THINKSGIVing news
Connected Learning + The Federal Reserve Bank
How might we rethink and market our offerings in ways that identify more students desiring arts education and inspire them to value the arts as a lifelong practice?
How might we learn to fail faster and use simple pilots and small experiments to re-energize and re-engage our community’s most innovative (and exhausted) educators?
NONPROFIT: CONNECTED LEARNING
INNOVATION PARTNER:
“The team at the Federal Reserve Bank has been so gracious, intuitive, and inquisitive. They are truly amazing people to work with.”
“Love the support!”
“Thinksgiving has always been valuable for our org; the opportunity to connect, learn from, and work with others is rejuvenating. It’s also great to have others from outside the org share their ideas; it’s hard to see things when you’re so close to it.”
THE WORK
Conflict Resolution Center + Cortex, Team 1
How might we take a page from the startup world and quickly explore viability and product-market fit for existing and potential service offerings?
How might we take a page from the startup world and quickly explore viability and product-market fit for existing and potential service offerings?
NONPROFIT: CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTER
INNOVATION PARTNER: CORTEX, TEAM 1
“It was really fun and interesting! We definitely got a lot of value out of it.”
THE WORK
Care and Counseling + Centene, Team 1
How might we reimagine our business model to better align with our mission and to help us deliver more services to low income individuals in crisis?
How might we reimagine our business model to better align with our mission and to help us deliver more services to low income individuals in crisis?
NONPROFIT: CARE AND COUNSELING
INNOVATION PARTNER: CENTENE, TEAM 1
“Great experience. Great work day with awesome ideas and validation.”
“Good collaboration with the non-for profit. Fun day of strategic problem solving.”
Camp Rainbow Foundation + Purina, Team 1
How might we infuse innovation throughout our organization -- including our board and volunteers -- and banish “we’ve always done it this way” from our vocabulary?
How might we infuse innovation throughout our organization -- including our board and volunteers -- and banish “we’ve always done it this way” from our vocabulary?
NONPROFIT: CAMP RAINBOW FOUNDATION
INNOVATION PARTNER: PURINA, TEAM 1
“We loved our experience with Thinksgiving. Our Innovative Partner was great to work with on our challenge. We benefited from the ideas, resources, and connections. We have already begun rolling out our solutions and are excited to see our efforts make an impact at Camp Rainbow. Thank for the opportunity to be part of this experience! ”
“Year two just as amazing as year one!”
THE WORK
Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis + Hunter Engineering
How might we better recruit and onboard academically motivated disadvantaged students (and their families) to utilize our services that prepare them for college?
How might we better recruit and onboard academically motivated disadvantaged students (and their families) to utilize our services that prepare them for college?
NONPROFIT: BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE OF ST. LOUIS
INNOVATION PARTNER: HUNTER ENGINEERING
“This experiene was invaluable. Not only did we work on a problem me hadn’t had time or energy to solve on our own, we also were re-energized by meeting new people, working at a new location, and collaberating in new and different ways! I am looking forward to next year and would highly recommend! Thanks for facilitating!”
“Our team was able to step away from the busy day-to-day of a residential nonprofit (literally & figuratively) and think with new minds on how to improve our recruitment process. Hunter Engineering provided an incredible resource to us, which was and will continue to be utilized and improve our organization.”
“This is an exciting new way to engage with and learn about all of the great organizations serving the STL area.”
Beyond Housing + Elsevier
How might we reimagine the “customer journey” of those we serve to better deliver comprehensive services that integrate all we can do to help?
How might we reimagine the “customer journey” of those we serve to better deliver comprehensive services that integrate all we can do to help?
NONPROFIT: BEYOND HOUSING
INNOVATION PARTNER: ELSEVIER
“Appreciated the time dedicated to thinking creatively.”
“Thinksgiving was beyond what I expected and, in addition to helping work through our partner’s challenge, my team had takeaways, as well. The [Filament] toolkit was super helpful as a guide for the day and to get us thinking in a different way, and something both teams plan to take back to our respective organizations.”
THE WORK
Angels’ Arms + Weber Shandwick
How might we share with the world the real experiences that foster children and parents face (and bust persistent and incorrect myths) so that we can make foster care a happy experience for all?
How might we share with the world the real experiences that foster children and parents face (and bust persistent and incorrect myths) so that we can make foster care a happy experience for all?
NONPROFIT: ANGELS' ARMS
INNOVATION PARTNER: WEBER SHANDWICK
“It was invigorating to have the freedom to think creatively and to be encouraged to be unreasonable and “crazy.” Our nonprofit was so open and on-board, which made the possibilities boundless. I am so proud of the ideas we created together and hope to stay in touch and help bring them to life!”
“It was great.”
THE WORK
A Seat At The Table + UniGroup
How might we optimize our volunteers’ experience by better matching their talents and availability with the needs of those we serve?
How might we optimize our volunteers’ experience by better matching their talents and availability with the needs of those we serve?
NONPROFIT: A SEAT AT THE TABLE
INNOVATION PARTNER: UNIGROUP
THE WORK
Simply Foster + UNCOMN
How might we transition (scale) from a “scrappy,” technology-focused nonprofit into a more mature “grown-up” organization that is designed to help us realize our potential?
How might we transition (scale) from a “scrappy,” technology-focused nonprofit into a more mature “grown-up” organization that is designed to help us realize our potential?
NONPROFIT: SIMPLY FOSTER
INNOVATION PARTNER: UNCOMN
THE WORK
Thinksgiving wins award from The Business Journal
Thinksgiving was named one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s Innovation in Philanthropy award winners:
In November, we introduced you to our inaugural Innovation in Philanthropy Awards winners — a new program added to our annual Corporate Philanthropy Awards, which celebrate the region's generous giving by highlighting local companies that are making a philanthropic impact.
Filament partnered with Cortex Innovation District and the Delmar Divine to form an initiative called Thinksgiving, which aimed to pair St. Louis nonprofits with innovation and strategy teams from the area's largest companies, creative agencies, professional services firms and technology consultancies. The goal of the initiative was to create a bridge between nonprofits and for-profit companies to help them tackle challenges such as the lack of creative, technical or physical resources.
The Solutions Showcase @ Venture Cafe
We convened the Thinksgiving participants at Venture Cafe for our virtual Solution Showcase. Watch the video below to see what everyone had to say about their experience with Thinksgiving!
Wings of Hope + Ameren
We’re entering our seventh decade as a nonprofit and many of our long-time volunteers are almost as “experienced” as we are. How might we ... attract younger and more diverse volunteers to work with and learn from our current amazing team?
THE CHALLENGE: We’re entering our seventh decade as a nonprofit and many of our long-time volunteers are almost as “experienced” as we are. How might we ... attract younger and more diverse volunteers to work with and learn from our current amazing team?
NONPROFIT: WINGS OF HOPE
INNOVATION PARTNER: AMEREN
“Feeling great about the progress we are making and have loved getting to know the team and work that WOH does!”
“At a time when the world needs to be lifted up, Thinksgiving was the perfect catalyst to bring together the energy, collaborative nature and can do attitude of our Ameren and Wings of Hope team to tackle real challenges. I know the same is true for the other teams. Thinksgiving helped all of us soar to new heights.”
THE WORK
— graphic designed by Beckett Buckley, 5th Grader at George R. Robinson, Kirkwood School District
Consuming Kinetics Dance Company + Caleres
As a nonprofit dance company, we’ve always taught our students in person. Lately, we’ve mixed Zoom with outdoor engagements, but winter is coming. How might we … find ways to help donors, clients, and students feel comfortable returning to our spaces for classes and events or deliver them virtually in more creative and effective ways?
THE CHALLENGE: As a nonprofit dance company, we’ve always taught our students in person. Lately we’ve mixed Zoom with outdoor engagements, but winter is coming. How might we … find ways to help donors, clients, and students feel comfortable returning to our spaces for classes and events or deliver them virtually in more creative and effective ways?
NONPROFIT: CONSUMING KINETICS DANCE COMPANY
INNOVATION PARTNER: CALERES
“2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, and this project really grounded us around how community organizations like Consuming Kinetics Dance Company are being impacted. Our team included executives from marketing to finance to logistics. Arica and her team were open to the ideas and the collaboration was inspiring. Our ideas were captured beautifully by Kirkwood high school student Gracie Buckley. We can’t wait to see them come to life. We’re thankful for the opportunity to work on such an important initiative.”
THE WORK
—graphic by Gracie Buckley,
Kirkwood High School Senior
Lutheran Family & Children Services + Spire
Our long-standing nonprofit is filled with amazing staff and leadership volunteers who care deeply about our mission, yet struggle to connect virtually with an external audience. How might we … better equip them to embrace innovative ways to advocate for our clients?
THE CHALLENGE: Our long-standing nonprofit is filled with amazing staff and leadership volunteers who care deeply about our mission, yet struggle to connect virtually with an external audience. How might we … better equip them to embrace innovative ways to advocate for our clients?
NONPROFIT: LUTHERAN FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES
INNOVATION PARTNER: SPIRE
“It was a true pleasure working with the dedicated leadership team at LFCS. The passion and dedication they bring to their mission everyday is inspiring. I am also so proud of Spire and the team that stepped up to ensure that LFCS had access to the help and resources they need. Both the Communications and Marketing team, as well as my colleagues in Strategy & Corporate Development, worked to make a lasting positive impact on the LFCS organization. It’s yet another great example of Spire employees advancing the communities we serve.”
THE WORK
Mission St. Louis + UNCOMN
We utilize multiple technology systems, and none share information well with the others. How might we … explore ways to integrate data from several sources into one, helping us make better decisions faster?
THE CHALLENGE: We utilize multiple technology systems, and none share information well with the others. How might we … explore ways to integrate data from several sources into one, helping us make better decisions faster?
NONPROFIT: MISSION ST. LOUIS
INNOVATION PARTNER: UNCOMN
“Thinksgiving allowed us to create a collaborative environment between a non-profit and our consulting organization, leading to a great solution.””
THE WORK
Fathers & Families Support Center + Horizons Consulting
Our organization works from multiple locations and provides services at all hours of the day and night. How might we … better foster a positive culture among our distributed, super-busy team members that celebrates their accomplishments and recognizes contributions from all?
THE CHALLENGE: Our organization works from multiple locations and provides services at all hours of the day and night. How might we … better foster a positive culture among our distributed, super-busy team members that celebrates their accomplishments and recognizes contributions from all?
NONPROFIT: FATHERS & FAMILIES SUPPORT CENTER
INNOVATION PARTNER: HORIZONS CONSULTING
Danforth Plant Science Center + Husch Blackwell
We’re building an innovation ecosystem and know that collaboration is key. How might we … leverage readily available virtual tools to connect our community and turn stakeholders into collaborators?
THE CHALLENGE: We’re building an innovation ecosystem and know that collaboration is key. How might we … leverage readily available virtual tools to connect our community and turn stakeholders into collaborators?
NONPROFIT: DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER
INNOVATION PARTNER: HUSCH BLACKWELL
THE WORK
Connected Learning + Hunter Engineering
We provide services and training to our region’s educators but know they need so much more. How might we … build relationships with other innovative partners to uncover and address the problems our community’s educators are facing during this pandemic and beyond?
THE CHALLENGE: We provide services and training to our region’s educators, but know they need so much more. How might we … build relationships with other innovative partners to uncover and address the problems our community’s educators are facing during this pandemic and beyond?
NONPROFIT: CONNECTED LEARNING
INNOVATION PARTNER: HUNTER ENGINEERING
“Nonprofits work on the edges. We fill hobbies, interests, free time, with our mission. ThinksGiving gave us the opportunity to mesh our passion with the skills, expertise and knowledge of a for-profit organization. The employees of that organization had creative, technical, and physical resources that we lacked in our organization. The intersection of passion and knowledge will ultimately propel our organization forward. We can’t thank the team at Filament enough for allowing us to participate, pairing us with the right for-profit organization for our current issues and providing the necessary support to make this relationship successful. ”
“It is always great to have someone hold space to allow for new conversations. [Thinksgiving] was a chance to refresh when the stress of the urgent rarely allows for this and a breath of fresh air for our organization in a time when we were in a rut.”