When do-gooders envision a future in which the problem they’re passionate about is solved, we begin to move in the right direction.

And there are plenty of problems to solve, so we’d better get to it.

But let’s notice that when people talk about these visions of better futures, there’s a singular focus on the problem. Education, food insecurity, and access to healthcare, just to name a few.

Usually some personal experience opens our heart up to a problem that now feels more proximate, and we’re inspired to help out. The thing is, the process I’ve described happens every day, on its own. For millions of us.

The part I’m more focused on is how we think about funding the solutions to the problems we’ve identified.

We know our WHY, what we need is better systems-thinking around the HOW.

Markets tell us that products and services are how value is delivered. That means you better have one or the other, otherwise it’ll be hard to understand why you’re involved. Especially as a nonprofit.

So why don’t we give HOW a try?

The WHY will get people onboard, the HOW will take us there.