Nonprofit

Challenge

Nonprofit organizations are addressing the world’s greatest social, environmental, and economic challenges yet are often operating in resource-constrained environments. Nonprofit leaders and employees are required to be resourceful with time, money, and people to advance their cause. Yet, heavy reliance on volunteers and grant funding can be a challenge that will require a new focus on innovative ways to drive sustainability.

Solution

An entrepreneurial mindset can drive innovation in nonprofits by providing a new framework for thinking and acting. It an empower nonprofit leaders and employees to recognize opportunity, remain adaptable through setbacks, and become effective problem solvers in resource-constrained environments. Entrepreneurial nonprofits are resourceful with time, people, and money and find innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

Program

Nonprofit organizations offer the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program as a leadership and staff development program to develop the entrepreneurial mindset in their leaders and employees. They also offer Ice House as a part of the programming for their constituents.

Outcomes

Participants will consume video content, discuss and apply core concepts, engage in the entrepreneurial process, and reflect individually. As a result, participants will become more empowered and engaged by:

• Developing entrepreneurial attitudes, behaviors, and skills
• Identifying social and situational factors that encourage or inhibit entrepreneurial behavior
• Identifying, evaluating, and validating opportunities in ambiguous, real-world circumstances
• Identifying and interacting with entrepreneurs who provide critical guidance and ongoing support

Process

Best practice to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in your organization is to:

• Engage stakeholders with an ELI keynote and/or workshop;
• Assess your entrepreneurial culture to identify gaps;
• Establish your desired outcomes and evaluation tools to measure success;
• Select key employees to become Ice House Certified Facilitators;
• Implement the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program across your organization;
• Implement the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program to your constituents; and
• Assess data and establish strengths and opportunities for improvement for the future.

Next Steps

To learn more about the Ice House Entrepreneurship Programs, join one of our monthly live Ice House Information Webinars. To become an Ice House Certified Facilitator, visit out Training page. To learn more about our entrepreneurial culture assessment and implementation support including the establishment of outcomes and evaluation tools, visit our Consulting page.