The 10 Most Popular SSIR Articles of 2023

 

The end of the year is often a time for reflection and looking back, but when you examine the list of SSIR’s most-read articles of 2023, you’ll find they’re focused on shaping the future: Improving the practice of design thinking to solve social problems, preparing organizations to adopt AI responsibly, telling better stories for transformational social change, coordinating impact investing so communities thrive, achieving equity and justice for all, and more. Thank you to the SSIR community for sharing and engaging with these perspectives. We look forward to many more inspiring and insightful conversations in 2024!

1. Design Thinking Misses the Mark by Anne-Laure Fayard & Sarah Fathallah

SSIR’s top story of 2023 examines why design thinking, a topic SSIR has covered often, has failed to create significant and sustainable solutions to complex social issues. The authors urge readers to see beyond the prescriptive tendencies of design thinking methods and center their work in the communities they serve. (Open to nonsubscribers for a limited time. Subscribe here.)

2. How to Tell Real Stories About Impact by Annie Neimand

“Storytelling is the most powerful tool we have for helping people understand the work we do, particularly from people who are closest to injustice and inequality.” Annie Neimand, a frequent contributor to SSIR, advises storytellers to go beyond social change Mad Libs and apply insights and best practices from social science and social movements to tell better stories about impact.

3. Small Organizations: The Change That Systems Change Needs by Lior Ipp

“The systems zeitgeist, perhaps without necessarily intending to, has made scale a precondition for success in systems change.” Lior Ipp of the Roddenberry Foundation examines the bias of scale and makes the case for funding more small, locally led organizations working on systemic issues.

4. Impact Investing Can’t Deliver by Chasing Market Returns by Jim Bildner

Is it possible to achieve both market returns and meaningful social returns? Jim Bildner, CEO of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, takes aim at the common “it depends” answer to that question and suggests a coordinated capital approach for making an impact.

5. A Reparations Roadmap for Philanthropy by Aria Florant, Tonyel Edwards, Cora Daniels, Alexandra Williams & Maurice Asare

“There is a massive opportunity for philanthropy to abundantly resource the ecosystem of organizations working to advance reparations as well as build a culture of repair that centers the healing, well-being, and safety of Black people.” Nonprofit and foundation leaders explore the movement working toward reparations.

6. 8 Steps Nonprofits Can Take to Adopt AI Responsibly by Beth Kanter, Allison Fine & Philip Deng

This is a must-read for anyone in the social sector grappling with how, when, or if to use AI in their organization. The authors, all experienced pros on nonprofits and technology, share advice centered on these objectives: Use care, do no harm, and stay human-centered.

7. How We Achieve a Multiracial Democracy by Angela Glover Blackwell

“What is more threatening to authoritarian leaders than an educated, informed citizenry?” PolicyLink founder Angela Glover Blackwell describes a framework for understanding race and racism in the United States that focuses on root causes, systemic challenges, and the need for equitable solutions that will achieve justice for all.

8. Measuring Narrative Change: Moving From Theory to Practice by Brett Davidson

“Organizations can start off by finding ways to measure and assess what is closest to them and their power to influence in the near term, and then they can expand in ever-increasing circles as time goes on and as resources are available.” Brett Davidson suggests a “concentric circle” model for thinking about and measuring narrative change.

9. Building Nonprofit Capacity, Hand in Hand by Anu Malipatil & Lucy Brainard

“Funders should play a more strategic and hands-on role that involves engaging in transparent conversations with grantees, acknowledging valuable perspectives on both sides, and co-creating plans to address agreed-on challenges.” Anu Malipatil and Lucy Brainard of Overdeck Family Foundation explain why trust-based philanthropy and strategic capacity building are compatible, and they share their experiences helping organizations become more cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable.

10. Zero-Problem Philanthropy by Christian Seelos

“Social problems are like Hydra heads: cut one off, and more appear. This is the frustrating reality that organizations in the philanthropic sector face every day,” writes, Christian Seelos, codirector of the Global Innovation for Impact Lab at Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. So what should philanthropic leaders do differently to confront these problems? Perhaps the issue is with problem-solving itself.

Honorable Mentions:

11. A Circle That Isn’t Easily Squared by Ken Pucker

12. Don’t Feed the Zombies by Kevin Starr

13. The Emerging Field of Political Innovation by Johanna Mair, Josefa Kindt & Sébastien Mena

14. BIPOC Organizations and the Hamster Wheel of Philanthropy by Grace Azenabor, Mariam Mansury, Jasmine Arai & Gabriel Kasper

15. The New Problem-Solving Skills That All Cities Need by James Anderson

16. Reimagining Our High-Tech World by Mike Kubzansky

17. Choosing AI’s Impact on the Future of Work by Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson

18. Transforming Local Communities Through Artistic Leadership by Stephan Manning & Yeşim Uygur

19. Strong Boards: An Antidote to Founder Syndrome by Joan Garry

20. Putting the SDGs Back on Track by Amanda Williams, Patrick Haack & Knut Haanaes

21. The Case for Mental Health in Our Social Change Worlds by Daisy Rosales & Kelly Davis

SSIR is constantly seeking new contributors and story ideas. We encourage social innovators of all identities and backgrounds, at all levels of their careers, and in all countries around the world to review our submission guidelines and consider sharing their ideas and experiences with our readers. If you have an idea for an article, we want to hear from you.

Read more stories by SSIR Editors.