Legacy of giving
Redefining Purpose Through Design Thinking
Austin-based nonprofit A Legacy of Giving needed clarity on their purpose.
I designed and led a half-day workshop, using Start with Why and IBM’s Design Thinking Field Guide to spark exploration, honesty, and fresh insights—even for design thinking newcomers.
The problem
A Legacy of Giving hired me to lead design thinking for their board, clarifying their purpose and impact.
The ask
Design and lead a half-day design thinking workshop for the board, resulting in:
Broader organizational scope
New mission statement
New vision statement
Golden circle
Led the team in the Golden Circle exercise, defining the Why, How and What of their organization.
1
2
3
Why does this organization exist?
To create a culture of caring
How does it accomplish its why?
Through education & leadership
What do the “why” & “how” achieve?
To build, sustain and contribute to compassionate communities
Original mission statement
“The mission of A Legacy of Giving is to empower children through philanthropy education and youth philanthropy programs to become more engaged in improving their communities and world.”
New mission statement
“To create a culture of caring through education and leadership, building a compassionate community of givers.”
Results
By the end of the exercises, the team was energized and aligned. A Legacy of Giving broadened its scope and updated its mission and vision to align with the Golden Circle.
Thrilled with the outcome, they asked me to lead more non-profit design thinking workshops.