.

So don’t just update. Move. Stir. Connect. Align with what the algorithm wants—and what the world needs to hear from you.

Your story matters. It deserves to be seen.

Jun 30

Harvard’s Free Online Social Science Courses: A Vital Resource for Nonprofit Leaders

By Feature

Charitable Advisors

In 2025, understanding the complexities of American democracy is more crucial than ever for nonprofit employees and leaders who strive to create meaningful change. To support these efforts, Harvard University is offering several of its social sciences courses online — completely free and accessible to the public.

Nonprofits play a pivotal role in shaping public policy, mobilizing communities, and advocating for social justice. Yet navigating the political landscape can be challenging without a clear understanding of how government works and the forces that influence it. Harvard’s free courses provide an invaluable opportunity for nonprofit professionals to deepen their knowledge in these areas.

The courses cover key topics including the dynamics of American politics, public policy development, and the intricate workings of the three branches of the U.S. federal government. They also explore how political actors and institutions influence the electorate and shift policy outcomes. This insight is essential for nonprofits seeking to advocate effectively and build strategic partnerships within government and civil society.

By engaging with these courses, nonprofit leaders can gain a more nuanced understanding of the political environment, helping them to craft stronger advocacy campaigns and elevate their organization’s impact. Moreover, the courses emphasize how individuals and organizations can use their voices to lead change, providing practical knowledge that nonprofit professionals can apply directly in their work.

Given the growing challenges facing democracy — from political polarization to declining public trust — these educational resources are a timely tool to empower nonprofit sectors nationwide. According to recent surveys, only 20% of Americans trust the federal government to do what is right most of the time, underscoring the need for informed and engaged leadership.

Harvard’s no-cost, open-access courses remove barriers to high-quality civic education, making it easier for nonprofits to build the capacity needed to thrive in today’s complex political climate.

For nonprofit professionals looking to strengthen their advocacy and leadership skills, these free Harvard courses offer a unique chance to learn from one of the world’s leading universities and drive meaningful, informed change.

Learn more and enroll at: https://pll.harvard.edu/subject/government

Dec 02

Let’s invest in digital technology for all, building a more equitable Central Indiana

By Sponsor Insight

In November, a coalition of organizations released the Central Indiana Digital Equity Plan, with the goal of cultivating digital equity for all in the region

By Gary Thompson, project specialist, United Way of Central Indiana

Growing up in Franklin, Indiana, I knew too many parents who had to drive their kids to the nearest fast food restaurant, public library, or coffee shop so their kids could use the free Wi-Fi to get their homework done on school-provided Chromebooks.

Some days, they just simply couldn’t do their homework, usually because their parents were either too tired or busy to drive them again.

Now, almost a decade and a half later, friends who became teachers in Indiana complain about the same barriers for students, except this time, schools have required e-learning days on top of that.
Times have changed, but support hasn’t.

Digital technology and the internet are part of our daily lives, but not everyone has access to these essential tools. Investment in digital technology is like all other infrastructure investments in the United States: The lucky or wealthy get it, and others are left out. Marginalized and disinvested communities continue to lack access.

That’s where the Central Indiana Digital Equity Plan comes in.

In November, a coalition of organizations in the region released the plan, with the goal of cultivating digital equity for all in Central Indiana. We want to ensure Hoosiers in our communities have access to digital technology resources, education and support.

In the plan, we outline four main goals: internet access for all; access to, and ownership of, digital devices; digital literacy; and advocacy for an equitable and supportive ecosystem.

As the state was developing Indiana’s first digital equity plan, we wanted to develop a strategy addressing the unique needs of our region. Our coalition of about a dozen people began meeting in fall 2023, and the plan is intended to guide digital equity efforts over the next five years in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties.

We worked with the Purdue Center for Regional Development to develop the plan, and current coalition members include CICOA, Easterseals Crossroads, Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Indianapolis Public Library, Invest Hamilton, Minority Moves Network, You Yes You! and United Way of Central Indiana.

Investing in digital technology for all will help people live the lives they are capable of living.

If we actually invest in digital technology, parents and teachers won’t have to worry about kids not having access to their homework. Students can excel, prosper and learn – without barriers. Seniors and others unable to make it to a doctor’s office can still get needed check-ups, medical advice and medication, without leaving their homes or requiring a family member to drive them to appointments. Whole communities can live and prosper in Indiana, while working remotely. Those in need can apply to assistance programs, without having to make burdensome trips to offices far away.

You don’t have to look further than neighboring Chattanooga, Tennessee, to see how much economic and social benefit there is to having access to the internet and the skills to maximize those benefits.
Since investing in internet infrastructure in 2010, Hamilton County, Tennessee, has seen a return on investment of roughly $3 billion. Not only that, but their network allows the community to provide free internet to low-income households with children and to be more resilient to a rapidly changing landscape of digital opportunities and adversities.

This is exactly what we want in our communities here in Indiana. Join us in being a champion for digital technology and ensuring our neighbors have access to this critical point of connection to everyday life.

Our current Central Indiana Digital Equity Coalition members mostly represent Marion County, but our goal is to collaborate with partners across the region, including more nonprofits, to discuss areas of need, seek funding and review proposals. We also see a role for corporate partners, who can help support and implement the work.

In the future, there will be a more formal process of joining the Central Indiana Digital Equity Coalition. For now, if you are interested in joining our efforts, contact me and my colleague Jonathan Jones, United Way’s Impact Senior Director jonathan.jones@uwci.org; gary.thompson@uwci.org.

Jan 10

Empowering nonprofit employees can lead to much needed innovative solutions in 2022

By Feature

CICOA’s CEO Tauhric Brown

by Shari Finnell, editor/writer, Not-for-profit News

When Tauhric Brown took on the role of president and CEO of CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions in January of 2020, a top goal on his agenda was the empowerment of the organization’s employees to dream and innovate.

Based on his previous experiences in a combination of for-profit and nonprofit roles, Brown said, he knew that would be one of the most strategic approaches to continue successfully fulfilling CICOA’s overall mission — making the dream of aging in place a reality for many older adults.

Brown acknowledged the challenges that faced him. Even in normal times, it can be difficult to inspire employees to envision how to do things differently. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, further challenges developed as the organization followed stay-at-home orders and remote work schedules

“Many of us have tunnel vision. We see our work, day in and day out, and that’s really all we see,” Brown said.

However, opportunities can develop when leaders are able to help employees develop peripheral vision — recognizing the ways in which their individual roles, such as what a person does as a care manager, impacts the entire organization, Brown said..

“You really have to unlock that potential that lies well inside of each and every one of us,” he said.

As a result of that innovative focus on problem-solving, CICOA launched an innovation studio in 2021, an intrapreneurship model to encourage staff and partners to ideate, prototype and launch new solutions to meet the needs of older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers.

One of the first products of the CICOA Venture Studio was the development of Duett, a for-profit start-up organization with a mission to streamline the process of matching people with service providers through technology solutions.

Innovation as an ongoing model

Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is approaching its two-year mark in Central Indiana, it is even more critical to challenge nonprofit employees to discover new solutions, according to Brown, who anticipates that few nonprofits will be able to continue to be successful without incorporating changes that can equip them for long-term sustainability.

He began the process of introducing innovation early on. “When I first started in my role here in January of 2020, I just started having conversations with people,” Brown recalled. “It wasn’t the CEO talking to the care manager. It was just Tauhric to Sherri — getting to know people on a personal level, and then really challenging them to see their work differently.”

Conversations included looking at goals and determining creative ways to respond, Brown said. “How do we begin to develop some additional programs or social enterprise concepts that might help us for decades to come?,” he said. “In other words, not just for this scenario, but for a more efficient, effectively run nonprofit organization that benefits the consumers you serve for years?”

Problem-solving also could involve determining how to deliver more services with fewer resources.

“For us, that was the primary opportunity we saw — and have been capitalizing on pre-COVID because innovation is part of our culture, part of our DNA,” he said. “That spirit existed here pre-COVID.”

In some ways, the pandemic fueled interest in generating problem-solving and innovative ideas, Brown noted.

Since implementing the innovation studio, Brown said, an increasing number of employees have been actively proposing potential solutions for challenges the organization faced during the pandemic, which forced many organizations to do things differently.

“We’re starting to see more staff bringing additional ideas and concepts forward that may not have been presented without this public health emergency,” he said. “Some of those ideas are now being teased out as potential social enterprise concepts that we can take to market down the road.”

Dec 06

6 leading nonprofit trends to look out for in 2022

By Feature

Philanthropic researcher, educator predicts a year focused on equity, smaller donor pools, innovation, mission and new HR policies

by Shari Finnell, editor/writer, Not-for-profit News

As local nonprofit teams plan for another calendar year, the agenda most likely will include strategies for embracing change, innovation and sustainability in numerous areas, according to Amir Pasic, Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

With the pandemic and social protests representing some of the most disruptive events in the nation’s history, nonprofits are being forced to regroup on how to carry out their mission and operations, Pasic noted. “Almost all of our lives were turned upside down in many ways,” Pasic said. “The nonprofit philanthropic sector was no exception.”

Pasic pointed out six trends that nonprofits will likely need to address as they move into a new year.

1. Integrating equity as a long-term solution. While conversations and news around racial equity may not be as intense at the height of social justice protests, it will remain at the forefront of agendas of nonprofits, Pasic said. 

“When you had the kind of material, economic consequences of COVID, and then afterwards the killing of George Floyd and other black citizens, you saw the rise of racial reckoning and that becoming a global phenomenon. Equity and inclusion became major topics,” he said. “The fervor might have dissipated a bit, but I think those priorities are going to be there permanently for the nonprofit sector because so many of us became aware of the fact that our institutions and practices have been exclusionary.”

With the growing awareness around racial equity, Pasic added, it will have a “differential impact on nonprofits, depending on where they stand.”

2. Relying on a smaller pool of donors, mostly wealthy. Another trend that emerged during the pandemic is a shrinking pool of donors, Pasic said. “One of areas of research that has been interesting but somewhat worrisome is that giving continued to grow, but it came from a smaller number of donors,” Pasic said. “There was pretty strong evidence that donations are coming from a smaller number of wealthier people. We will be looking to determine if that trend will continue.”

Pasic said that nonprofits will need to make further adjustments if that trend remains. They will need to understand the best strategies for engaging a smaller number of donors until they can expand their donor base. “They need to ask, ‘How do you balance that with planning for a future where you’re trying to replenish those donors over time?’,” Pasic said

3. Rethinking employee work schedules. Another concern related to equity emerged during the pandemic when some employees easily transitioned to working online, while others faced downsizing or layoffs because they jobs demanded an in-person presence,according to Pasic.

Human resource leaders will need to explore ways to adopt hybrid work models while addressing the needs of all employees. “It looks like there’s going to be all kinds of different combinations of people working remotely,” he said.  

4. Offering a mix of in-person and online volunteer/giving opportunities. During the pandemic, a significant number of nonprofits offered volunteers ways to continue to support the mission remotely, Pasic said. “More people started giving online, engaging online and trying to figure out who they can help online,” he said. “At the same time, we saw an upsurge in neighbors helping their neighbors. We saw people knocking on the doors of neighbors they may never have met before to see if they could help by shopping for groceries.

“I think we’re going to see more of this type of decision-making in the future,” he added. “People will continue to figure out what it is that they can do remotely and when they have to travel.”

5. Remind your team of your mission. With many nonprofit organizations undergoing unprecedented changes in adjusting to challenges, it’s important to take the time to focus on the mission, Pasic said.

“In times of difficulty, it’s important to remind yourself why you exist. What is your mission?” he said. “Revive that purpose. It’s not only a time to remind yourself of what that is, but for those who are your champions. It can sometimes be forgotten when we’re all scrambling to make it through the day, but I think that that sense of mission can be rejuvenated and give you some energy to start the next day.”

6. Embrace innovation as an ongoing pursuit. “The pandemic has shown us that there’s no reason to keep doing the way we’ve been doing,” Pasic said. “A sense of innovation and possibilities are some of the positive things that came out of the pandemic. When we know our mission, then we can think of innovative and interesting ways to pursue that. We need to take some of the things we learned during the pandemic and apply it to the future.” 

Nov 29

Nonprofits are exploring innovative ways to thrive with United Way of Central Indiana’s support

By Sponsor Insight

by Jonathan Jones, senior director of social innovation, United Way of Central Indiana

There’s a way to do it better. Find it.

That’s a quote from Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in American history. Even with minimal schooling and a hearing impairment, Edison found a way to channel his imagination and curiosity into innovations that have made all our lives better.

Innovation is never easy, especially in the human services sector. With nearly a quarter of a million households in Central Indiana in poverty or economically unstable, community organizations are working tirelessly – even more so during the pandemic – to address so many challenges facing our Hoosier families.

At the end of the day, there are few hours remaining and resources left for agencies to even consider Edison’s statement. So, in 2018, United Way of Central Indiana offered an innovative solution by creating a new strategy, a significant investment and solid commitment to promoting and funding social innovation initiatives in our region.

Since unveiling the Social Innovation Fund three years ago, United Way has granted $2.95 million to 35 United Way accredited and non-accredited community organizations to “find a way to do it better.” In the spirit of Edison, we’re happy to report that the light bulb is working.

For example, the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society has used its Social Innovation Fund grant to hire a full-time social worker to collaborate with attorneys assisting individuals who are struggling to stabilize their lives. The innovative idea here is the partnership between social and legal services: While the lawyer might be helping a client on an eviction notice or reinstatement of a driver’s license, the social worker can focus on helping the client overcome other social impediments to success like financial and transportation assistance.

In another example, grant recipient Growing Places Indy has used its social innovation funding to expand its Urban Farm Incubator program, the first of its kind in Indiana. Growing Places Indy began its work by supporting new and underrepresented farmers of color in urban areas by providing access to land, mentoring, equipment, job training and business development assistance. Now, the program will expand to include training in farming technologies, and a combination food hub for individuals in need a co-op for local farmers who seek additional support. The innovative concept here is lifting up agriculture as a way to address food insecurity and workforce development – together.

Recently, United Way selected 14 organizations that will receive Social Innovation Fund grants totaling $1.2 million for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. With these funds, organizations will use innovative approaches to combat homelessness, expand nutrition programs for Black individuals living with HIV, and support people affected by addiction and substance use disorder, just to name a few. Just think, roughly 5,000 people in total will benefit from innovation in human services in 2022. By successfully seeding innovation in human services now, we hope to expand these initiatives to serve more people throughout our community.

United Way is proud to be a leader in accelerating new ideas that could ultimately lead to better outcomes for Hoosiers. Thanks to community organizations for their ingenuity and donors for their generosity, innovation will be the key to our community’s success and a brighter future.

The light bulb is on. There is a way to do it better. Together, we are finding it.

May 17

Achieving racial inclusion in the workplace

By Sponsor Insight

by Jeremy York, author, Synergy, adapted from the Society for Human Resource Management

Ensuring people from underrepresented communities are recruited and advanced is far more beneficial for an organization than recruiting or advancing any one individual. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) attempts to level the playing field to allow the best ideas to flourish, connect talented individuals from underrepresented backgrounds with opportunities that those in the majority often have unfair access to, and empower the best organizations to thrive. Done right, creating diverse, equitable, inclusive organizations yield greater profitability, innovation, and smarter teams.

When employees who are different from their colleagues are allowed to flourish, the company benefits from their ideas, skills and engagement. The retention rate of those workers also rises. Here are five practical strategies for creating an inclusive environment.

  1. Educate your leaders. Your organization’s executives and managers will be instrumental to your DEI efforts. Leaders — especially middle managers — must be held accountable for results. Leaders should be expected to demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and, more importantly, to be responsible for the environment in their respective departments. Ongoing feedback from their own managers will help to hold them accountable, as does tying the goal to their performance evaluations.
  2. Form an inclusion council. Consider forming a council comprised of a dedicated group of eight to 12 influential leaders who are one or two levels below the CEO. Carefully select them for their passion and commitment to inclusion. They need to be “a channel for communication” between the rank and file and the C-suite, and that includes advocating for inclusiveness in discussions with top executives when necessary. Ideally, councils should be involved in goal-setting around hiring, retaining and advancing a diverse workforce and in addressing any employee engagement problems among underrepresented employee groups.
  3. Celebrate employee differences. One of the most important ways to show employees that you respect their backgrounds and traditions is to invite them to share those in the workplace. It’s well-known that diversity in teams leads to better decision-making, greater innovation and, ultimately, higher returns. Inclusion is what connects people to the business, and we believe it’s one of the core reasons that diverse employees stay with organizations that recognize and celebrate diversity.
  4. Listen to employees. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of your organization’s demographics and people processes to develop specific strategies to promote inclusiveness. Think about the culture you want and how you can create one that is authentic to your brand while meeting the needs of your employees.
  5. Communicate goals and measure progress. Establish and clearly communicate specific, measurable and time-bound goals as you would with any other strategic aim. Every company should first benchmark their culture before they begin investing in it. Here are some actions to follow:

    Conduct a full audit of your people processes — from recruiting and hiring to developing and retaining employees. Couple the data with engagement and other workforce survey data to gain a full measure of your climate.
  • Identify any shortcomings and measurable discrepancies around inclusiveness in your organization.
  • Instill rigor into inclusion strategies with data-driven plans, and measure the results.
  • Establish a clear business case for how the company will benefit by having a more inclusive culture by asking:
  1. What are our inclusion goals?
  2. What are the reasons for those goals?
  3. How do we quantify inclusion?
  4. How will inclusion impact our mission, brand or bottom line?

When you can answer these questions, you’re speaking the language of your stakeholders, legitimizing the business of inclusion and making inclusion a ‘verb’ versus an ideal.

Instead of trying to change some people to fit the organization, we must focus on transforming our organizations to fit all people. To get workplace diversity and inclusion right, you need to build a culture where everyone feels valued and heard.

To hear the full interview with Jeremy York of Synergy, click below.