When you view problems like Climate Action, Supply Chain Disruptions, or Racial Inequalities systemically, the lines between organizations blur. When it takes everyone to solve the problem, it’s not unusual to find people shifting from working at a business, to a nonprofit, or government agency, and back throughout their career.
The Meaningful Impact Hub views all organizations as potential pathways to create positive change and solve our shared community problems. Any big, messy problem that drives you to action can be solved through meaningful work at one of the pathways on this page, and others.
Not all meaningful work makes money, but all opportunities will help you gain experience, grow yourself personally, and help you find your place in the world. Focus on the journey, but understand that no organization is perfect. The world of work needs to change as well.
Changing the World of Work
Work tends to lose all meaning in the face of micromanagers or stifling organizational hierarchies that kill innovation. You may join an organization to support Climate Action or Quality Education for all, but encounter outdated policies, unsafe working conditions, unrealistic expectations, or an overwhelming fear of technology and new ideas.
Be open-minded about your options in terms of organization types, learn how to identify common barriers to change, and build your technology and innovation toolbox to create the change you want to see in the world. Every potential path has pros and cons. Our goal is to provide the information you need to make informed decisions about the life path. Here at the Meaningful Impact Hub, we don’t sugarcoat reality.
You may more failures than successes, but those little wins make a life of impact worth living. Build a strong understanding of why you do what you do to keep going during hard times. We never said changing the world was easy. Only that change is the only way forward. So find your path.
Understand Pathways
Learn more about the different types of organizations, and how they can be used to solve major, systemic problems.
Need for Change
Understand common barriers to innovation, challenges facing all organizations, and other variables to consider.
Current Innovations
Explore examples of current innovations that are helping shape a future of work that works for everyone, across organizations.
Understand Pathways
Learn about potential pathways to make change. Decide who you would want to work for immediately, and what would have to change for you to be willing to work for different organizations. Depending on your goals, you can join an existing organization or create what does not yet exist.
Nonprofits
Nonprofits provide a way for people to work together for the common good. Learn how to navigate the world of nonprofits.
- What is a Nonprofit? (Council of Nonprofits): Learn what a nonprofit is, common myths, and economic impact.
- How to Start a Nonprofit Nonprofit Association of the Midlands: Find out how to start a nonprofit in Nebraska.
- Types of Nonprofits (Charity Navigator)
- Pros & Cons of Starting a Nonprofit (Investopedia): A good article for both founders and potential employees.
Businesses
Businesses seek profits by providing goods and services in exchange for payment. Learn more about the world of business.
- What is a Business? (The Balance): Learn the different types of business.
- SourceLink Nebraska: Find everything you need to know about starting a business in NE.
- Pros and Cons of Starting a Business (Business News Daily)
Government Agency
Government agencies are responsible for oversight or administration of a specific sector, field, or area of study.
- What is a Government Agency? (University of the District of Columbia)
- A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies (USA.gov)
- Working in Government: Pros and Cons (Indeed)
Public Policy
Public policy is what government does or does not do about a problem that comes before for for consideration or possible action.
- What is a Public Policy? (Center for Civic Education):
- Guide to Public Policy Careers (Indeed)
- Public Policy: Tackling Today's Challenges (University of Pennsylvania)
Advocacy Work
Advocacy is any action that raises awareness, recommends, supports, or argues for a cause. Advocates give a voice to the voiceless.
- What is Advocacy? (Lobbyists4Good)
- 31 Effective Strategies & Methods Advocates Really Use (Street Civics)
- The Biggest Challenges to Advocacy (CapitolCanary)
Community Building
Community builders organize people to meet regularly to learn about specific topics, or work to solve a shared problem.
- What is a Community Builder? (The Ford Family Foundation)
- The 10 Steps for Building a Thriving Community from Scratch (CMX)
- Join a Community of Community Builders (CMX)
Need for Change
Not every organization suffers from the problems listed in this section, but the topics are common enough that you have probably encountered them in the past. Or right now. How would you do things differently?
Slow Technology Adoption
Cost of new tech, fear of change, poor planning, low incentive to adopt technology, and other barriers can slow tech adoption.
- Why Do Your Employees Resist New Tech? (Harvard Business Review):
- Five best practices to improve tech adoption (Institute of Architects)
- 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Adopting New Tech (NASDAQ)
Negative Company Culture
Company culture is how employers treat employees, and reflect their values. When culture goes bad, things fall apart.
- What is Company Culture? (The Balance Careers)
- 16 Signs of Toxic Work Culture and How to Fix Them (BuiltIn)
- How Job Seekers Can Evaluate a Company's Culture (Robert Half)
Resistance to Change
Change is inevitable, yet people are naturally resistant to change. There is an art to building a culture of change in organizations.
- What is Change Management? (American Society for Quality)
- Managing Organizational Change Toolkit (Society for Human Resources Management)
- Overcoming Resistance to Change (BetterUp)
Outdated Organizational Structure
The world of work is changing rapidly and old, hierarchical organizational structures aren't keeping pace. What works for innovation?
- What is an Organizational Structure? (Investopedia)
- Corporate Structures are the #1 Innovation Killer (LinkedIn)
- Understanding Organizational Structure (Society for Human Resource Management)
Management Styles & Implementation
From micromanagement to poor communication, management can make or break creativity, innovation and morale.
- 7 Types of Management Styles for Effective Leadership (Indeed)
- Lean Management or Agile? (McKinsey Institute)
- 24 Signs of a Bad Manager at Work (Team Building)
Workplace Safety
Workplace injuries, overworking, unreasonable demands, and dangerous environments make it hard to do good work.
- OSHAWorker Rights and Protections (Department of Labor)
- Jobs Associated with Repetitive Stress Injuries (Rehab Services)
- Ergonomics & Injury Prevention Guidelines by Injustry (ErgoPlus)
Diversity
Strong teams include people with a different race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, and socioeconomic class.
- Diversity in the Workplace (DeVry University)
- Diversity in Leadership (Workable)
- Understanding Types of Diversity (Workday)
Inclusion
Diversity is only the first step. Inclusion means people feel welcome and safe to be themselves at work.
- Examples of Equality & Equity in the Workplace (Human Rights Careers)
- How to Measure Inclusion in the Workplace (Harvard Business Review)
- 5 Reasons Diversity and Inclusion Fails (Forbes)
Equity & Equality
Equality means everyone has access to the same opportunities. Equity ensures everyone has the right tools to succeed.
- Equity vs. Equality: What's the Difference? (United Way)
- Myths that Undermine Racial Equity at Work (Harvard Business Review)
- Equality at Work Should Address Thankless Tasks (Carnegie)
Current Innovations
Use these innovation examples to start brainstorming how you would do things differently. What does it take to create change?
Wearables & Workplace Injury
Wearables can monitor fatigue, body temperature and repetitive motion to alert danger and support ergonomics.
Organizations Improving Workplace Culture
Better Culture exists to help organizations assess and make necessary changes to their company culture.
Communication Tools for Change Management
Tools like Trello are helping organizations transition to a more agile workflow that can keep up with constant change.
Instructional Designers & Culture Change
Many learning and instructional designers are asked to change work culture through education initiatives. Here's what works.
Virtual Reality for Team Building: Remote Work
Virtual reality offers several team collaboration and remote work tools to bring teams together and improve morale.
Virtual Reality Diversity & Inclusion Training
Equal Reality uses virtual reality to build empathy, for use in diversity inclusion training in the workplace.
Tech for Mental Health in the Workplace
Wearable tech can monitor stress levels and remind people to take a break while aggregate data can inform organizational decisions.
Artificial Intelligence & Mental Wellbeing
Headversity developed a training tool that customizes mental health and wellness tips to individuals or entire teams.
Culture Analytics for Better Workplaces
Artificial intelligence and data analytics combine to inform better decisions surrounding human resources.