What we learned in 2022 from the Arago Honors

The ubiquitous use of the word innovation adds to confusion because it is seen as a process, an outcome, and a mindset by nonprofit leaders. The Meridian Foundation seeks to make nonprofit innovation more transparent, encouraging it to become a more streamlined, step-by-step process for organizations to maximize growth and success. We believe that the innovation landscape is on the cusp of transformation as more nonprofits use the increasing benefits of technology to create change.

We know first-hand that one size does not fit all nonprofits when it comes to innovation practices. The Meridian Foundation is proud to play a role in assisting community-based organizations aspiring to be innovative.

“ A nonprofit can’t just say they are innovative to make it true,” says Jonathan Haag, Vice President of Innovation at CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions and a member of the Arago Honors steering committee. “This fundamental shift in thinking and practice regarding innovation is essential to raise the status quo of work, service, and impact in our community.”

The Meridian Foundation’s role starts with identifying nonprofits that are successful innovators and awarding them $10,000 in unrestricted funding through our annual application process.

In 2022 we initiated labeling the innovation practices of the seven Arago Honor recipients with a differential ranking to better distinguish the nuances of innovation. The highest rank of disruptive went to Be Nimble Foundation, followed by Conner Prairie Museum which earned both catch-up and potential to be disruptive labels because their long-term impact is not fully realized. Both applicants used aspects of technology to strengthen their innovation practices and human connections.

We labeled start-up innovators as Patchwork Indy and Joy’s House, who need additional capital. The Incremental innovation ranking, to create a moderate advantage, went to Overdose Lifeline, Inc., and Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana. Latinas Welding Guild earned the catch-up innovation ranking. By ranking innovation, we believe we are showcasing its nuances and that the word is broader than one size fits all.

These innovation rankings, based on research by Stanford Social Innovation Review, will be used again in 2023.

In a Charitable Advisors podcast with Shari Finnell, Jonathan Haag acknowledged that “advances in technology in the last five years have strengthened innovation in the nonprofit sector.” By combining human connection and technology, stronger innovations are possible. Two 2022 Arago Honor recipients, Be Nimble Foundation and Conner Prairie Museum, are great examples.

“ There are many technical frameworks that are driving down the costs of innovation,” says Jonathan Haag. Kelli Jones of Be Nimble and her team used improved internet technology and a pandemic with limited personal contact to create and leverage their ghost kitchen network at 16 Tech for minority culinary chefs. The work at Be Nimble was lauded by volunteer readers who read their LOI for an Arago Award, even when their application was short. Readers said they were most impressed with Melon Kitchens’ approach to building a scalable business model to keep costs low. Once the chefs are at scale, they have a better chance to access start-up capital for loans or venture capital.

Recent news articles on Linked In and conversations with Kelli Jones and her co-founder and cousin Jeff Williams, highlight a second innovation incubator concept being launched by Be Nimble Foundation. It is too soon to know the outcomes of the Nile Innovation Bank for retail and e-commerce products conceived by minority entrepreneurs, but their future is promising.

The Promised Land as Proving Ground is Conner Prairie’s first exbibit exploring stories of African American life and history. It is also the first permanent exhibit at the museum exploring stories through modern technology, third-person interpretation, and digital content. A volunteer Arago Honor reader said Conner Prairie’s was one of the strongest applications, both in articulation and its ambitious scope.

Innovation solutions using technology will continue to broaden the sphere of possible innovation projects in our community. When experienced entrepreneurs ask the right questions to leverage human connection and the developing array of technology products, stronger transformation will occur. We can’t wait to learn about them!