The Suncor Energy Foundation has given Capacity Canada the opportunity to work with non-profit organizations across the country to positively impact their community. Designing for Impact aims to use human-centred design thinking to help communities across Canada build their capacity to address complex challenges and create a roadmap for change. This unique project involves using both design-thinking tools and new virtual sprint tools.
Applications for the program this year were invited in March 2021 from social good organizations based in Canada. The project received more than a dozen inquiries and indications of interest that were followed up by multiple meetings and conversations with several organizations. Capacity Canada finally received 12 applications from organizations based in different provinces across the country.
The process involved having several detailed interviews with the non-profits interested in being part of the project. The Designing for Impact team interviewed seven organizations to seek a potential match. During the interview process, every organization was asked what they hoped to accomplish through this project. Applicants described the challenges and issues faced by the community they wish to serve and its importance to the organization. Careful attention was given to the capacity and motivation of the organizations seeking acceptance into the program.
After careful consideration, the Designing for Impact team selected five non-profit organizations.
The chosen organizations are:
- Muslim Association of Canada
- Wilmot Family Resource Centre
- Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids
- Friends of Ruby
- Pier Labs and Feed Nova Scotia
Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), Mississauga, Ontario
The Muslim Association of Canada is a nonprofit organization that provides religious and educational services for the Muslim community in Canada. MAC operates in 11 Canadian cities, with a vision to establish an Islamic presence in Canada that is integrated within the social fabric and culture of Canada. Capacity Canada will work with members of the MAC community to help develop a project that seeks to address the need for more culturally responsive support for Muslim children in the fostering system.
Wilmot Family Resource Centre, New Hamburg, Ontario
Wilmot Family Resource Centre is ready to provide an upstream approach where everyone belongs. The community is currently divided around issues of racism and discrimination. The current political atmosphere has contributed to this situation negatively and has brought this issue to the surface. The agency is currently dealing with the ripple effects. Through a design thinking process, the Wilmot Family Resource Centre believes it can create rural solutions that have a lasting impact on people’s wellbeing.
Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids, Calgary, Alberta
Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids inspires others to feed and care for children. The non-profit organization dreams of a future where no kid goes hungry, where the community comes together to feed and care for kids. During the pandemic, the organization had to change their program delivery from Calgary schools to direct delivery to families. Capacity Canada will help the organization strategically look at where they want to go next while building on what they have learned in adapting their program for greater family engagement.
Friends of Ruby, Toronto, Ontario
Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the journey and well-being of LGBTQI2S youth through mental health services, social services, and housing. With over six years of experience, the organization has a unique opportunity to bring wrap-around mental health services to their newly opened Transitional House. Capacity Canada will help Friends of Ruby to design these services in a way that supports their vision – a world where all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and two-spirit young people feel validated, involved and empowered to lead healthier lives.
Pier Labs, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Capacity Canada will be supporting Pier Labs in their work with Feed Nova Scotia around social innovation regarding food security. Pier Labs is a non-profit organization that works with government, community organizations, post-secondary institutions, charities, foundations, and private sector organizations to conduct research and develop innovative solutions to complex societal issues impacting the wellbeing of Canadians. Feed Nova Scotia’s mission is to increase food security through food distribution, education and collaboration.
Next steps
The Designing for Impact team is working with the five selected organizations to move closer to achieving their set goals and learn about design thinking during the process. Using virtual design sprints and/or a set of design thinking approaches, participating teams will build and test possible solutions that are informed by their stakeholders in order to meaningfully address their targeted challenge. Each virtual sprint is expected to take 3 to 4 weeks and will involve both online synchronous sessions and offline work.
Designing for Impact is sponsored by:
