The 6 Innovation Rules Every Nonprofit Needs Now

Leah Kral, social impact consultant and author of Innovation for Social Change, joins cohosts Julia Patrick and Sherry Quam Taylor for a spirited deep-dive into how nonprofits can rethink innovation—no Silicon Valley badge required!

Leah sets the tone early, challenging the misconception that innovation is only about gadgets and tech. “Innovation is simply finding new and better ways of doing things,” she says, reframing it as a mindset accessible to nonprofits of every size. Whether it’s Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer model or a legal aid clinic swapping clipboards for iPads, she insists, “People are innovating all the time in the nonprofit sector—they just don’t always realize it.”

Throughout the conversation, Leah shares why many nonprofits feel stuck: good intentions clouding decision-making, risk-averse leadership, and the pressure to produce “glossy” reports with no room for trial-and-error. She offers a refreshingly realistic take—yes, failure might happen, but so might wild success. “It’s far better to fail fast and fail small than never experiment at all,” she notes.

Leah introduces her six principles of innovation: think like a detective, ask courageous questions, empower frontline workers, leave room for experimentation, pursue continuous learning, and master the art of persuasion. She backs each with vivid examples—from the night staff at Mayo Clinic improving patient care, to the global success of WorldReader’s mobile reading app born from failed Kindle pilots.

Cohosts Julia and Sherry echo the importance of curiosity and culture, with Sherry noting, “A curious leader sets the tone for the whole team.” Leah agrees and highlights that personal innovation is just as vital as organizational change.

What’s the biggest takeaway? Innovation isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. And it starts with making space for curiosity, iteration, and the courage to try. Leah wraps with a compelling call: “You don’t need a huge budget to innovate—just a little time and a willingness to ask better questions.”

Whether you're a grassroots nonprofit or a national leader, this episode might just be the reboot your strategy needs.

TImestamps:

00:00:00 – Introduction and guest welcome 

00:01:35 – Leah Kral on writing *Innovation for Social Change* 

00:04:00 – What innovation really means in nonprofits 

00:05:52 – Big vs. small innovation examples 

00:08:08 – What’s holding nonprofits back from innovation? 

00:10:56 – Addressing the myth: innovation = risk 

00:11:44 – Leah’s six principles of innovation 

00:16:20 – Why personal innovation matters too 

00:21:45 – Embracing small experiments and fast failure 

00:23:48 – Building a culture that allows for trial and error 

00:27:12 – How to spark creativity within teams 

00:29:44 – Final thoughts and where to find Leah’s book 

#NonprofitInnovation 

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