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The Yellow Brick Road for Non-Profits: Getting to Oz with AI

Presented by:

Jennifer Rosenzweig, Ph.D., Partner, dragonfly ORG

Cheryl Duvall, FIIDA, President, Avancé LLC

The Yellow Brick Road The Yellow Brick Road The Yellow Brick Road The Yellow Brick Road for Nonfor Nonfor Nonfor Non----Profits: Profits: Profits: Profits: Getting to Oz with AI Getting to Oz with AI Getting to Oz with AI Getting to Oz with AI


Learning Objectives

• Explore AI as a strategic

planning method for non-

profits

• Understand non-profit

characteristics

• Glean from 3 case studies

and actual client Q&A

panelists

• Understand benefits and

challenges of AI

• Explore AI tools and

methodologies

• Gather stories and lessons

learned


Outline of Presentation

Non-Profit Case Studies,

represented by client panelists:

Neighborhood Design

CenterBaltimore MD

Woodbrook Baptist ChurchTowson MD

Well for the JourneyTowson MD

1. Background

– Why this topic

– AI summary

2. Key Steps when

using AI for Non-

Profits

3. Case Studies

4. Summary of tools

and methodologies

5. Client panel Q&A

6. Lessons Learned


• AI as powerful

strategic planning

tool

• Unique Non-Profit

issues

• SWOT vs. AI

• Timing challenges

• Getting

comfortable w/ AI

Why this topic?

SWOT

Appreciative Inquiry

Strengths/Weaknesses

Opportunities/Threats

Fairly quick process

Traditional, so comfortable

Can be done internally

4-5 phases

Timeframe: a couple of days vs.

stretched over months

New process for many

AI facilitator recommended


Characteristics of Non-Profits

Some Staff

More volunteers*

Board of Directors

Several committees

80/20 rule

Limited funding

About those

Volunteers*:

• Available on “off hours”---

nights, weekends

• Limited hours, e.g. school

hours

• Decisions on who should

be invited to participate

• Can’t “fire” them

• Occasional political

agenda


Brief Summary of AI

It is the cooperative, co-evolutionary search for the

best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world

around them.

It is an art and practice of asking the unconditional positive

questions that strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend,

anticipate and heighten positive potential.

Instead of negation, criticism and spiraling diagnosis, there

is discovery, dream, design and destiny. It works from

storytelling of the “positive core”.


Discovery

“What gives life?”(The best of what is)

Appreciating

Dream

“What might be?”

Envisioning Results

Design

“What should be--the ideal?”

Co-constructing

Destiny

“How to empower, learn,

and adjust/improvise?”

Sustaining

Affirmative

Topic Choice

4 typical phases of AI


Discovery

“What gives life?”(The best of what is)

Appreciating

Dream

“What might be?”

Envisioning Results

Design

“What should be--the ideal?”

Co-constructing

Destiny

“How to empower, learn,

and adjust/improvise?”

Sustaining

Affirmative

Topic Choice

Phases of AI for Non-Profits

Discern

“What is our calling?”

Reflecting


• Identify Problem.

• Conduct Root Cause

Analysis.

• Brainstorm Solutions &

Analyze.

• Develop Action Plans.

Organizations are

problems to be solved.

• Appreciate “What is”

(What gives life?).

• Imagine “What Might Be.”

• Determine “What Should

Be.”

• Create “What Will Be”.

Organizations are solutions

and mysteries to be

embraced.

Problem Solving Appreciative Inquiry

Strategic Planning with AI


• Inclusive: involves

stakeholders

• Democratic

• Flexible

• Phased to fit schedules

• Hears many voices, not

just a few

• Tangible results to

share

• Richer, deeper than

SWOT

AI links the energy of the positive core

directly to any change agenda and changes

never thought possible

are suddenly and democratically mobilized.

Why AI for Strategic Planning


• Lots of people

involvement means lots

and lots (and lots) of

data

• Flexibility means that

some people come and

go; enter and exit, then

reenter

• Schedule can be strung

out over volunteer

availability

And

like so many things,

its strengths can also

present challenges…

Other Considerations


Key Steps as you Begin


• Prepare, esp. realistic

schedule

• Have AI experience

• Know your non-profito Participants

o Political agenda?

o Leaders/POC

o Reporting structure

• Guide ALL

communications

• Prepare summaries to

catch people up

Brain


• Care about non-profito Past Strategic Plan

o Board members

o Volunteers

o Donors

o Other stakeholders

• Craft good AI questions

• Observe people

dynamics

• Anticipate push buttons

• Be flexible

Heart


• AI is not for the faint-

hearted

• Be able to think on

your feet

• Ask for help with

difficult partso Data synthesis

o Time keeping

o Scribing

• Be willing to

improvise—there are

no hard and fast rules

to AI

Courage


• Documentation (who will

do it)

• Schedule conflictso Avoid holidays!

o Avoid summer (vacations!)

• A beautiful spring

Saturday while you keep

people inside

• Whiners

• Second Guessers (esp

SWOT fans)

• Client not finishing

Action Plans

Beware of Flying Monkeys


Neighborhood Design CenterBaltimore MD:

designing, planning, building better

neighborhoods

Woodbrook Baptist ChurchTowson MD:

autonomous local Baptist church

Well for the JourneyTowson MD:

a center offering spiritual

nourishment for daily living

Non-Profit Case Studies,

represented by client panelists:

Real Life Examples


• Chose AI over SWOT

• Mar ’10 - July ‘10

• 58 interviews among 7

stakeholder groups

• 15-20 person SP Team

participated in sessionso All 6 staff

o A few volunteers

o Several board members

• 5-person SP Committee

were overseers

• Funded by a grant from

Goldseker Foundation

NDC: Summary

AI TOPICSCommunity Need as a Catalyst for

Change

Processes that Empower

Transforming Lives through Service


• Rich stories be used for

fundraising

• Strong Aspiration

Statements

• Low Hanging Fruit as

well as Reach Goals

• Main POC and ED were

supportive, active

• Good participation

• Animoto sent to donor

• Strong final document

NDC: High points along Yellow Brick Road

http://animoto.com/play/O

4Y5uBoZspPLDooVgY1aFQ

http://animoto.com/play/BOV27XfnTY9z57UG

rqVdHw

4 Themes of Strategic PlanGreater Leadership Role in Design

New Service Delivery and Funding

Models

More Partnerships

Marketing: Telling the NDC Story


• Looming budget

problems; decision

point whether to pull

plug on SP effort

• Leadership issues

• One strong and vocal

proponent of SWOT

• Action plans left to

client to complete

• Went “way over” in fee

• Non-profit was in crisis (hindsight is 20/20)

NDC: The flying monkeys


NDC: Getting to Oz


Woodbrook: Summary

• AI recommended by a

few members

• Late May ’09 - Sept ’09

• 120+ interviews

• Open invitation to

participate in sessions

• Church Council as

overseers, w/ Chair

• Church member agreed

to facilitate AI

• Recruited 2nd facilitator

to assist w/ 2 sessions

AI TOPICSBeing Church

Connections and Commitment

Celebrating Diversity

Opportunities for Growth


• Committed member

participationo Including youth/teens

o Past members participated

o A few visitors interviewed

• Outside facilitator to

assist church member

• Discernment Guides

• Creative activities

shared during worship

• Rich stories shared

• Web site includes some

AI results

Woodbrook: High points along Yellow Brick Road


• Summer! Fraught with

vacations and places

people would rather be

• Extended deadlines for

interview completion

• Air conditioning woes

• Being a member and a

participant

• Handholding

• Absence of “finished

product”

Woodbrook: The flying monkeys


Woodbrook: Getting to Oz


Well: Summary

• Board requested SP

• Jan ’07 – Apr ’07

• 88 interviews

• 20 persons participate

in Friday work sessions

• 3-person SP Comm

• Action plans finished by

non-profit

• Pro-bono facilitation

• Dedicated leadership

and participants

AI TOPICS

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

Identifying the Well’s Home Base

Deepening our Resources


• Consistent and engaged

attendees

• Enthusiastic response

to creative exercises

• One immediate

realization of “dream”

• Stories used for

fundraising

• Complete

documentation of SP,

including action plans

Well: High points along Yellow Brick Road


• Winter weather and

school closings/late

openings

• Limited hours for full

work session (no more

than 6 hours)

• Fewer interviews than

expected

• Bringing newcomers up

to speed

• Final editing of

Aspiration Statements

Well: The flying monkeys


Well: Getting to Oz


Tools/Methodologies: Work Sessions

• One planning session

• Generally 4-5 work

sessions over 3-4 mos.

• May need conf calls

between sessions if

work wasn’t finished

• Insist on guiding:o Selection of participants

o Stakeholder list and timing

o Logistics (rm, food, comfort)

o Scheduling and agenda

• Helpful if client

transcribes, you edit


Tools/Methodologies: Documentation

• Discernment Guides

are extremely helpful:o Documents key steps

o “Catches people up”

o Quick refresher

• Written after Dream

Phase

• Digital Camera and

Video recordings

• Lots of art supplies for

creative activity

• Don’t avoid or skip the

creative part!


Neighborhood Design CenterBaltimore MD:

designing, planning, building better

neighborhoods

Woodbrook Baptist ChurchTowson MD:

autonomous local Baptist church

Well for the JourneyTowson MD:

a center offering spiritual

nourishment for daily living

Now let’s hear from our panelists...


Top Lessons Learned

• Recognize pressing

issues that may distract

• Power of Discernment

• Scheduling!

• Importance of food,

comfort

• Stories must be

captured for future use

• AI when done well:

Priceless!


Additional Questions?

Contact Information:

Jennifer Rosenzweig, Ph.D., Partner, dragonfly ORG

248-302-0461, [email protected]

Cheryl Duvall, FIIDA, President, Avancé LLC

410-480-9893, [email protected]