707. How to Break Philanthropy Out of Hypothesis Mode - Casey Lardner, Ph.D., GenSpace

Is philanthropy stuck in hypothesis mode? In science, there are two kinds of research: hypothesis-driven, where you predict the outcome before you run the experiment, and exploratory, where you map the landscape and stay open to what you find. The biggest breakthroughs almost always come from the second. Meet Casey Lardner 👋 She is a neuroscientist and the Executive Director of Genspace, the world's first community biology lab in Brooklyn, New York. Part biology lab, part design studio, part classroom, part community space, Genspace has been opening the doors of science to artists, entrepreneurs, students, researchers, and curious humans since 2009. **In this episode, you'll hear:** - Why philanthropy is stuck in hypothesis mode and what the sector is missing because of it - Why uncertainty isn't a problem to solve. It's the work. - How to lead your organization with the curiosity and rigor of a scientist This one will change how you think about impact, innovation, and what we might be leaving on the table. 🩵 **Episode Highlights:** - Meet Casey Lardner (0:37) - What Genspace is: lab, classroom, studio, community (8:16) - Hypothesis-driven vs. exploratory science: the difference (10:00) - What hypothesis-driven philanthropy is costing the sector (11:09) - Who carries the risk of uncertainty? (15:00) - How Genspace secures exploratory investment from funders (17:52) - How to start thinking like a scientist as a nonprofit leader (20:59) - Casey’s One Good Thing: Curiosity as a habit of mind (26:32) **Episode Show Notes:** https://www.weareforgood.com/episode/707 **Join us at ImpactUp: Story!**  Join us online from 12-1:30 CST for a free virtual session including a keynote with storytelling phenom, Afdhel Aziz, and a roundtable convo with 4 amazing nonprofit leaders. Then that evening, in nearly 50 cities around the world are hosting local meetups to keep the conversation going in person. Find a meetup near you or join us virtually! // **Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.** Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com **Say hi 👋** LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter