One certain result of the recent elections is that there will be change. It’s just not clear what that change will be. For every sector of society — public, private and nonprofit — in organizations of all sizes, it is moments like this that put a spotlight on the importance of innovation.
Here in Chicago, we have had a front-row seat as the power of innovation has revealed itself as a key driver of the regional economy, and there is no question that the spirit of innovation will continue to thrive.
That spirit of innovation in the sector was on full display recently at the 23rd annual Chicago Innovation Awards, which received more nonprofit nominees than any prior year. The winners demonstrate the impact of nonprofits creating new solutions for unmet needs.
Here are a few examples:
• United Way of Metro Chicago won for 211 Metro Chicago, a free, 24/7, multilingual one-stop-shop helpline born out of the pandemic, when people were seeking essential services through what was previously a very fragmented system.
• Feeding America won for MealConnect, a mobile app that provides food banks, food pantries and food donors with real-time information and logistics management, increasing efficiency in the food rescue process nationwide.
• As DEI programs are being questioned, Chicago-area nonprofits are working hard to demonstrate the value of ensuring that diverse voices have a seat at the table. Disability Lead is the only program in the U.S. that trains disabled people to take leadership roles and actively connects them to opportunities. Proven in Chicago, they’re now expanding their model across the country.
• Chicago-region nonprofits are focused on new technologies that have enormous promise but clearly will need guardrails. Spearheaded by Northwestern University and UL Research Institutes, the Center for Advancing the Safety of Machine Intelligence is a collaborative initiative designed to ensure that the proliferation of artificial intelligence in all aspects of society is done ethically, safely and with the wellness of human beings as core principles.
• A remarkable example of government teaming up with the nonprofit sector is the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development’s win for its Manufacturing Reinvented program, which assists small local manufacturers with their highest-priority needs, such as workforce training, operational improvements and capital support.
These are just a few examples of our region’s innovators in the nonprofit sector that were celebrated earlier this month for their unique solutions that create value for others. There are many others in this powerful sector.
Fred Rogers, host of the beloved “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” famously said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’
“To put a twist on this good advice: In times of need, look for the innovators.
There are more than 13,000 nonprofit organizations in the city of Chicago ready to apply the Chicago-style spirit of innovation in adjusting to whatever changes the coming years will bring.
Luke Tanen is president and CEO of Chicago Innovation.