--- title: How to Innovate for Maximum Impact of Your Fatherhood Program description: Learn about the three categories your fatherhood program must be innovative in to have maximum impact. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_how-to-innovate-fatherhood-program.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/how-to-innovate-for-maximum-impact-of-your-fatherhood-program#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [father friendly organization](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/father-friendly-organization) # How to Innovate for Maximum Impact of Your Fatherhood Program 1 min read ![Erik Vecere](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/Erik%20Vecere.png?width=100&height=100&name=Erik%20Vecere.png) [** Erik Vecere ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/erik-vecere) As Chief Partner Success Officer for National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), Erik is responsible for developing and nurturing partnerships with network-based entities that have relationships with human service organizations. ![NFI_Blog_how-to-innovate-fatherhood-program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_how-to-innovate-fatherhood-program.jpg?width=453&height=305&name=NFI_Blog_how-to-innovate-fatherhood-program.jpg) Innovation, innovation, innovation. The emphasis in for profit and nonprofit circles these days is inescapable. If you're not innovating in your programs and services, you’re stagnating.   But what does innovation mean for your work? How can you foster an innovative approach for engaging dads?  [Innovation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innovation) is the practical implementation of ideas that result in the introduction of new goods or services or improvement in offering goods or services. The word comes from the Latin verb *innovare*, which means to renew.  Your fatherhood program must be innovative in three categories to ensure maximum impact: - **Program Innovation** - Program innovation focuses on: 1) offering a unique delivery model (e.g. combining virtual with in-person, or offering one-on-one make-up sessions when dads miss a group session); 2) deploying [recruitment and retention](https://www.fatherhood.org/keeping-fathers-interested-in-fatherhood-program) tactics that attract dads (e.g. addressing wants and needs, finding great facilitators, offering programs at convenient times, and encouraging dads who complete the program to refer others); and 3) leveraging technology to better engage dads (e.g. using group messaging apps, web-based programs like [National Fatherhood Initiative](https://www.fatherhood.org/)®s (NFI’s) [Fathering In 15](https://store.fatherhood.org/fathering-in-15-online-subscription/)™ and exploring artificial intelligence applications). - **Cultural Innovation** - Cultural innovation requires an assessment of your organization’s father-friendliness. NFI offers a free [Father Friendly Check-Up](https://www.fatherhood.org/ffcu)™ that will help you identify action steps to transform your organizational culture. The assessment categories (e.g. Leadership Development, Organizational Development, Program Development, and Community Engagement) will nudge you out of your comfort zone into the waters of innovation. - **Sustainability Innovation** - Sustainability innovation requires a fresh look at how you communicate the impact of your work to stakeholders and funders (e.g. presenting your program as a means to help them accomplish their mission and goals) and what types of funders you target (e.g. expanding your portfolio beyond foundations and public funding to include corporate and individual funders, or plugging your program into a larger community collaborative). I encourage you to take a fresh look at how you can amp up the program, cultural, and sustainability innovations of your fatherhood program. The result will be more dads empowered to be more involved in their children’s lives. **What innovative approaches have you taken with your fatherhood program?** **How can you take a more innovative approach in the program, cultural, and sustainability categories?**   [![Fundraising for Fatherhood Programs Webinar](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/135704/475ca806-65ae-4ab5-a628-14b7be4bc0a4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/135704/475ca806-65ae-4ab5-a628-14b7be4bc0a4) Date Published: 06/27/2023 Last Updated: 11/22/2024 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/press-release-nfi-commemorates-20th-anniversary-of-247-dad-program) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/helping-dads-in-lexington-navigate-the-gray-areas-of-fatherhood-part-2) ## Related Articles ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Creating a father-inclusive organization doesn't happen through a new but isolated fatherhood program, staff training on how to include fathers, or ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/five-leadership-practices-that-build-father-inclusive-organizations) ### [The 4 Stages of Father Inclusion: A Roadmap for Human Service Organizations At National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), we believe every child deserves the love, guidance, and presence of a committed dad. Yet too often, programs and services—even those ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/stages-of-father-inclusion-roadmap) ### [How Prenatal and Early Childhood Programs Can Include Dads from Day One Dads play a critical role in their child's development, right from the start. Research shows that when dads are involved during pregnancy and in the early years, their children ... 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