FutureGood Studio

Futurism is a methodology being used every day in the for-profit sector.  Futurists use trends to determine what is possible, probable, and preferable in the future.  Though there is not one predetermined future, there are signals of what is coming.  Futurists develop strategies based on those signals instead of just creating a "better version" of what exists today.

Trista Harris is a Philanthropic Futurist and nationally known as a passionate advocate for leaders in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. Trista’s work has been covered by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Forbes, CNN, the New York Times, and numerous social sector blogs. She is also the co-author of the book, How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar, and the author of FutureGood: How to use Futurism to Save the World.  As President of FutureGood, Trista is focused on helping visionaries build a better future.  

Before starting FutureGood, Trista was president of the Minnesota Council on Foundations and the executive director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice in Minneapolis, and she previously served as program officer at the St. Paul Foundation.

Trista has been certified in strategic foresight by Oxford University, earned her Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, and her Bachelor of Arts from Howard University. She is a board member for the Association of Black Foundation Executives. Trista served on the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and the Governor’s Council on Law Enforcement and Community Relations, which was convened after the shooting of Philando Castile. She is a passionate national advocate for the social sector using the tools of futurism to solve our communities’ most pressing challenges.

Check out what some of our participants are saying about us. 

You can also read consultancy client testimonials available on the Case Studies page of the FutureGood website.  

You must apply to the FutureGood cohort you wish to join. You will find the application here.  You will be notified of any decisions on your application approximately one month after you apply. 

If your application is unsuccessful, you will be issued a refund.

This course is both online and asynchronous, which means you can learn at your own speed.  Each week, you will receive a new video lesson on the FutureGood Studio platform.  Just log in and watch the video.  The video lessons include interviews and guest speakers.  Trista will also lead you through activities so you can apply your learning. 

FutureGood Studio is accessible through our online portal, hosted by Kajabi.  You will set up log-in credentials at the point of registration. After you purchase the training, you'll receive confirmation of your enrollment.  

Session 1:  Welcome to Futurism 

Session 2: Futurism, What is it? 

Session 3: Loving the Problem 

Session 4: Be Exponential 

Session 5: Futurism Habits 

Session 6: Four Roles 

Session 7: Ideal Future 

Session 8: Signals of the Future 

Session 9: Current Reality 

Session 10: From Here to There 

Session 11: Power Mapping 

Session 12: Now Create the Future

There are some homework assignments (unlike activities, homework will need to be done outside the half-hour video class period.)  Only about one third of the sessions have homework assignments.   

There are no tests or quizzes in FutureGood Studio.

Yes! Though this is an entirely online course, you will be interacting with many other individuals. 

First, you will be part of a cohort–the full group of clients who are taking the course at the same time as you.  You will interact with your full cohort in the FutureGood Community (the online forum.)  You will introduce yourselves, connect with one another on LinkedIn, pose questions, and offer ideas to one another.  FutureGood Studio will also host virtual networking events during the course so you can spend time chatting directly with cohort members.  

You will also be placed in a small Mastermind Team.  Mastermind Teams are made up of 3-6 people who are in similar time zones.  If you are participating in FutureGood Studio with colleagues from your organization, we will make an effort to place you in Mastermind Teams that do not include people you know.  The goal of the Mastermind Team is to provide a small group of supportive teammates who will introduce new ideas, encourage you, challenge and stretch you, and help you work through problems. 

A mastermind team is a group of individuals who come together with the purpose of supporting and challenging one another to achieve their personal and professional goals. Members collaborate to share insights, experiences, and expertise, fostering a creative and constructive environment for problem-solving and growth. The synergy of diverse perspectives and collective brainstorming makes a mastermind team a powerful resource for personal and collective development.

At FutureGood Studio, you will be assigned to a Mastermind team based on your timezone. This team will engage in three scheduled meetings facilitated by FutureGood, but there is also an expectation that you will take the initiative to set up additional meetings with your team. Recognizing the immense value of Mastermind Teams and their potential for personal and professional growth, your commitment and active participation are essential. Throughout the 12-week program, you should aim to attend all three scheduled sessions and endeavor to schedule three more connection points or meetings with your team for a truly enriching experience.

Yes.  You will receive a certificate of completion (both paper and electronic), which you can share as a professional development credential.

The price to join FutureGood Studio is $2,000.00 per person.  This includes 12 weeks of video content, cohort networking, access to the online forum, invitations to join Trista Harris in 3 live Q&A sessions. 

*Scholarships are available to qualifying participants. If you have any questions about price or scholarships, please reach out to us at [email protected].  

Discounts are available when you purchase 5 seats or more.

Prices start at $1,200.00 per seat for groups. Reach out for more details - [email protected].

We know you are busy professionals.  You can get the most out of your time studying with the FutureGood Studio by investing only about 4 hours per month. 

This course is both online and asynchronous, which means you can learn at your own speed.  Each week, you will receive a new half hour video session on the FutureGood Studio platform.  (The video sessions include the time required for hands-on activities, where you will apply your learning.) 

There are some homework assignments (unlike activities, homework will need to be done outside the half-hour video class period.)  Only about one third of the sessions have homework assignments.  Meetings with your Mastermind Team, cohort networking, and Q&As with Trista will also be scheduled on top of your half hour video sessions.

Download the 2024 Schedule here.

I’ve never considered futurism before. Am I the right person to study this skill? 

If you are reading this text, you ARE the right person to study futurism.  Maybe you want to network in a highly supportive program.  Perhaps you are looking to develop yourself professionally.  Possibly, you need to re-energize in order to find new solutions to your organization’s longstanding problems.  Overall, if you do good for a living, you belong in this space.

These are all reasons to study futurism!