When does innovation become a barrier to impact?

One question appears in almost every grant application: How will this project become sustainable?

It's an important question, but I often wonder whether we have become too focused on financial sustainability alone.

When working with our most vulnerable and marginalised communities, there may always be a need for ongoing investment from governments and philanthropic organisations. That shouldn't necessarily be viewed as failure. Sometimes it is simply the reality of supporting people with complex and ongoing needs.

Perhaps sustainability should also be measured by different questions.

Have the outcomes for participants been sustained? Have strong partnerships been built? Has trust been established within the community? Has the initiative created lasting change?

The challenge is that while one cohort may complete a successful program, another cohort is already waiting. The need doesn't disappear simply because the funding agreement ends.

Yet too often, funding criteria prioritise new and innovative initiatives. Innovation absolutely has its place, and we should continue to invest in new ideas. But I also wonder whether we sometimes overlook programs that are already demonstrating real impact simply because they have reached the end of their funding cycle.

Sometimes I wonder whether, unintentionally, we have created a system that celebrates launching something new more than strengthening what is already working. Success can become associated with new announcements, new branding, new media releases and new logos attached to new initiatives. But for the person waiting for support, none of those things matter. What matters is whether the service is there when they need it and whether it improves their quality of life.

Building trust in a community takes years. Recruiting and retaining skilled staff takes years. Establishing referral pathways, partnerships and community confidence takes years.

When funding ends, we don't just lose a program. We risk losing experienced staff, trusted relationships and hard earned community confidence. Then, a few years later, another "new" program begins the process all over again.

Perhaps the question isn't always, "What's the next innovative idea?"

Perhaps it should also be, "What's already working, and how do we help it continue?"

Innovation and sustainability are not competing ideas. We need both. We need the courage to invest in new approaches, but we also need the wisdom to continue backing those that have proven they make a genuine difference.

Because at the end of the day, success should never be measured by how many programs we launch, how many ribbons we cut or how many logos appear on a banner. It should be measured by whether we have genuinely improved the quality of life of the people and communities we exist to serve.

Maybe it's time to give an old saying another chance:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.