Online game launched to boost charities' innovation
Howard Lake | 23 October 2008 | News
New media and innovation consulant Marcelo Iniarra launched the first stage of Innophoria, an online game that aims to encourage the use of innovation within charities and nonprofits, at last week’s International Fundraising Congress.
“Have you every experienced that weird kind of state, that ecstatic bubbling in your veins that happens when you’re on the verge of a creative epiphany, when you’re at the point of discovering an idea that could rock the world?” teases the opening page before inviting members of the social sector to take part in the creation of the game itself, due for release in March 2009.
Marcelo Iniarra wants the game to “push social organisations out of the rut of outdated policies and campaigning techniques and along
the path to innovation”.
Innophoria follows the adventures of its social sector protagonists, Lucy and Joe, as they journey along the road to Innophoria, where they discover novel ways to employ innovative ideas into their jobs and try to persuade their colleagues and organizations to become more innovative.
In an attempt to make the game as relevant as possible to all branches of the social sector, visitors are invited to submit their thoughts and experiences of innovation, or lack of it, which will be used in playing cards for the game to either help players progress or challenge their innovative spirit. Participants who submit cards which are selected will be given the option of having their name published in the game credits.
Iniarra added: “Rather than write a book, I decided that it would more helpful to develop an online game. Using an open source innovation model, we are giving every staff member and volunteer from social organisations around the
world, the chance to share their experiences of this issue”.
www.innophoria.com
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.