FORESIGHT & INSIGHT

The Future of Philanthropy

Client

United Way

Scope of Work

Horizon Scan
Scenario planning
Trends impact analysis
Engagement
Strategic implications

Deep Understanding of the Future of Philanthropy

United Way / Centraide Canada is a not-for-profit national organization for over 100 autonomous, local organizations across the country. Each United Way office raises money for local groups that address community issues and problems such as poverty, homelessness and at-risk families. The national organization provides leadership, resources and co-ordination to its members. Each United Way Centraide is responsible to its own community, raising the resources and distributing it back to their community.

Reputation, Resilience and Revelance

Not all return on investment is measured in dollars. Reputation, resilience and relevance are all critical outcomes of investing in strategic thought and planning.

To effectively deliver on its essential mandate through turbulent and rapidly shifting economic and social conditions, the United Way movement required deep understanding of the future of philanthropy and the role of funding agencies.

For United Way we conducted a ten-year Horizon Scan to uncover critical uncertainties within the landscape of the not-for-profit sector including significant changes in donor motivation, technology related to service distribution and message targeting. This work involved deep research and facilitated engagement of key stakeholders.

Workshopping Emerging Insights

We met with senior leaders in the government, police, business, faith-based institutions and community organizations in a fulsome and deeply investigative process. We workshopped emerging insights with a group of national leaders within the United Way movement.

We delivered a significant 80-page report and three comprehensive presentations of our findings to senior leadership nationwide, bringing future-focused research into practical application for present day problem solving.

We identified 28 trends and implications on a local and international context that were considered significant insights and went into shaping United Way’s strategic planning.

Data Visualization & Report Guidelines

The Future of Professional Self-Regulatory Bodies

KerrSmith Design
550 Queen St. East, Unit 335
Toronto, ON M5A 1V2
416-703-5377