A Case Study in Gaining Near-Term Focus to Create Long-Term Growth

THE CHALLENGE

For many years, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity has helped families achieve 

safe, affordable homeownership through a trusted model. But rising material and labor costs, combined with increasing competition for philanthropic dollars, have made this model harder to sustain. The organization needed a forward-looking plan that would strengthen short-term impact while ensuring long-term stability.

THE INNOVATION WORKS® APPROACH

Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity participated in a two-day Innovation Works® session 

where they used interactive tools and activities to spark creativity, teamwork, and strategic 

thinking. During the session, the board and leadership team:

• Mapped current programs, activities, and community impact

• Identified opportunities to improve operational efficiency

• Created development strategies to grow and diversify funding

The experience brought together staff and board members in a collaborative, energizing environment focused on clarity, innovation, and actionable strategy.

THE OUTCOME

By the end of the two days, the team had a shared understanding of their highest-impact programs, as well as a clearer view of how those programs could be leveraged to grow revenue, deepen partnerships, and meet community needs more effectively.

The Innovation Works® process guided the organization to:

• Make key decisions about program size, scope, and sustainability

• Clarify team roles aligned with the future direction

• Develop strategies with concrete action steps and measurable milestones to track progress

Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity now has the roadmap it needs to build a stronger, more sustainable future.

“We had a lot of great feedback from our 2-day session! The time was well spent, and we were pleased with the outcomes. I had a couple of experiences that weekend in which the facilitated questions and conversation not only identified new ideas or solutions, but ones I wouldn’t have landed on alone. ”

Brittany Scanlon, Executive Director

POWERED BY PARTNERSHIP

These sessions were made possible through the Gift of Innovation, a grant program powered by Dupaco Community Credit Union in collaboration with the Innovation Lab. The program customizes Innovation Works® engagements for nonprofits in Dupaco’s service areas, helping organizations unlock bold ideas, build alignment, and accelerate impact.