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There comes a point in the life of an organization where it considers expanding its programs and services.

This strategic move can open up new possibilities, build and strengthen community bonds, and enhance overall effectiveness, including:

While the idea of expanding your organization’s programs can be tempting, many organizations venture into uncharted territory without being intentional about WHY and HOW they expand.

This leads to pushback from other organizations, community members, and even staff.

There’s different levels to pushback against program expansion. Here are two ways to look at it:

Internal pushback

I’m starting first with internal pushback as most organizations typically prioritize the needs of their external stakeholders.

Why? These people (from funders and policy makers to program participants and community partners) and their priorities often overshadow internal pushback.

Program staff understand your programs well, and it’s understandable that the biggest pushback will be from them. Internal pushback can include:

  • Staff aren’t sure how to implement the program on a larger scale, which can compromise delivering meaningful outcomes
  • The program’s design (participant outreach, activities, outcomes, etc.) may be best suited for one type of implementation (in-person versus online)
  • Resource constraints (financial, staff shortage, insufficient infrastructure) can jeopardize program implementation and effectiveness
  • The program’s design meets the needs of a specific population (e.g., the program caters to urban communities but you want to expand to rural populations)
  • Lack of staff involvement in decision making, can lead to a sense of disempowerment and reduced staff buy-in
  • Uncertain funding and sustainability can lead to job security concerns and the potential for program cutbacks
  • Need for increased communication and collaboration among staff and community partners, which can exacerbate an already tense working dynamic
  • The program’s target community is already saturated with programs, which can increase competition among organizations
  • Fears that expanding programs could lead to unsuccessful outcomes, damaging the reputation of the organization and affecting staff morale

External pushback

I’m going to focus on community members, who are the primary beneficiaries community-based organizations. Similar to organizational partners, policy makers, and funders, community members may have valid concerns or reservations about the expansion of programs and services.

External pushback is easier for organizations to see and often the quickest to react to. We don’t want to alienate the people whose participation and championing of our programs are crucial. External pushback can include:

  • Past negative experiences in which community members have seen similar expansions fail in the past
  • Lack of community input can serve as a disconnect from understanding actual community needs (maybe the community needs something else, and not this program)
  • Organizations may unintentionally overlook or misunderstand the cultural nuances of the community they serve. If the expansion introduces programs that are perceived as culturally insensitive or inappropriate, community members may resist
  • Community members may be skeptical about the success and impact of expanded programs if there’s no prior existing relationship between the community and the organization
  • The community is oversaturated with programs and services, overwhelming the community by the influx of new initiatives
  • Some community members may prefer locally-driven solutions and initiatives over those introduced by an organization that wants to expand there. This could undermine community-led efforts and diminish the sense of self-determination within the community.

Key takeaway

The decision to expand programs and services is a strategic one. By staying attuned to internal AND external stakeholder needs, your organization can be more thoughtful in if AND how you expand.

Raise Your Voice: In the comments section below, name one way your organization has addressed pushback when expanding a program or service.

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