Are you seeking any stick on the trail or a specific stick? Sometimes, any stick will do. Trying to start a campfire, kindling and branches of different sizes are welcome. If you need a walking stick, the optimal length and width narrow the potential inventory. Looking for something long enough to rescue a friend who has fallen through the ice, we might try anything we can grab. For an artistic door handle to serve as the finishing piece on a custom-made door, the criteria increase exponentially.

When any stick will do, there is a limited need for evaluation (snake or stick?). When higher-order decision-making is desired, consider drafting a strategy screen (a key step in David La Piana’s The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution framework). Developing filtering statements that guide future decision-making is best done in advance instead of under the pressure of a deadline. If we replace sticks for initiatives, what follows is a potential start to a strategy screen (customization of this template is encouraged):

1. Is the initiative aligned with our Magnetic North (Purpose, Vision, Mission, and Values)?
2. Is the opportunity consistent with the strategies outlined in our strategic plan?
3. Does the initiative benefit our customers? Does it help us be of greater service?
4. Does the opportunity leverage the trust we built with our supporters and community?
5. Is our cause committed to doing the work that matters to launch the project?
6. Does the opportunity enhance our connection to the community we serve?
7. Are we replicating or duplicating a similar initiative curated by one of our partners?
8. Do we have the resources to manage the opportunity (staff, fiscal, facility, expertise, etc.)?
9. What is the evaluation of the risk management exposure?
10. What is the length of the commitment?
11. What is the geographic service area the initiative covers?
12. If the initiative launches successfully, can we sustain the project?
13. How might we unwind the endeavor if necessary?

A side benefit of the strategy screen is that if you represent an organization that is on the receiving end of frequent requests to launch and partner new programs, share the strategy screen with the individual proposing the project. Explain that these are the criteria that the decision-makers (staff, board, membership, etc.) will use to make an initial evaluation of the initiative. It makes the decision-making process more transparent, and the advocate may have insights on answering specific strategy screen questions. 

Lastly, I recommend using the strategy screen like a street light, applying green, yellow, and red coding as you answer the screening questions. All green does not mean proceed, nor does a single red light mean the initiative fails. The screen represents a guide to support your cause’s best decision-making and enrich a culture of curiosity.