article thumbnail

Investing in Systems Change Capacity

Stanford Social Innovation Review

A market innovation like creating a sustainable seafood market is unlikely to create enduring systems change without building strong relationships with civil society. Embedding change into a system means philanthropic staff, trustees, organizational divisions, and funder collaborative members must buy into the process.

article thumbnail

Can Cities Be the Source of Scalable Innovations?

Stanford Social Innovation Review

In fact, city leaders often follow the pioneering innovations of civil society organizations. The initiation power of civil society organizations does not end with “small wins.” .” Diffusion between cities does not only happen on the level of city governments. Create synapses for within-city learning.

article thumbnail

How Organizations Build Trust

Stanford Social Innovation Review

American civil society institutions have an important role to play. Trust-building is actions aligned to values—it’s not just communicating about what matters, but doing it. Trust-building is actions aligned to values—it’s not just communicating about what matters, but doing it. Francis Collins, M.D.,

article thumbnail

How Global Talent Enriches a Global Health Organization

NonProfit Leadership Alliance

Yet to address these problems, we need to zoom in, convening experts, civil society and affected communities to explore sustainable solutions that work in the local context. Some challenges may be less tangible, such as cultural differences and values. The telephoto perspective allows us to identify problems.

Health 91
article thumbnail

When to Call It Quits

Stanford Social Innovation Review

As the Nicaraguan government tightened its grip on authoritarian rule, it was threatened by civil society organizations who possess the power to hold them accountable, receiving funds they do not control and investing those funds in services that preserve human rights, protect democracy, and empower individuals.

article thumbnail

Invest in Networks for Exponential Climate Wins

Stanford Social Innovation Review

That’s because each network member can tackle a piece of the puzzle, while maintaining relationships that allow coordination, collaboration, and troubleshooting. DEC is able to achieve major policy wins because each member organization adds unique value to a carefully coordinated campaign effort that can ramp up at opportune policy moments.

article thumbnail

Using ‘Purple Glasses’ to Achieve Gender Equity in Mexico

Stanford Social Innovation Review

This involves collaborating with women leaders in business and academia around the world, which extends the impact of our work locally and creates valuable professional relationships and partnerships. Innovation thus becomes a powerful tool driven by the intellectual participation of women from diverse contexts.