While most nonprofits nurture cultures protecting the status quo, designers are inclined to push the limits. I was struck by the lessons in risk-taking and pushing limits when I witnessed my friend Matthew McNerney, donned in a skeleton costume no less, display daring moves of acrobatic bravado in a bubble off the West Side Highway. The occasion was the culmination of eight weeks at the Trapeze School New York, a post-Halloween celebration of flipping, flying and finesse. Watching this performance, I realized how personal risk-taking translates to nonprofits:

WAKE UP CALL: The success of organizations lies in their abilities to think creatively in solving problems – or more specifically in providing an organizational culture that not only allows, but rewards creative thinking (for example, in tolerating the inevitable mistakes).

Businesss guru, Tom Peters has written about the need for ensuring that a small group of people in each organization push the organization’s limits. He calls this the Lunatic Fringe, those people who ask “why?” and who ultimately lead to breakthroughs and necessary changes. He asks, “how lunatic is your fringe?”, a good question for nonprofits to ask themselves.

As we steel for a recession, we need to be aware of the tendencies to become more conservative and to squelch the innovative thinking needed to spur solutions. Ensure that your nonprofit retains a culture that fosters creative thinking.

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