Taking a Lesson from the Superbowl

Wow! This year’s Super Bowl was the kind of heroic turnaround that Americans just love. Coming from behind, the Pittsburgh Steelers went back to an old type of play, go left, go right, find someone open, pass the ball and run. Using their resolve, the Steelers charged ahead at the last minute to win their sixth Superbowl against the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa with a 27-23 victory. According to MSNBC, Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told his teammates “it’s now or never, I told the guys all the film study you put in doesn’t matter unless you do it now”. And they did.

In the face of huge obstacles, with the biggest economic crisis in decades overshadowing everything, keeping a cool head, working together, and using tried and true techniques wins the day. Nonprofit organizations face excruciating obstacles with donor money drying up but this is the time to pull the team together and say “it’s now or never.” It is amazing what great ideas can emerge from facing down your fears and driving ahead in spite of the odds (I was a cheerleader in high school). I say go team, go! America is not licked yet. We will rise up, take control and move forward. Is it time to go back and look at your most successful fundraisers and give them a new twist? What are your thoughts? Tell us what has worked for you.