Our Why
the mission
Innovators for Purpose (iFp) is a BIPOC-led nonprofit design and innovation studio in Cambridge, MA, reimagining STEM education to spark curiosity and empower youth, especially from underrecognized communities. Through transformative, hands-on design, STEM, and social impact projects, we equip students with the technical expertise, leadership skills, and innovative mindsets to thrive in high-impact careers. By creating equitable pathways and dismantling systemic barriers, iFp inspires a new generation of changemakers to lead with purpose, drive lasting impact, and shape a brighter, more inclusive future for their communities and the world.
Our work doesn’t stop there. We are equally committed to challenging the innovation community to recognize and invest in the untapped wealth of talent within their midst. By nurturing these young changemakers, they can cultivate the inclusive talent pool needed to drive transformational breakthroughs.
It’s often said that youth are the future at Innovators for Purpose (iFp) we believe they are the now as well.
iFp Programs
Despite increasing attention on STEM, participation remains stagnant and exclusive. At iFp, we’re reimagining STEM education—not just for global competitiveness but to empower students to use these skills for societal betterment. By addressing equity and social justice, we engage today’s youth in creating inclusive pathways that transform potential into action.
iFp Labs | grades 7-8:
The gateway to iFp programming, where students explore AI, robotics, and emerging technologies through a unique lens of empathy, equity, and social justice.
iFp Studios | grades 9-12:
Our flagship program connects aspiring creatives and technologists with industry professionals for real-world, client-sponsored projects. This paid internship develops skills in coding, emerging technologies, and research while instilling professional workplace values like responsibility, punctuality, and accountability.
iFp Next | Alumni:
iFp Next supports alumni with mentorship, social capital, and career pathways, including internships and job opportunities. Paid hands-on experiences in iFp Studios ensure alumni continue to grow their skills year-round.
Looking Glass, Designed in 2017 by iFp Teens
This Should Not Be, Designed in 2020 by iFp Teens includes 5 Augmented Reality Stories chronicling the first six months of 2020.
Our Beginnings | March 2014
Innovators for Purpose (iFp) began with a question: “How Might We Help?” A group of friends, reflecting on their successful careers, turned their focus from high-paying jobs to higher purpose. Concerned about the quality of life in the communities they came from, they united around the belief that education is a powerful tool to equip and empower people to become changemakers in their own neighborhoods.
Building on the success of a previous nonprofit that encouraged youth of color to pursue math and science careers, they envisioned a broader approach—one that embraced design, STEM, and other methods of innovation to empower youth from underrecognized communities.
In March 2014, without institutional backing or major financial support, Innovators for Purpose (iFp) was born. We launched our pilot program at Fletcher Maynard Academy in Cambridge’s most economically challenged neighborhood—a place bypassed by the city’s innovation boom. Students explored the question, “How might we be part of the changing neighborhood?” using design to envision solutions and claim their role in the community’s future.
Since then, iFp has expanded across Cambridge and Boston, offering programs that inspire youth to ask their own “How might we…” questions and transform their innovative ideas into reality. Through this work, iFp continues to empower the next generation of changemakers, equipping them with the tools, mindsets, and confidence to make a meaningful impact.
iFp was incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit in March 2014.
Co-Founders: William Bagley, Donna Dawson, Michael Dawson, James Grigsby, Edward Johnson, Dana Thompson
Our Leaders
Michael Dawson, Co-founder and CEO, career has spanned engineering, marketing and sales in High Tech as well as entrepreneurial endeavors resulting in a hybrid of technical skills, business acumen, design savviness, relationship building abilities and an undeniable entrepreneurial spirit. Holds Bachelor & Master in Electrical Engineering Degrees from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Babson College.
Donna Dawson, Co-founder, VP Youth Empowerment, visionary thinker with a zeal for art and the art making process. Inventive art educator with a proven capacity for promoting a respectful, caring, safe and inclusive classroom. Creates engaging learning experiences focused on Human Centered Design Principles, Character Development and Professional Identity that inspires youth to pursue Design and STEM careers. Holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education with over 20 years teaching experience and a certified K-12 instructor.
Our Board
Donna Dawson
Innovators for Purpose
Co-Founder & VP Youth Empowerment
Jess Pina
Tank Design
HR, Talent Director
Chokdee Rutirasiri
Broad Institute
Associate Director / Head of UX Design
Michael K. Dawson
Innovators for Purpose
Co-Founder & CEO
Amon Millner
Olin College
Associate Professor of Computing & Innovation
Ron Walker
COSEBOC
Founder & Executive Director
Kristina Lamour Sansone
Design Instinct Learning
Principal
Larry Myatt
Education Resources Consortium
Co-Founder & President