Games for Change

My blog from January 25 discussed the inspired work of Kat Taylor and Tom Steyer.  Another session of the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy’s Leadership Forum involved Games.  Games are becoming an increasingly important way to communicate.  Last year’s annual Council on Foundations’ conference had several sessions on games.  Both featured a fascinating speaker, Mayur Patel of the Knight Foundation.  Organizations are turning to gaming more frequently to better tell their stories, engage with current and prospective stakeholders, and fundraise.  The Knight Foundation is investing in games as part of their strategy to help organizations be more effective communicating.  Several examples were given.  This one game is a fascinating way to show the decisions people in poverty have to make, and the cause and effect of their choices.  www.PlaySpent.org.  I encourage you to play the game.  You will soon see the power a game can have in communicating challenging issues.  Others of interest include www.battlestormgame.org and www.maconmoney.org . The Knight Foundation recently released a report:  “Social Impact Games: Do They Work?”  In June, there will be a Games for Change festival in New York City.  In an era with short attention spans and much clutter, games seem to be breaking through and leaving an impression.  http://www.knightfoundation.org/ http://cppp.usc.edu/