Live & Learn: Failure in the Nonprofit Sector

Live and Learn:
A Conversation about Failure in the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector

Insanity, as the old adage goes, is doing the same thing twice and expecting different results – but more often than not, at the individual and organizational level, the practice of discussing, analyzing and learning from mistakes remains a cultural taboo. However, with increasing movement toward transparency and shared learning, the philanthropic sector is in a unique position to change these cultural norms around failure.

In an age where resources for nonprofits are increasingly scarce and making smart decisions has never been more critical, The California Endowment invites you to investigate mistakes as fertile ground with author of Mistakes to Success: Learning and Adapting When Things Go Wrong, Robert Giloth, and The California Endowment’s Chief Learning Officer, Jim Keddy, on Thursday, August 18th. Using real-world case studies of social innovation programs that didn’t go according to plan, the two will explore:

• Common mistakes organizations make, such as scaling up too quickly
• Mid-course correcting and adapting when mistakes are identified
• Creating a community of organizational learning
• Nonprofit leaders, funders, and individuals interested in discussing how the sector can better handle failure are welcome and encouraged to attend. Join us on August 18th for an evening of retooling mistakes into learning opportunities.

Admission is free; however, an RSVP is required.
Please e-mail [email protected] with any questions.