Innovating for Thrivability

Since the early days of the pandemic, The Patterson Foundation (TPF) has embraced and championed the idea that the recovery process following unexpected challenges includes three distinct phases that individuals and organizations experience: Cope, Adapt, Innovate.


These phases are not linear or everlasting. One day you may be firmly grounded in cope, another ready to innovate, the next back to cope or adapt, or even somewhere in between. And it is equally important to be sensitive to where others are, especially when engaged in collaboration. It might be difficult for someone who is coping to get excited about innovating. There's no right or wrong here, and there's no singular path as we weave our way through the slalom-like challenges (both personal and professional) brought on by life during a global pandemic.

COVID-19 has undeniably brought on several unexpected challenges for organizations of all types, especially nonprofits. Many were already coping with revenue loss, budget cuts, and other obstacles before adapting to our current reality's constraints. Creating new ways to raise funds and engage with core supporters, donors, and volunteers is particularly difficult amidst the backdrop of an ongoing global pandemic.

To help nonprofits raise funds in fresh and innovative ways, TPF has partnered with No Margin, No Mission consultants Larry Clark and Mike Oxman and HundredX to pilot a new program that raises money for participating organizations. TPF is offering this opportunity to organizations that previously worked within its NGO Thrivability initiative to explore how this might evolve into a proven model that additional nonprofits in the region can use. Through HundredX's Express Feedback for Good program, supporters and stakeholders are encouraged to share their opinion on well-known national brands of their choice, earning dollars for each submission shared.

Through weekly consulting support from No Margin, No Mission, participants will build their strategy for engaging supporters and ensuring high levels of involvement, hopefully offsetting losses brought on by COVID-19, helping to drive their mission impact as we enter 2021. Participating organizations will also gain a deeper understanding of data and how to use it to tell a vibrant story and create a compelling call to action for their current and future supporters.

TPF's HundredX pilot program will officially launch in mid-February with five local nonprofits on board: Charlotte Players, Humane Society of Manatee County, Literacy Council of Sarasota, Manatee County Habitat for Humanity, and Manatee Performing Arts Center. Another three are set to launch in March: Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity, Peace River Wildlife Center, and Visual Arts Center of Punta Gorda. Participants were selected after submitting an advancement packet indicating their interest in and ability to excel in this endeavor.

TPF looks forward to learning together alongside these organizations and sharing our collective lessons as we explore thrivability concepts and possibilities for the future.