3 Important Grassroots Lessons from March Madness

University of Houston’s stunning March Madness upset of Duke on Saturday demonstrated three important lessons for organizations that engage in grassroots advocacy (even if you’re not a sports fan). And these lessons have never been more valuable than they are right now.

🏀 Play Defense Ferociously

Between the CR, reconciliation, funding cuts and executive orders, many organizations find themselves and their mission under attack. But, playing defense doesn’t have to be defensive. The Houston Cougars greatest strength is their relentless approach to protecting what they believe is rightfully theirs – the basketball and the victory.

🏀 You Must Do the Hard Work in Advance

It takes strategy and planning to build a powerful grassroots force that can impact the legislative process. Organizations must invest in those efforts - recruitment, training, cultivation, engagement - long before they need to deploy them. Houston’s players will tell you about the brutal fitness and training regimen they endured before the season that allows them to be so successful during the most important moments of the biggest games.

🏀 Keep Your Foot on the Gas Regardless of the Score

Houston was losing badly for nearly the entire game. Yet, their coach and players knew they had crafted a sound strategy to win and never wavered from it, although they made important adjustments along the way. They finally took the lead with 19 seconds left in the game. Organizations should always have a written, comprehensive strategy for their campaign. And, even in tough times, stay true to that strategy while also remaining flexible and tweaking your plan to address and win key moments.

It's only April! Many of your greatest threats are likely to continue this year and into future years. That means it's not too late to start developing (or enhancing) a powerhouse grassroots program for your organization. Let’s get started before the buzzer sounds on your mission and constituency.