Discover a better way Innovate

Your organization and context plus Chalmers' tools and coaching leads to ministries that help without hurting.

SECTORS Philanthropy

Address the broken relationships at the root of material poverty

Get Trained

Apply the design thinking process and principles to your ministry

Develop Creative

Develop creative, sustainable solutions to help people

"So, are we doing [this] right?"

 

When it comes to poverty alleviation we quickly find that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. While we often want a “recipe,” what we actually need is a framework to apply within our unique context.

Using the best practices in community development and easy-to-use innovation tools, Innovate equips your team with a biblical framework to develop poverty alleviation ministries that foster real change.

Learn how to embed Chalmers' DNA into your church or organization and get virtual coaching from the Innovation Team.

How Innovate works

Learn Online

Gather your team

Register a team of 3-7 people from your church, community, or ministry.

Practical Training For Your Team

Get trained

Join us for 8 live online coaching sessions and breakouts with other leaders.

Test Your Idea

Test your idea

Design and test a creative idea for helping people in your community.

PRODUCT Innovation

Iterate!

Get tools to help you keep learning and improving your ministry.

Through an eight-week blend of live Zoom sessions, exercises in each team’s community, and carefully selected videos and readings, Innovate aligns your team and helps your ministry empower people in material poverty. 
 

You'll need to set aside about 30 hours to complete your innovation journey.

Meet your guides Learn from experienced innovation experts

You'll be learning from design thinking and innovation experts, Tabitha Kapic and Adrian Reid, and Dr. Brian Fikkert, co-author of When Helping Hurts, Becoming Whole, and founder of the Chalmers Center.

Brian Fikkert
Brian Fikkert
Tabitha Kapic
Tabitha Kapic
Adrian Reid
Adrian Reid

Innovate is trusted by 200+ churches and nonprofits worldwide

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“I appreciate the work you guys are doing so much because it’s causing paradigm shifts that need to happen. So much more Christ-centered, so much more Gospel-centered, and so much more hopeful.” 

Susan Moffitt
Director of Family Care
Palmer Home, Nashville TN

Yaneth Aguirre

When I took Innovate for the first time in Nicaragua, it was a great learning experience. We were introduced to a new model to carry out initiatives with existing resources in a very creative way, with biblical, easy and reproducible tools, where projects can be developed in a short time, where we can have the opportunity to show God's love. 

Yaneth,
Free Methodists
Nicaragua

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“I think one of the great things you guys were able to do is somehow guide people through the process who are at very different points.  Regardless of where you’re at in the process, if you want to be a good neighbor, this is a fantastic place to start.”

Crystal Davy
Worship Director & Outreach Coordinator
Grace Chapel, Nebraska

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“The idea of working together as a team, bringing out innovative ideas and ways of really ministering to the local church spoke volumes to me. I learned from Chalmers the emphasis of human flourishing. I think that’s really all it is about God’s story of change.”

Evah Mugari
Empowerment/Development
Partners in Transformation, Zimbabwe

Blake Schwarz

"The [Innovate] design process led by Chalmers gives me hope because it helps church leaders move from talking about issues to implementing solutions."

Blake Schwarz
Director of Fellows & PCPC at Work
Park Cities Presbyterian Church
Dallas, TX

Michael Rhodes

"This process has really helped me believe that we can equip people to live out the kingdom... I'm more confident that we can help people use their influence to make substantial changes."

Dr. Michael Rhodes
Lecturer in Old Testament
Carey Baptist College, New Zealand

Sarah Lockridge-Steckel

"It made me personally think about ideas that are outside the realm of what I would have normally thought about. Trusting each of the steps has been really powerful and has allowed us to create something together."

Sarah Lockridge-Steckel
Co-Founder & CEO
The Collective Blueprint
Memphis, TN

Laura Green

"It's been really encouraging to see our team use this process to center the actual articulated needs of the communities we serve, as the focus of how we help."

Laura Green
Executive Director
Tekton Career Training
Atlanta, GA

Chalmers resources are trusted by:

Love INC
Prison Fellowship
HOPE International
Compassion International
Tearfund

Schedule

Join Us on Zoom Mar 5-Apr 23, 2025
Wednesdays 12-2 pm ET

Innovate includes 8 LIVE online coaching sessions with breakout rooms and teamwork assignments designed to align your team around a shared vision and help you brainstorm, design, and test your creative ministry solution.

You'll need to set aside around 30 hours to complete your innovation journey. Each week you’ll spend 2 hours in a session (online via Zoom) and 1-2 hours working on team homework and with your community.

  • March 5: Week 1
  • March 12 14: Week 2
  • March 19: Week 3
  • March 26: Week 4
  • April 2 10: Week 5
  • April 9: Week 6
  • April 16: Week 7
  • April 23: Week 8
Innovate Zoom session
Innovate: Online

March 5 – April 23

$1195 $995
per team of 3-7

EARLY BIRD ENDS  FEB 18

Includes weekly Zoom coaching calls

You're gaining access to:

  • When Helping Hurts and Becoming Whole co-author, Dr. Brian Fikkert.
  • Innovation tools to align your team and build your own effective poverty alleviation ministries.
  • A community of like-minded church and nonprofit leaders learning to improvise the kingdom, together.
  • 8 live online sessions that teach your team how to practically help without hurting.
  • Bonus! Additional equipping tools from the Chalmers online-resource library.

Frequently asked questions

Have more questions? Get in touch.

Don’t miss the chance to innovate for the Kingdom!

Innovate is the best way for your church or organization to help without hurting. 

Sign up for Innovate and start testing creative solutions to problems in your community.