Disruption is widespread in the commercial world. Some disruptors serve an existing market with a new solution, others create new markets by identifying a previously unrecognised consumer need. But they all inspire radical change, often leaving established players behind.
Disruption is also not new. The iPod changed music. Amazon changed shopping. EasyJet changed flying. Facebook changed friendships.
Today’s disruptive brands are typically start-ups and have digital baked into service adoption and the customer experience. Think Uber, AirBnB, Deliveroo, Hello Fresh, Nutmeg, Pact, Bloom & Wild, the list goes on.
In the charity sector, disruption exists but is arguably not fully mainstream. JustGiving democratised fundraising. Kickstarter gave small causes a simple platform to get going. Start-ups Charity Water and Help For Heroes rapidly became big brands by doing things differently.
So in a market potentially ripe for disruption, how can established charities embrace it?
Questions to consider:
Outside influences
- What might be the digital disruptors that will change the charity sector in future?
- What disruption is happening in the charity sector now that we can harness?
- What can we learn from other sectors?
In your charity
- Is there a need or desire to be disruptive? How is “risk vs reward” viewed?
- What practical barriers might get in the way of being disruptive? Structure? Size? Agility? Outlook?
- Have you done anything disruptive? What was it? What happened?
This networking group is exclusively for heads of digital working in UK charities and not-for-profits with a turnover of more than £5 million.
The group meets three times a year to discuss strategic issues facing digital leads at large charities. The group is designed to encourage networking and peer-to-peer support, sharing issues in a ‘safe’ and relaxed environment. These events are for heads of digital only as we will be discussing strategic issues.
If you’d like to attend this event please email Vanessa Weddell.
