STEM Funders Network Accord
The STEM Funders Network (SFN) Accord is an organizational charter designed to foster co-creation, knowledge-sharing, and alignment around a shared vision, referred to as the “North Star.” It provides an overview of SFN's evolution, including key milestones, challenges, and lessons learned. This charter also offers member organizations the opportunity to assess their position within the network, highlighting their unique attributes and alignment with SFN's vision.​​
​
Key Features:
​
-
High Feasibility: This low-cost solution relies on the engagement of partner organizations, with self-generated commitments that set clear expectations for participation. Organizations familiar with previous collective impact networks can leverage their experience while adjusting their commitments as needed to maintain alignment with their goals.
-
High Impact: The Accord clarifies the types of projects partner organizations are interested in, serving as a reference for collaboration. It fosters goal-centered events, maximizing the impact of initiatives while ensuring relevance for attendees. Furthermore, it formally recognizes SFN's new North Star, emphasizing a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the network.
Design Thinking Process
Empathy
WHY When my team first engaged with the STEM Funders Network (SFN), they identified a key challenge: How might we better connect our work and activities to the long-term outcomes we want for the STEM community? SFN enhances the collective grantmaking impact of its member organizations in STEM education by providing education, expertise, and collaboration opportunities. However, the volunteer-based nature of participation leads to inconsistent commitment among members, which affects the organization's long-term goals.
Interview To gain deeper insights into SFN's challenges, we conducted listening sessions with administrator Erika and partner organization memeber Fabio to understand SFN's structure, operating system, vision, and mission. Additionally, we used card sorting activities to evaluate the current activities and identify their value and participation levels for members.
After the Interview our group employed the "Download Your Learning" and "Find Themes "method to discuss the key highlights we gathered from SFN. This collaborative approach allowed us to reflect on insights gained, consolidate our understanding of the organization's challenges and opportunities.
Three insights
​
-
Building Relationships: The importance of strengthening relationships within the network was emphasized by Errika, who noted that evolving stakeholder partnerships is crucial for achieving SFN's objectives. Fabio echoed this, highlighting members' desire for opportunities to connect and test ideas.
-
Webinars as Engagement Tools: Both Errika and Fabio recognized webinars as valuable for facilitating diverse conversations and addressing the organization's mission. They appreciated how webinars cover various topics and provide a convenient way for members to engage.
-
Resource Constraints and Flexibility: Errika discussed SFN's resource limitations due to its non-501(c)(3) status, which affects their administrative capacity. She mentioned the lack of a set design for events, presenting an opportunity to help systematize processes and improve efficiency.
Define
HMW Based on the interview we revised the how might we statement to
How might we create tailored engagement opportunities for SFN members that enhance their understanding of the needs of historically marginalized students (e.g., neurodivergent, lower socioeconomic status) and empower them to address systemic inequities in STEM education, thereby increasing access to opportunities and promoting economic mobility for all?
Ideate
Brainstorming In response to the revised "How Might We" statement, our group used the "Brainstorming" method to generate ideas for engaging SFN members.
Prioritize Next, we collaborated with SFN to develop a Prioritization Matrix that leverages impact and feasibility of the ideas.
Prototype
Execute After identify the starter/refresh packs for funders and members as the highest fesibile and the most impact methods we create a SFN Accord.​
Test
Prototype Testing Overview To test our prototype, we conducted a cognitive walkthrough using a virtual paper prototype over one week, involving two 60-minute sessions with funders. This low-fidelity testing method helped us assess the viability of our key assumptions and set expectations among diverse funders.
Testing Structure: Session Format: Each session includes a 10-minute presentation of the prototype, 10 minutes for questions, a 20-minute mock simulation of interacting with the prototype, and a final 20-minute facilitated discussion using an interview guide.
​
Participant Engagement: We aimed to gather feedback from 10 funders—7 existing and 3 new—using Zoom, with calendar invites sent six weeks in advance.
Pre-Session Preparation: We promoted the sessions through various channels and send reminders one week and one day before.Funders will receive branded SFN mugs as a thank-you gesture.
Data Gathering & Validation: We confirmed our assumptions through three methods:
1. Observational Data: Monitoring body language and engagement during the sessions.
2. Verbal Feedback: Gathering positive verbal responses to assess collaboration and a sense of belonging among members.
3. Exit Surveys: Administering a Likert scale survey to quantify feedback. We looked for at least 70% neutral or positive responses to validate our assumptions.
Assumptions & Metrics Table
Example of exit survey following the prototype test