Sitting in the bleachers at a Whitehouse High School football game thirteen years ago, I heard my husband pronounce the quarterback nothing short of amazing. I was more focused on watching his son, who occasionally received the ball from Patrick Mahomes on his way to the end zone. On the drive home, he continued, predicting an NFL career for Mahomes that sounded far-fetched to me.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Kansas City Chiefs are in prime television slots week after week, and always on our schedule. Despite minimal football acumen (and a tendency to miss the nuances my husband sees), I’ve learned one undeniable truth: as great a quarterback as is Mahomes, he alone cannot carry a team to the Super Bowl.
According to NFL.com, Patrick Mahomes threw for more than 3,900 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in the 2024–25 season. Impressive numbers, to be sure, but not the whole story.
To reach Super Bowl LX, he needs the rest of the system: an offensive line that buys time, receivers who run precise routes, a defense that keeps the score in reach, and special teams that deliver field position. Football is not a “one-star show.” It’s a coordinated web of mini-teams that succeed only when they function as one.
Great mini-teams are the secret to sustained success in football … and for nonprofits. High-performing organizations don’t rely on a single strong department or leader. They build multiple small, well-functioning teams: programs, fundraising, communications, finance, volunteers—that roll together toward the mission. When those mini-teams stay aligned, the organization can meet the growing needs of clients, who are counting on them.
Let’s recap PART ONE:
In my last blog, we explored the idea that every nonprofit is comprised of multiple mini-teams with distinct tasks and strengths, all essential to mission success. We discussed naming these teams clearly, understanding their purpose, and intentionally strengthening connections between them. Regular touchpoints, shared language, and smooth collaboration reduce friction across departments.
The takeaway: nonprofits thrive when mini-teams understand how their work connects to the mission and to one another.
PART TWO: Strengthening the mini-teams that make the mission possible
If Part One was about recognizing mini-teams, Part Two is about elevating them—creating the structure and habits that turn good organizations into resilient, high-performing ones. Like the Chiefs, nonprofits excel when their offense, defense, and special teams (programs, operations, fundraising) work together with discipline, clarity, and trust.
Here are four deeper strategies to strengthen your nonprofit’s teams from the inside out.
- 1. Mission-focused meetings and after-action reviews
Anchor every mini-team’s work in mission and continuous learning. Assign a rotating mission-keeper for each meeting—someone who identifies how agenda items relate to the mission and points out drift. Pair that with after-action reviews following major events or activities.
Use a five-question review: What went well? What didn’t? What surprised us? What should we stop? What should we repeat? These quick reflections help teams stay focused, adapt, and make better decisions. - 2. Cross-training and shared learning sessions
Offer staff opportunities to understand the organization from the perspective of another team. A half-day shadow visit or short cross-training session demonstrates how other departments operate, the pressures they face, and points out areas where communication gaps exist. Add occasional cross-team learning workshops.
Structure sessions that mix people from different teams to solve a shared challenge. Together, these practices foster empathy, break down silos, and enhance handoff points across the organization. - 3. Add handoff checklists to the Team Playbook
Every mini-team needs a page in the team playbook, a one-page overview that includes purpose, key responsibilities, who does what, and how they connect to other teams. Pair that with handoff checklists to clarify how work moves between teams, reducing confusion and speeding collaboration.
Just like offense, defense, and special teams know their assignments, a team playbook gives staff the clarity to work smoothly and avoid dropped balls. - 4. Consistent practices create a strong culture
Culture isn’t built in retreats or annual events. Small, repeated behaviors shape it. Strengthen culture by weaving mission and collaboration into daily routines. Start meetings with a mission connection, highlight cross-team cooperation, and encourage leaders to model curiosity about other teams’ work. Include collaboration in performance discussions and celebrate shared wins.
These habits build a culture of trust and alignment, giving mini-teams resilience when work becomes complex or demanding.
Where it all leads
When nonprofits invest in practices like mission-focused meetings, continuous learning, cross-training, clear handoffs, and shared culture, they strengthen each mini-team and the connections between them. That creates an organization capable of meeting rising needs with confidence and agility.
Even Patrick Mahomes, talented and disciplined as he is, succeeds only when the whole system pulls with him. Nonprofits are no different. No single leader or department wins the day alone. When every mini-team executes its role with purpose and unity, moving forward yard by yard—carried by everyone.
That’s the power of a true “team of teams”: many parts, one mission, united.
Read it. Use it. Pass it on.
If you have a question or a topic you would like to see explored in future posts, please reach out to me.
