Through partner networks, a recommendation committee, internal recommendations, and self-recommendations by nonprofit startups (b.npostartups.org), the Foundation reviewed 100 teams over the course of the year and selected nine. To support the organizational and programmatic growth of the nine selected teams, the Foundation provided a grant along with mentoring, consulting, network connections, and branding support.

Selected Teams and Key Activities

Mindful Gardeners (마인드풀가드너스): #GeneralPublic #Gardening #NatureRestoration

Lovere Paper (러블리페이퍼): #ElderlyWastePaperCollectors #ImprovingQualityOfLife

Neulpeumgachi (늘픔가치): #CommunityPharmacists #ResidentsRightToHealth

Daegu Youth Solidarity Bank Didim (대구청년연대은행 디딤): #Daegu #Microloans #Community

WEMEETUP (위밋업): #Women #Children #Disability #Sports

Wipearth (지구닦는사람들): #GeneralPublic #EnvironmentalCleanup #Community

Neurin Sori (느린소리): #Gangwon #BorderlineIntellectualFunctioning #Youth

Planet Zoom.in (플래닛주민센터): #Volunteering #BuildingCulture

ImpactxNet (임팩트확산네트워크): #SocialSector #Media

As the fourth cohort of the incubation program, which ran for eight months from October 2022, came to an end, a showcase event was organized for the seven participating teams. Held over two days from May 17 to 18, the showcase gave the teams an opportunity to introduce themselves and present and exhibit their achievements, while also opening the door to potential partnerships for future collaboration.

Of the seven teams that participated in the fourth cohort of the incubation program, three were selected for follow-up support, receiving KRW 35 million in grants, along with office space, training, and office hours over the course of seven months. Building on the expansion and advancement of their solutions, the three teams went on to develop collaborative projects with various organizations. They also made meaningful progress in organizational development, establishing themselves as unincorporated nonprofit associations and/or preparing themselves to incorporate as registered nonprofit associations.

By conducting Research on Developing the Impact Capacity Assessment for Nonprofit Startups, the Foundation defined nonprofit startups, established criteria for identifying them, and developed the Impact Capacity Assessment (ICAN) to support their organizational growth. The practical applicability of the framework was confirmed after hosting a research presentation and operating an ICAN Consulting Program, which also provided user experience data from early adopters of the assessment. Based on these findings, an online self-assessment service was developed and launched.

A pre-incubation program for nonprofit startups was held in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, in partnership with the Cheongdo Innovation Center. The program provided education on nonprofit establishment and business development, as well as customized mentoring for the six participating teams and founders. It allowed the Foundation to identify demand for, and the potential to expand nonprofit startup incubation beyond the Seoul metropolitan area, while also building a network of local partners.

Through the 2023 Nonprofit Startup Incubation Program, the Foundation incubated a total of 18 nonprofit startups, nine of which moved into Dongnakga and used it as their office space. By running the entire incubation process, including orientation, education, mentoring, office hours, and showcase events, within a single shared space, the Foundation was able to concentrate its efforts on helping participating teams grow their businesses and build stronger organizations throughout the year.

Dongnakga’s basement was transformed into an exhibition space for both temporary and permanent exhibits, which allowed nonprofit startups to introduce themselves and showcase their activities. As a result, Dongnakga attracted a wider range of visitors, with the visitor number increasing by 18% compared to the previous year.

A "Nonprofit Startup Partnership Network" was organized, bringing together diverse organizations that discover, incubate, and support nonprofit startups. The network held regular meetings at Dongnakga.

Practitioners from organizations across Korea that run nonprofit startup incubation programs outside the Seoul metropolitan area, such as Chuncheon, Busan, and Cheongju, were also invited to Dongnakga for networking programs focused on sharing and exchanging information about their work.

Dongnakga shared its experience and know-how in operating a space for public-interest activities with organizations interested in creating and running similar spaces. It was also featured in The Better Future, a public-interest media outlet published by Chosun Ilbo, as a leading example of a hub for nonprofit activists.

(Related article (Korean): “Dongnakga’s Doors Are Always Open,” Dec. 19, 2023)

Participating in a three-part conversation, social sector activists in their 20s and 30s came together to share their experiences of challenges in their work, what they need to sustain their activities, and their growth and career paths. By reflecting on what drives their work through one another's thoughts and experiences, and sharing empathy and encouragement, participants were able to build supportive relationships with their peers.

D.MZ Let's Go is a one-time gathering where peer activists in their 20s and 30s with similar backgrounds and interests come together to focus on specific topics and share their thoughts and experiences in depth. In 2023, gatherings were organized by themes such as "Dinner with CSR Professionals, Let's go!," "Meetup with Social Sector Newbies, Let's go!," and "Get-together with Social Sector Designers, Let's go!"

For former D.MZ participants, the Foundation supported a multi-session series of three or more sessions, as well as standalone gatherings held once a month, centered on the themes of physical health, mental health, and intellectual health. The Foundation also hosted a networking party where former participants could come together, creating opportunities for new connections and expanding existing networks.

The 2023 ChangeON Conference was held under the theme of “Exertion (奮鬪)—Forging Ahead with All Our Might," bringing together around 400 nonprofit activists and stakeholders who work every day to envision a better world. As the pace of change becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with and social issues grow more complex and diverse, participants shared stories and ideas about how we can continue pushing forward in the face of challenges, both big and small.

Six speakers delivered insightful and thought-provoking talks: Choi Young Jun, Professor at Yonsei University; Kim Youngmin, Professor at Seoul National University; Park Saerom, Professor at UNIST; Lee Sang-wook, Professor at Hanyang University; Jung Hye-yoon, Producer at CBS; and Harim, Musician.

ChangeON@ is a series of regional seminars designed to create opportunities for local experiences and challenges to be continuously discussed and explored. In 2023, ChangeON@ was held in two locations, Busan and Cheongju. The seminars featured talks on "Living and Working with Artificial Intelligence (AI)" at ChangeON@Meditory (Busan) and "The Field, a Place Where Words Connect" at ChangeON@Gongryong (Cheongju).

Ollybolly Picture Books has provided animations featuring the cultures and histories of regions not easily encountered in Korea, continuously renewing content copyrights to ensure a stable supply of content. In 2023, 22,102 people visited the Ollybolly website, with a significant proportion of users coming from outside Korea, including the Philippines, the United States, and Vietnam. A total of 67,528 people participated in the Cultural Diversity Sensitivity Test, which is open to both children and adults.

By supporting human rights organizations that directly address a range of human rights agendas, the Foundation responded promptly to human rights issues emerging in Korean society. Key agendas included gender, LGBTQ rights, refugees, migrants, business and human rights, labor rights, disability rights, peace, activists' rights, and human rights research and documentation.

Participating organizations shared their ongoing projects and achievements, exchanged information on current issues and movements across different areas of human rights, and built networks with one another through a two-day mid-term workshop and a separate final workshop.

The Foundation ran campaigns to raise public awareness of human rights issues and help build a sustainable foundation for organizations' activities.

The Better Future, a public-interest media outlet published by Chosun Ilbo, published a feature series titled "[Human Rights Organizations in Korea 2023] The Many Faces of Human Rights," including a front-page print article and three online articles. The series effectively raised public awareness of the current landscape of human rights organizations in Korea and the need to support them.

The Foundation also ran a fundraising campaign with Kakao Together under the title "A Society Where Everyone Is Respected." Ten donation funds were set up, drawing a total of 44,624 participants and raising KRW 50,253,198.