Grant Writing & Program Development

Creative Edge Consulting

www.CreativeEdgeConsulting.org

For those of you that are not big fans of basketball or do not fully understand the game, I apologize for the following analogy and hope you can understand the concept of what I am trying to say.

On a team, everyone has a role to play. The “Point Guard” is the one you see “bringing the ball down the court.” This member of the team runs the plays and controls much of the action, whether that is changing the momentum of the game by either slowing down or speeding up the pace, holding the ball when necessary—without movement, temporarily—and calming the other players down on occasion. This player organizes the team on the court.

The Point Guard is often times one of the shortest but quickest of players, and the best ones are not easily rattled. Typically the most talented ball-handler, this person is able to dribble past “traps” that they encounter as the game becomes more heated and more pressure is applied. Surely, although most players want the ball and love to be a part of scoring, it would not behoove a team to have everyone equally share this responsibility to place the group, as a unit, in solid scoring position. Not everyone dribbles well—or as well. Instead, the others need to get in position to contribute in their own, designated, way. They need to move and get open for a pass …or prepare for what happens after the shot takes place.

The “Center” should be planted “under the basket,” moving in and out of “the key,” preparing for, what we hope to be, an easy feed. If challenged by the opposition, we know we can count on them to apply their height and muscle in response. And, if the first shot attempt fails, we also rely on them to fight for a rebound “under the boards” to give us a second scoring opportunity.

The other Guard and the two “Forwards” have their designated jobs as well, along with, typically, territories they cover on the court. When traffic “in the paint” (under the basket, for you non-sports folks) becomes congested, we pop the ball to a Forward or Guard on the outside for the beautiful long-shot, the 3-pointer.

Of course, there is also the important role of the coach…in addition to the contributions from the crowd. All this adds to the excitement of the game and a well-oiled machine is simply poetry in motion.

Just like in sports, positions in non-profit operations are assigned based on strengths and other attributes. Or, at least they should be. Chaos is the result when people do not understand the game or their role within it. This is especially true during the start-up phase when Board members are more active in program development—a time before paid staff join the ranks and assume that leadership.

If everyone tries to be the ball-handler, the process breaks down. Same thing happens if everyone wants to run a different play. That is why, at least in basketball, you have a coach—the absolute rule for all things related to strategy. The point guard is then the coach’s general, implementing the well thought-out plan, or a quickly modified one, on the court.

To begin, no team can be effective without practice and defining the structural rules for working together. Studying the challenges that are anticipated, beforehand, such as the opposing team, leads to your game-plan. Going into the game without one is a mistake, as an unorganized team is a losing team.

Applied to the non-profit realm, progress and success are compromised when no one will take the lead or when all insist they hold that role. What I suggest to new non-profits as they start out is that they, together, determine their vision. Commit to it. That is their first goal—an agreement to play on the same team and strive toward the common end result.

Even within an overall framework of what makes a team most effective, there are individual means for achieving outcomes. The game is made up of a series of “plays” that designate, at any given time or circumstance, who does …what, where, and when. Correlating this to non-profit work, every project needs a distinct game-plan (goals and objectives) and a series of individual plays (activities/tasks) that, in small steps, help us to successfully accomplish our aims.

Through practice and team meetings, in addition to honestly evaluating reasons for past losses or turnovers, modifications to the strategy may occur. This is perfectly okay, understanding that some people would be more valuable serving as a Forward than as a Point Guard. Some may even need to sit the bench, coming into the game when others need a breather. This role is important, too, offering new energy and dynamics when the current strategy is not working. And, on occasion, a Board may collectively discover that basketball is not the game for one or more Board members. Those folks should be encouraged to find another sport or interest that better suits their talents and passions—in other words, sometimes a player needs to be cut.

As a Board member, are you a coach, a Point Guard, a Guard, a Forward or a Center? Are you a second-string player or just a devoted fan that cheers from the stands? Are you the team manager or water boy/girl? Are you in the band? Do you serve as commentator or work the time clock? Maybe you are a cheerleader or the “ref.”

Develop and use your game-plan. Play your part. Win.

About The Author: Mary E. Costello holds a BA degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She is a former Social Work Administrator who specialized in the management of complex human services programs and leading new projects creation. Forming Creative Edge Consulting in February of 2005, she now is the “resident expert” on grant writing and non-profit program development issues on the Boys Project website, a sponsored project of the University of Alaska/Fairbanks. She serves clients throughout the United States, including both community based programs and those of national scope, such as the Boys Project, the Aaron Meyer Foundation, and the Chris Farley Foundation. Programmatic and grant related questions or inquiries regarding her professional line of services may be directed to MaryCostello@CreativeEdgeConsulting.org. Mary will attempt to answer all general questions from the public but cannot guarantee a personal response, dependent on volume of requests at any given time.

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