THINKSGIVing news
St. Louis Area Foodbank + Commerce Bank
We’re providing much-needed services to the region’s underfed and food insecure, but are struggling to connect with prospective donors when we can’t show them our work in person. How might we … leverage virtual methods and tools to build deeper relationships with them so they’ll continue to engage with us and become champions for our organization?
THE CHALLENGE: We’re providing much-needed services to the region’s underfed and food insecure, but are struggling to connect with prospective donors when we can’t show them our work in person. How might we … leverage virtual methods and tools to build deeper relationships with them so they’ll continue to engage with us and become champions for our organization?
NONPROFIT: ST. LOUIS AREA FOODBANK
INNOVATION PARTNER: COMMERCE BANK
“Thinksgiving was such a fun experience for our team! Working with the St. Louis Area Foodbank to solve a real challenge was very rewarding. In a short amount of time, we generated great ideas together and are confident the recommendations offer realistic solutions.”
“Thinksgiving is the perfect opportunity to give energy to something that has been on your mind...something you know could be done better. The project has encouraged deeper internal conversations related to building relationships in a virtual world. I am excited to leave the conversation with new, actionable ideas. It has been well-organized and collaborative.”
THE WORK
The Noble Neighbor + Bayer
Though we connect authors with our region’s neediest children to inspire them to write, we’re struggling to tell our own story. How might we ... better use technology to amplify our impact and increase interest in our community?
THE CHALLENGE: Though we connect authors with our region’s neediest children to inspire them to write, we’re struggling to tell our own story. How might we ... better use technology to amplify our impact and increase interest in our community?
NONPROFIT: THE NOBLE NEIGHBOR
INNOVATION PARTNER: BAYER
“I’m energized by the idea of partnering with a for profit company to get their take on our plans and collaborate in what feels like an increasingly isolated work environment. And spreading the word about what we do because I’m so proud of the work we are doing despite the pandemic.”
St. Patrick Center + Integrity XD
Our technology requires us to enter the same information into multiple systems, resulting in duplicated data and hundreds of hours of wasted time. How might we … rethink our systems and practices to free up more time for our team members to engage with those we serve?
THE CHALLENGE: Our technology requires us to enter the same information into multiple systems, resulting in duplicated data and hundreds of hours of wasted time. How might we … rethink our systems and practices to free up more time for our team members to engage with those we serve?
NONPROFIT: ST. PATRICK CENTER
INNOVATION PARTNER: INTEGRITY XD
Gateway Greening + Nestle Purina
In 36 years as a nonprofit, our focus has shifted and our name no longer captures the core of what we do (and is often confused with other organizations in our region). How might we … find a better name that matches our mission and is uniquely ours?
THE CHALLENGE: In 36 years as a nonprofit, our focus has shifted and our name no longer captures the core of what we do (and is often confused with other organizations in our region). How might we … find a better name that matches our mission and is uniquely ours?
NONPROFIT: GATEWAY GREENING
INNOVATION PARTNER: NESTLE PURINA PET CARE
“Working with the Purina Thinksgiving team was great. Purina had the knowledge and the talent to quickly walk us through some exercises that put Gateway Greening in a great position to rebrand and reimagine the organization in 2021.”
“I found the Thinksgiving experience inspiring and motivating because it gave me a tangible opportunity to connect and ideate on an important local initiative that benefits us individually and at a collective level. What has had ongoing impact is the reminder of the importance of this approach for continually invigorating our collaborations and thinking with new ways of looking at our objectives, strategies, insights, and outcomes.”
“It is a great way to leverage the strengths of our top companies to give back to the community, it needs to grow beyond STL! It’s minimal time investment with an incredible feeling of community pride and self accomplishment.”
THE WORK
Sickle Cell Association + Filament
We focus on building awareness of a deadly, hereditary incurable disease. How might we ... find innovative ways to deliver programs to effectively inform, educate, and engage the community at large about the disease, its impacts, and preventative measures they might take?
THE CHALLENGE: We focus on building awareness of a deadly, hereditary incurable disease. How might we ... find innovative ways to deliver programs to effectively inform, educate, and engage the community at large about the disease, its impacts, and preventative measures they might take?
NONPROFIT: SICKLE CELL ASSOCIATION
INNOVATION PARTNER: FILAMENT
“Thinksgiving allows nonprofits to get assistance that they may not otherwise have access to, while allowing corporations to give back in ways other than financial. I love the idea and am excited to see the impact that it makes.”
“I believe [Thinksgiving] to be an incredibly innovative and altruistic event. To help those who can use help; to offer thoughts on how to grow and sustain their initiative is unselfish and remarkable. Kudos, kudos. If you care, then you should be involved.”
THE WORK
Limitless Foundation + Emerson
Though we’re a new nonprofit, we’re experiencing huge nationwide demand for our services. How might we ... quickly scale our current team, operations, and systems to keep up with demand and grow our impact?
THE CHALLENGE: Though we’re a new nonprofit, we’re experiencing huge nationwide demand for our services. How might we ... quickly scale our current team, operations, and systems to keep up with demand and grow our impact?
NONPROFIT: LIMITLESS FOUNDATION
INNOVATION PARTNER: EMERSON
“Thinksgiving was a great way for us to identify critical opportunities to optimize our processes. It’s helped us really chart our path or the next quarter and year, by challenging us to think outside our comfort zones.”
“Thinksgiving helped point out inefficiencies and provided various solutions to solve them. This allowed our nonprofit to continue to grow!”
THE WORK
Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis + SLU
While our team members and volunteers believe deeply in our mission to help women, our message is often told in inconsistent ways. How might we … align our messaging and effectively communicate our story to stakeholders?
THE CHALLENGE: While our team members and volunteers believe deeply in our mission to help women, our message is often told in inconsistent ways. How might we … align our messaging and effectively communicate our story to stakeholders?
NONPROFIT: WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF GREATER ST. LOUIS
INNOVATION PARTNER: ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY MENTORS
“I am thrilled to be participating!! I am really excited about our non-profits goal and how I can contribute to their success!Katie Kennedy, Sales Manager at DocsCorp”
THE WORK
—graphic by Carola Vaqueiro, Clayton High School
STEMSTL + Clayco
We’re a workforce-focused nonprofit founded by several of our city’s most civic-minded entities. How might we … become known as the go-to resource that connects teachers and students with future-focused employers designing jobs for the new economy?
THE CHALLENGE: We’re a workforce-focused nonprofit founded by several of our city’s most civic-minded entities. How might we … become known as the go-to resource that connects teachers and students with future-focused employers designing jobs for the new economy?
NONPROFIT: STEMSTL
INNOVATION PARTNWER: CLAYCO
Artists First + Cannonball
We used to deliver art-centered programs to young people, veterans, and people with disabilities in our now-unavailable studio before COVID. How might we … help our amazing artists tell their stories, share, and sell their art in creative, virtual-friendly ways?
THE CHALLENGE: We used to deliver art-centered programs to young people, veterans, and people with disabilities in our now-unavailable studio before COVID. How might we … help our amazing artists tell their stories, share, and sell their art in creative, virtual-friendly ways?
NONPROFIT: ARTISTS FIRST
INNOVATION PARTNWER: CANNONBALL
THE WORK
—graphic designed by Elyse Lewandowski, Student at St. Louis University
Transparent USA + Cortex
We are a nonprofit supporting parents raising transgender children, with chapters in ten states and a high demand for growth. Our volunteer leadership is passionate but spread too thin. How might we ... scale our organization to attract the right talent and leverage community partners to become the nationally recognized resource for these families?
THE CHALLENGE: We are a nonprofit supporting parents raising transgender children, with chapters in ten states and a high demand for growth. Our volunteer leadership is passionate but spread too thin. How might we ... scale our organization to attract the right talent and leverage community partners to become the nationally recognized resource for these families?
NONPROFIT: TRANSPARENT USA
INNOVATION PARTNER: CORTEX INNOVATION COMMUNITY
“It’s a great way to get involved and give back to the STL community in a way that leverages collective intellectual resources.”
“I am super excited to partner with Cortex! We would have never been able to do this on our own.”
THE WORK
