Innovation for Social Change

EpilogueWhat's at Stake

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

—Margaret Mead

We dedicate our time, energy, and careers to a particular nonprofit mission because of our discomfort with “the way things are,” socially as well as personally.

There is nothing in the world like making a difference, to see the flash of newfound self‐esteem and hope in a person's eyes. This is what kindles our passion and commitment to our work.

Perhaps we are working in a local food bank or animal shelter. Perhaps we donate to nonprofits working on land conservation or cleaning up the environment. Perhaps we are working in our community or church to address addiction, job skills training, or to help our neighbors who are suffering from a global pandemic.

Perhaps our work in some way alleviates the suffering of the more than 736 million people who live below the international poverty line, or the 10% of the world population living in extreme poverty and struggling to fulfill the most basic needs like health, education, and access to water and sanitation. Perhaps our efforts are aimed at freeing the approximately 24.9 million people in forced labor, 4.8 million of whom are in forced sexual exploitation. We know that the stakes are high.

Passion and commitment aren't enough to change the world. As Margaret Mead points out in the epigraph, we must also be thoughtful. The stakeholders we care deeply about are counting ...