Charities and nonprofits are trying to address some of society's most challenging problems: poverty, homelessness, addiction, mental health, and environmental degradation, to name just a few. Tackling these problems requires both innovation and systems-level change.

Universities hold significant potential as partners for charities and nonprofits seeking innovation. Indeed, there are numerous instances of successful campus-community collaborations. However, these partnerships often prioritize the 'campus' over the 'community.'

This report discusses the social sector’s interest in innovation and the factors affecting its innovation capacity. The authors argue that it is time for campus-community partnerships that build on reciprocity and genuine collaboration to foster real innovation and systems change.

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