Institute for Social Vision Design

NPO

15 items

Insights & Analysis

The Financial Reality of Japan's Nonprofit Sector — Structural Vulnerabilities Behind the 'Giving Boom'

Individual giving in Japan has surpassed ¥2 trillion for the first time. Yet the number of registered nonprofits continues to decline, and staff salaries remain half the private-sector average. This column examines the bifurcated revenue structure and the crowding-out effect of the Furusato Nozei program to reassess the sustainability of Japan's nonprofit sector.

Insights & Analysis

Two Years Since the Act on Loneliness and Isolation — What Has the World's First Comprehensive Law Changed?

Japan's Act on Promotion of Measures Against Loneliness and Isolation took effect in April 2024. As one of only eight countries worldwide with a comprehensive national policy on loneliness, what has the law changed — and what remains unchanged — after two years? An analysis through three structural disconnects.

News

Introducing 'AI Fluency for Nonprofits': A Free AI Literacy Course for NPO Staff

An introduction to the free AI literacy course for nonprofit professionals, co-developed by Anthropic and GivingTuesday. Participants can acquire practical AI skills through the 4D Framework.

Practice Guides

Designing Collective Impact — How to Move Intractable Problems Through Cross-Sector Collaboration

What does it take for multiple organizations to tackle structural challenges that no single entity can address alone? This guide introduces the principles of designing collaboration as a system.

Practice Guides

Application Guide for the Dormant Deposits Utilization Program — How the System Works and What NPOs Need to Prepare

The system is complex and it can be hard to know where to start. This guide organizes the overall structure of Japan's Dormant Deposits Utilization Program and the key points nonprofits should prepare.

Practice Guides

Writing a Grant Application — A Practical Checklist to Improve Your Approval Rate

Are you writing each application by trial and error, never quite understanding why the last one was rejected? This guide restructures the grant proposal from the reviewer's perspective.

Practice Guides

Cash Flow Design for Nonprofits — A Practical Guide to Solving Funding Gaps Through Structure

Your grant was approved, yet you still cannot cover expenses. The cause may not be a lack of effort but a structural flaw in your cash flow.

Practice Guides

Data Utilization for Nonprofits — Practical Steps Any Small Organization Can Start Today

Annual reports get written every year, yet few organizations feel confident their impact is truly communicated. This guide outlines a four-stage pathway—from collection to application—that any nonprofit can follow, even without dedicated data staff.

Practice Guides

Organizational Assessment Frameworks for Nonprofits — Turning Good Programs into Strong Organizations

Your programs may be excellent, yet the organization itself remains fragile. A seven-domain framework for identifying weaknesses and prioritizing improvements.

Practice Guides

Social Enterprise vs. NPO — How Legal Structure Shapes Organizational Design

NPO, general incorporated association, or stock company? The initial choice of legal entity determines revenue structure, governance, and the very architecture of social action.

Practice Guides

A Practical Workshop Guide to Theory of Change — How to Map Your Hypothesis of Change as a Team

Has your team ever articulated why your activities produce change? This guide introduces the process of collaboratively mapping a hypothesis of change and how to facilitate it.

Practice Guides

What Is a Logic Model? A Practical Guide to Structuring Social Issues

When asked to explain the outcomes of your work, where do you begin? This guide introduces the foundational framework for articulating the link between activities and social change.

Practice Guides

Designing Outcome Indicators — Evaluation Thinking for Social Projects Beyond KPIs and KGIs

Participation counts and event tallies fill the report, yet no one can answer 'So, what actually changed?' This guide presents a framework for indicator design that bridges that gap.

Practice Guides

Introduction to Social Impact Evaluation Design — Practical Steps Nonprofits Can Take Today

The will to evaluate is there, but the staff and time are not. This guide charts the first actionable steps for organizations ready to begin.

Practice Guides

How to Create a Stakeholder Map — Relationship-Building Techniques from 3 NPO Case Studies

Are you overlooking key stakeholders? Learn how to map the people and power structures surrounding your organization, and determine where to focus your engagement efforts.