What happens when a legacy organization says yes to creativity, strategy, and experimentation?

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Over the last year, I’ve had the joy of partnering with National Charity League (NCL) to spark bold thinking and build lasting innovation capacity from the inside out. Our work together started with a cohesive vision: equip internal leaders with the tools to guide change, then engage 500 members in a large-scale charrette, and then design a learning model that could keep the momentum going.

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Building the Foundation: Innovation Committee

I began by facilitating NCL’s Innovation Committee — a smart, curious, future-focused group of internal leaders — over a six-month period. Together, we explored creative problem solving, systems thinking, and collaborative planning tools that could unlock new ideas and shift how decisions are made.

This wasn't theoretical training. Every session built directly toward planning a large-scale Innovation Charrette for the full membership. The committee used the methods we practiced to co-design the experience with me, shape the facilitation, and step into leadership roles during the live event.

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500-Person Innovation Charrette

In April 2025, that vision came to life. With over 500 NCL members participating, the Innovation Charrette became a space to co-create ideas, voice challenges, and imagine what's possible. The committee took center stage — not just as planners, but as facilitators, hosts, and idea-steerers. The event also included Mindflower Studio's live graphic recording (in a cowboy hat!). It was energizing. It was expansive. And most importantly, it was a model of distributed leadership in action.

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Introducing: NCL's Innovation Institute

After the main event, NCL was ready to go deeper. NCL asked Mindflower Studio to design, build, and launch Cohort A of the NCL Innovation Institute, a custom-designed learning journey for members who want to lead change at both the local and national level. The Institute blends live workshops, hands-on tools, and peer learning — all built around the unique structure and culture of NCL. It’s designed to grow confidence, capacity, and cross-generational creativity in an organization with a long-standing history and an appetite for modern innovation.

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This work is a perfect example of why I do what I do: designing experiences that are participatory, purposeful, and tailored for real people doing real work. I'm proud of what we’ve already built — and even more excited for what’s still to come with NCL.

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To say that I have enjoyed this process is a great understatement. The women that work in this organization are some of the most energized, willing, kind, and supportive people I know. Every meeting is leaves me with the brightest smile and refilled tank.

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