YMCA of the Triangle

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FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
FOR HEALTHY LIVING
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

2020 Innovation Challenge

Innovate. Do Good. Change Lives.

The power of you

For more than 160 years, the YMCA of the Triangle has served our community. Throughout our history, our most valuable assets have been our staff and the YMCA programs we have developed in support of the community. Our intentional focus on program development and program delivery has built our Y, driven our growth and expanded our Association's reach - impacting countless lives. 

Despite our success, we aspire to do more; to grow and serve our changing community in meaningful ways. The YMCA of the Triangle's 2020 Innovation Challenge is calling on all creative thinkers, entrepreneurs and innovators to submit ideas that will accelerate program development within the YMCA of the Triangle. 
 

Help us shape the future

As Cause-driven leaders, participating in the generation, experimentation and implementation in new approaches and activities that improve and expand the Y's Mission and work is a critical part of every YMCA of the Triangle staff member's job. To that end, we are inviting all YMCA staff, full and part-time, to participate in our 2020 Innovation Challenge. 

This year, we are looking for program ideas that answer the question "How might we strengthen the experience of families."


2020 Innovation Challenge

You are welcome to participate individually or in Innovation Teams of up to four members (max). There are four phases of the 2020 Innovation Challenge: (1) Ideation + Submission Phase, (2) Pitch Phase, (3) Beta Phase and (4) Launch Phase.

Based on learnings from last year's challenge, we've made the following refinements to the Innovation Challenge:

  • Vice Presidents and above are not eligible to participate in the challenge. 
  • For every part-time staff member on an innovation team, there must be at least one full-time professional program director on the team as well. 
  • Teams selected for the Beta Phase will participate in a full-day Innovation Sprint Session. This is designed to help teams better understand the process of innovation in support of their work developing and testing their idea. 

Ideation + Submission - phase 1

This phase focuses on individuals and/or Innovation Teams developing an innovative program idea and submitting it for consideration. A basic business plan is a part of the submission and ideas will be scored based on how clearly and logically the following criteria are met:

  • How original or unique is the program idea/concept?
  • Might it maximize current Association resources (equipment, facility, etc.)?
  • Are philanthropic dollars used to sustain the program?
  • How fast might the program be replicated within the Association?
     

SUBMIT AN IDEA


Program ideas that score well in Phase 1 will advance to Phase 2. Not all submitted ideas will move to Phase 2. 

Pitch - phase 2

This phase focuses on further vetting the program ideas that scored well to determine which concepts are best positioned to move into prototyping or testing. Individuals and/or Innovation Teams will make an in-person pitch to overview the program concept and answer questions. Program concepts that advance to this phase will result in a $100 cash incentive per individual/Innovation Team member.

Beta - phase 3

This phase focuses on prototype development and refinement based on user and organizational feedback. Individuals/Innovation Teams will develop and run a prototype of their program concept. The Association will provide $5,000 in accelerator funding to support the test. Program concepts that advance to this phase will result in a $500 cash incentive per individual/Innovation Team member.

Launch - phase 4 

Successful prototypes that move into this phase will work to launch the program as a pilot with the full support of Association Resources. Program concepts that advance to this phase will result in a $2,000 cash incentive per individual/Innovation Team member - after the program is formally run through operations.
 

Key Dates

Friday, March 27
All Submissions Due

April 13 - 17
Pitch Presentations 

Tuesday, April 28
Innovation Sprint Session (9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)

May 4 - August 14
Beta Phase 

Wednesday, May 6
Gallery Walk at the Association Resource Center (Time: TBD)

 

Questions

If you have questions or want additional information, please contact: