Faced with resource constraints, non-profit organizations have been laggards in the use of product development and management disciplines or the application of technology to reach institutional objectives. This is certainly a sector where the products and services have “fuzzy edges” and MIDIOR has been able to apply the same methodologies we have developed for improving the success rate for products and projects in the private sector to help human services agencies, educators and other philanthropic groups work more effectively. Despite today's volatile fundraising environment, which demands greater efficiency and effectiveness, many non-profits distance themselves from "commercial" concepts such as identifying core competencies, or leveraging intellectual property, or even embracing the concept of "marketing." At MIDIOR, we believe that non-profits can have greater impact as measured by their social mission through adoption of a disciplined approach to applying technology for cost reductions and increased leverage of their human capital. We help our clients define clear objectives, measurable results and how to apply technology in tactical initiatives to support their missions or to “productize” their services so they can achieve greater programming leverage with donor dollars. In addition to assessing and implementing technological solutions, MIDIOR helps human services and educational institutions take stock of their intellectual assets and identify and articulate their internal and external missions. This process leads to a new focus on results and positive outcomes. Applying a product management perspective to non-profit groups raises awareness about the value of the work a board and volunteer team delivers, and frequently seeds new ideas and approaches. We find engagements with our human services and education clients to be particularly satisfying in terms of their impact and subsequent benefits to the populations being served. Among MIDIOR’s human services clients are Schools for Children, the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT), and the Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE). |
