Three Kinds of Social Impact Organizations

Have you ever wondered how well-intentioned initiatives sometimes result in unintended consequences? We all have a desire to help, especially in the face of urgent global issues like the water crisis. In this blog post, we will describe three types of social impact organizations that all have pure intentions, but whose interventions have very different outcomes. 

The Bangladesh Water Wells: A Tragic Misstep

Imagine a scenario in the 1970s when numerous nonprofit organizations, including UNICEF, recognized the dire need for clean water access in Bangladesh. Their solution was simple: dig more wells. More wells, they believed, would mean greater access to clean water. However, there was a critical piece of information missing from their plan: many areas in Bangladesh had a contaminated water table with arsenic.

What followed was nothing short of tragic. The 10 million new water wells that were dug ended up poisoning hundreds of thousands of people. The consequences were severe, leading to developmental issues in children, heart diseases, and cancer. Still, as many as 43,000 people in Bangladesh die each year due to arsenic poisoning from these wells.

Hindsight allows us to recognize the critical flaws in this approach. These organizations, while well-intentioned, did not invest enough time and effort in thoroughly understanding the problem and its potential consequences. This lack of understanding led to disastrous outcomes. These organizations were not negligent in their efforts. It was a nationwide initiative that brought together global nonprofits, the Bangladeshi government, and local communities. However, overlooking the testing of the water for arsenic led to devastating consequences.

This is the first kind of social impact organization:

Our worst-case scenario, in which some organizations, like the well-diggers in Bangladesh, don’t take the time to fully understand the problem and end up harming the people they are meant to help.

Well Digging in Africa

Imagine you go to Kenya with a friend, and as you immerse yourself in the local culture, you meet the people of a nearby village. It doesn't take long for you both to notice a significant challenge they face – the daily trek they make to collect clean water. Miles upon miles each day just to secure this essential resource.

Upon your return home, you and your friend both launch a fundraising campaign with the noble intent of returning to Kenya to construct wells and provide a sustainable source of clean water for the community. It's a well-intentioned plan, driven by compassion and empathy, but it's a scenario that has played out many times before. People from various corners of the world, motivated by the desire to make a positive impact, have often felt compelled to step in and dig wells not only in African countries but in other parts of the globe as well. 

In 2009, the International Institute for Environment and Development conducted a comprehensive review of spending on rural water projects in Africa. The findings were eye-opening – approximately 50,000 water points in certain areas of the continent had failed. The cost associated with these failures was staggering, amounting to a quarter of a billion dollars. Beyond the financial implications, millions of adults and children were exposed to water-borne diseases due to the use of impure alternative water sources.

This scenario represents the second kind of social impact organization:

Organizations that do some good, but because they still don’t spend time asking deep questions about the issue, their solution falls flat, like the wells in Africa that went into disrepair, or like the organizations that focus on water access without accounting for hygiene and sanitation issues.

The third category of social impact organizations is the type that the Ballard Center inspires its students to join or create:

Teams that recognize the importance of careful research, on-the-ground investigation, focusing on the needs and interests of people, and partnering with them to implement long-term, sustainable solutions. The organization “Water for People” is a great example of this Do Good Better philosophy. You can learn more about them and their developed approach in our upcoming blog post!

As we reflect on these real-world examples, it becomes evident that "Doing Good Better" isn't just a catchphrase – it's a call to action. The path to creating meaningful and lasting change is marked by understanding, research, collaboration, and, most importantly, the involvement of those we aim to serve.

The water crisis is just one example of the global challenges we face. By learning from past mistakes and adopting the principles of "Do Good. Better.", we can all become more effective changemakers. The journey begins by recognizing that good intentions alone aren't enough. It's time to make a difference and to make it right.