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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Capacity Canada given design thinking funding by Hallman
WATERLOO REGION – March 13, 2018 – Capacity Canada is taking social innovation to another level, with help from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, through the creation of its new Capacity by Design program.
The Waterloo-based non-profit recently received $417,950 from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation to fund this initiative. The money represents the first instalment of a $1.1 million commitment to cover the first-year costs of this project that aims to provide those working in the non-profit sector with the tools they need to tackle challenges head-on using design thinking.
The concept of design thinking is based on a human-centred approach to understand and respond to challenges using practical tools and methods. It is also a concept the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation is very familiar with.
“We have funded other organizations to use design thinking as a means of problem solving,” said Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Executive Director Laura Manning, adding the foundation has always looked for opportunities to build the resiliency of the organizations it works with.
“We think Capacity Canada is uniquely situated to support a range of organizations and bring strong evaluation to bear on the experience,” she said. “The Foundation board recognizes that we are in the unusual position of being able to support work that other funders might perceive as risky.”
To ensure the project’s success, Capacity Canada has partnered with Overlap Associates to develop the Capacity by Design program over the course of the next year. The Kitchener-based business management consulting firm has established itself as a leader in the field of design thinking and will be a vital ally in the development of this new venture.
“Human-centred design changes the way you think about designing programs, services and systems by engaging the users in the design process itself,” said Overlap Associates CEO Brock Hart.
Overlap Associates will spend the year working onsite at Capacity Canada, training its talented faculty to become experts on the ins and outs of design thinking. This training will also include three design sprints which are focused and collaborative sessions that quickly frame problems and test solutions.
This year of preparation will allow Capacity Canada to refine the Capacity by Design program within the non-profit sector in the Waterloo Region before it will be made available to other organizations elsewhere.
Within the next two and half years, Capacity Canada will deliver the program to organizations in four other communities (yet to be determined) thanks to support from the Suncor Energy Foundation.
“We run these kinds of programs for lots of organizations in the social profit space, always with the goal to leave the organization able to run it without us,” said Hart. “We’re excited about this initiative because it helps spread the impact of design for social good by distributing the skills and knowledge through the Capacity Canada network.”
Capacity Canada faculty member Matthew Reynolds, who is helping to spearhead the project, welcomes the collaboration with Overlap Associates and the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation.
“Working with Overlap and Hallman seems a bit like getting picked for the stacked team at recess,” he said. “Capacity Canada has tremendous respect and professional admiration for both organizations and I think that, together, we will be able to deliver a tremendous program.”
Contact:
Cathy Brothers, CEO, Capacity Canada
[email protected]
Office: 519-513-2606 x1
Mobile: 226-808-7220
Joanna Lohrenz, Board Chair, Capacity Canada
[email protected]
519-513-2606
Capacity Canada is a national registered charity that brings together the ideas, people and resources that fuel social innovation. Our vision is to change lives through courageous community organizations. We are accomplishing this by providing non-profit leaders new resources and professional support that enhances leadership skills, stimulates cross-sector collaboration, promotes knowledge sharing, and encourages social innovation.
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