Sustainability: Why Some Programs Fail While Others Succeed

Why do some programs fail? Why do other programs succeed? After 10+ years of reviewing grantee closeout reports, I can report the pitfalls and the solutions. If program sustainability is high on your priorities list, read on!

Programs fail when...

1. There is not a planning process that involves key staff needed for the implementation,results in a business plan, and creates a well thought out process for handling the changes that come to an organization with something new.

2. Key staff or champions leave. Not-for-profits are lean machines. There is seldom redundancy, training is expensive, and many good ideas vie for few dollars.

3. Staff and administrators take their eye off the prize and don't acknowledge that revenue sustains programs.

4. Staff administering the program are not faithful to the tenets of practice that will produce the expected outcomes.

5 Staff do not reflect on their processes and outcomes, get interventions early when problems arise, and continually strive to learn from their mistakes and successes.

6. They keep their light under a bushel and the community doesn't have a clue about their contribution to community good.

Programs succeed when...

1. The organization does a rigorous planning process to explore the program's fit within the organizational culture and in addressing the community needs. They involve staff key to the implementation. They develop a business plan and set revenue targets to sustain the program. They create a plan to facilitate the changes necessary.

2. They retain staff. They let their staff know that they are valued. They reward performance. They keep key people in the organization informed of the work of the staff and the success of the people who use the program.

3. They are implemented with fidelity. They invest in rigorous training and fidelity checks. They retrain as needed.

4. They evaluate their efforts. They develop written process plans that guide the program and outcome plans that let them know their destination. All data collected are useful to the staff. The data are analyzed and shared with the staff on a timely basis so the staff are able to continually adjust their program based on data feedback. They get help when needed.

5. They bring the community with them. Data that show client improvement and the clients' personal stories facilitate community decisions to support programs through levies, donations, and policy changes. A strategic communications plan is a must if you expect the community to be a champion.