that the social impact sector is only beginning to engage with the idea of impact in a meaningful, tangible, and sustainable way. And that the current state ain’t great. And that the path ahead is a long and winding road. 

The ethical and reliable transfer of funds is essential for sustaining social impact initiatives. Without effective payment systems, the passion, purpose, and data driving these efforts can't be maintained long-term.

In this webinar, Sebastian Arciniega of iATS Payments and the Sowen team discuss the crucial role of data in social impact and how specialized payment systems for nonprofits enable these critical activities.

Last Fall, Anna Ellington, my Board Chair, and I presented at the East Asia Regional Council of Schools Leadership Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, to a room filled with dynamic school administrative leaders. Our goal was to galvanize an international school community movement to prevent human trafficking by increasing awareness and encouraging action.

Here is what we learned.

I recently attended the 2024 Good Tech Fest at the scenic Sundance Resort in Utah. This three-day event was a melting pot of ideas, where individuals from diverse backgrounds united with a common goal: to leverage data and technology for the betterment of the world. From roundtable discussions to keynote speeches and even casual conversations over dinner, the topics spanned privacy, immigration, mental health, governance, agriculture, art, and more.

Data procrastination is a real issue. There are three specific reasons why we usually procrastinate on addressing the data needs and growth of our organizations. The good news is that there are also clear things we can do about it. This is where you should get started.

Organizations need an event to break the patterns of repetitive behaviors, activities and transition into a state of surplus of change dynamics. There are no rules about what this event is, how long it should take to form meaningful and sustainable change. The where and how matter a lot less than the triggering of a fundamental, sustainable change itself.

In our client engagements, it's not uncommon for partners to request a detailed hourly rate breakdown during the scoping phase. Typically, this stems from internal financial protocols necessitating such granularity. However, this request often signals a starting point where transactional value and limited trust are prioritized. Understanding and navigating this dynamic is critical for fostering a successful collaboration.

The start of a new year is always an opportunity to start fresh, especially in how we approach our work. Here are three ways you can apply a beginner's mind to shake up your nonprofit's work and drive meaningful change. So before the new year slips away and our calendars fill up, let’s set an intention to embrace a Beginner’s mindset to unlock greater innovation, impact, and opportunities.

Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is gaining momentum in the corporate world for its potential to be a social impact multiplier. Did you know that 60% of companies offer employees paid time off to volunteer? As you consider your giving options this Giving Tuesday, I urge you to consider VTO, a simple initiative that holds great potential for creating a long-lasting ripple effect in your community. VTO has the power to create lasting change and shape the future of corporate philanthropy.

Gartner states in their Top Strategic Technology Trends 2024 Report that “By 2026, 30% of new apps will use AI to drive personalized adaptive user interfaces, up from under 5% today.” With the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and application development, you can leverage cutting-edge models, deploy them into production, and provide value to your end-users faster and easier than ever. These intelligent applications will take off your plate some of your most time-consuming workloads. Let's take a look to see what's possible for you!