Are you looking for better ways to communicate your organization’s impact or improve services for residents? Managing limited resources in a complex environment? Innovate Memphis can help.

We’re launching the Memphis Learning Lab – a cohort-based workshop series designed to help local nonprofits and civic organizations strengthen their data, decision-making, and storytelling skills.

NOTE: Registration for our Spring 2026 Cohort is closed.

What is Memphis Learning Lab?

The Learning Lab is a three-workshop, in-person series for a small group of nonprofit and civic leaders. Each session builds on the last:

1. Measure What Matters: Map your impact from both customer and staff perspectives

2. Turn Data Into Action: Use analysis tools and continuous improvement routines to drive results

3. Tell Your Impact Story: Communicate your results clearly to funders, boards, and the public.

Each workshop includes practical tools you can apply immediately and dedicated time to collaborate with peers.

Why This Approach?

We designed the Learning Lab using direct input from local nonprofits and funders. Surveys and interviews revealed a clear need: using data for continuous improvement and storytelling.

We piloted the program with 8 nonprofit leaders in Fall 2025:

• 100% said it was an effective use of their time

• 100% ranked it in the top 25% of trainings they’ve attended

• 100% said they would recommend it to others

The magic is not just the toolkit but the opportunity to learn from other local civic leaders!

Who Should Participate?

Each cohort includes up to 10 participants, with a maximum of two per organization. We encourage nonprofit CEOs to attend first. The program is also well-suited for nonprofit leaders in:

• Operations & Strategy

• Data & Evaluation

• Marketing & Development

When and Where?

Each cohort meets three times (9 total hours) on Friday mornings at the Innovate Memphis office downtown near South Main. There’s no pre-work or homework – We give you tools you can apply and share with your team right away!

Cohort 1: Spring 2026 (registration has closed)
 March 27 + April 17 + May 22
 9:00am – 12:00pm

Cohort 2: Summer 2026
 July 31 + August 28 + September 18
 9:00am – 12:00pm

Cost

$1,000 per participant
Includes all sessions, materials, and refreshments.

How to Register

• Ready to secure your spot? Register for Cohort 2 (starts July 31) now

• Not ready yet? Sign up on our Interest List for occasional updates and reminders

If you still have questions, email us at info@innovatememphis.com

What Participants Are Saying

“Because of the Memphis Learning Lab, we decided to invest in a full-time data analyst for our team who’s helping us evaluate our programming and marketing approach more strategically. I also shared the storytelling frameworks we learned with my whole team, and we’ve used these to capture powerful testimonials from residents using our bikeshare program.” 
– Executive Director, Explore Bike Share

“The Memphis Learning Lab completely changed how we approached Binghampton Love Day. The sessions helped us move beyond attendance counts to design the event around real engagement, community connection, and pride. We were more intentional about how residents experienced the day and about collecting simple, meaningful data that showed what actually worked. Just as important, the storytelling tools helped us clearly communicate Love Day’s impact to funders and partners. These sessions didn’t just improve one event but also gave us a framework we’ll keep using to strengthen programs and funding conversations moving forward.”
– Executive Director, Binghampton Development Corporation

“It gave me time to focus and think through current challenges and gaps.”
 
“Loved it all in equal measure. The colleague collaboration is so amazing.” 

“The Impact Map format is excellent and great resource for future work. But I really loved getting together with these leaders.” 

– Session survey feedback from participants