Discover a better way Innovate
Your organization and context plus Chalmers' tools and coaching leads to ministries that help without hurting.
Address the broken relationships at the root of material poverty
Apply the design thinking process and principles to your ministry
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.
Learn how to embed Chalmers' DNA into your church or organization and get virtual coaching from the Chalmers Center staff.
How Innovate works
Gather your team
Register a team of 3-7 people from your church, community, or ministry.
Get trained
Join us for 8 live online training sessions and breakouts with other leaders.
Test your idea
Design and test a creative idea for helping people in your community.
Iterate!
Get tools to help you keep learning and improving your ministry.
You'll need to set aside about 30 hours to complete this course.
Meet your guides Learn from experienced innovation experts
You'll be learning from Design Thinking & Innovation Specialist, Tabitha Kapic and Dr. Brian Fikkert, co-author of When Helping Hurts, Becoming Whole & President of the Chalmers Center.
WATCH NOW: What Is Innovate? A Tour of Innovate
Join Tabitha Kapic, Director of Innovation at the Chalmers Center, for an overview of how Innovate helps foster real change in your community.
Innovate is trusted by 200+ churches and nonprofits worldwide
“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
“I had intentions, desires, and plans which were all good, but Innovate gave me a concrete framework to hang those things on. I could have a clear plan of execution, and I have a repeatable process that can show others they can do it themselves too.”
Adrian Reid,
CEO & Founder
LegaciGlobal, Barbados and Switzerland
“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
“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
"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
"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
"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
"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:
Schedule
Join Us on Zoom
Sep 7-Oct 26 2023
Thursdays 12-2 pm ET
Innovate includes 8 LIVE online training 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 this course.
Each week you’ll spend 2 hours in class (online via Zoom) and 1-2 hours outside of class working on team homework and with your community.
$295
Whether you register as an individual or as a team, innovation is not a solo endeavor. You'll still work with individuals in your community as you go through the Innovate process.
$695-$1195
Organization budget >$1 million = $1195 $995
Organization budget $500K-$1 million = $895 $695
Organization budget <$500K = $695 $495
You're gaining access to:
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When Helping Hurts and Becoming Whole co-author, Dr. Brian Fikkert.
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Innovation tools to align your team and build your own effective poverty alleviation ministries.
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A community of like-minded church and nonprofit leaders learning to improvise the kingdom, together.
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8 live online sessions that teach your team how to practically help without hurting.
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Bonus! Additional equipping tools from the Chalmers online-resource library.
Our guarantee
If you’re not completely satisfied with this training within 30 days of your purchase, we'll give you a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
You'll need:
- A team of 3-7 people to go through the process with you.
- A copy of A Field Guide to Becoming Whole for each member of your team. Physical copies and an ebook version are both available from Moody Publishers. Use promo code CHALMERS at checkout to save 30%.
- A stable high-speed internet connection for Zoom calls.
Training is offered in English. Training times are all posted in Eastern time zone.
Great question! You'll have the best experience by participating in all of the live classes. However, each session will be recorded and emailed weekly for the benefit of any participants who may have had an unexpected conflict.
Yes! Innovate will work for your team regardless of your ministry context.
Please note: Innovate is delivered in English and requires a broadband internet connection for video calls.
One year! Each week you'll get a recording of the class that you're welcome to reference back to.
Each week you’ll spend 2 hours in class (online via Zoom) and around 2 hours outside of class working on your team homework and with your community.
Over the course of this 8 week training, you'll need to set aside about 30 hours to complete this course.
Teams of 3-7 people:
Organization budget >$1 million
$995 until 8/23/2023, then $1195
Organization budget from $500K-$1 million
$695 until 8/23/2023, then $895
Organization budget <$500K
$495 until 8/23/2023, then $695
Innovate is designed for teams of 3-7 people. The process works best with a diverse and committed group that includes team members from the community you are designing for.
For example: Trying to create a ministry for single moms? Be sure you have a single mom on the team.
Our goal is to make Innovate accessible to all churches and nonprofits who are committed to effective poverty alleviation and community flourishing. For small and financially challenged teams we invite you to apply for an Innovate scholarship.
We’re so glad you asked! You can help make more Innovate scholarships available to financially challenged teams—contact us for more information.
Although Innovate is designed for teams of 3-7 people, we now allow individual registration. Whether you register as an individual or a team, innovation is not a solo endeavor. You'll still work with individuals in your community as you go through the Innovate process.
If you've already gone through the Innovate process, you'll gain even more by doing it again! Innovate is designed to be done over and over again, and we're always adding new tools.
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.