Does your nonprofit team struggle to keep up with community needs? Many organizations find that traditional project management cannot move quickly enough. By adopting the Scrum framework, your team can create twice the impact in half the time.
The first step toward a more efficient organization is understanding who does what. For that, we suggest a Scrum Team, which is a self-organized group that works together to deliver increments of value to your clients. Generally, these teams consist of 3 to 9 people.
Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Leaders
- Small Teams, Big Impact: Keep your Scrum Teams between 3 and 9 people for maximum agility.
- Clear Accountability: Every role has specific responsibilities to ensure that the team delivers value.
- Mission Alignment: Use a Product Vision to keep every task connected to your organization’s core mission.
- Stakeholder Input: Success depends on gathering feedback from the community members you serve.
Understanding the Three Critical Scrum Roles
To successfully navigate the Scrum framework, you must define three distinct roles within your team.
1. The Product Owner: The Value Maximizer
The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the work your Scrum team produces. They act as the bridge between your stakeholders and the Scrum team. By gathering feedback from customers, clients, or community members, they influence the Product Backlog to ensure that the most important work happens first.
2. The Scrum Master: The Process Champion
The Scrum Master is accountable for the effectiveness of the Scrum team. They guide the team through the Scrum framework and empower members to improve their practices over time. Think of them as a coach who helps the Scrum team remove obstacles.
3. The Team Member: The Execution Expert
A Team Member is responsible for being cross-functional and releasing small increments of work during a Sprint. In a nonprofit context, this is one of the individuals directly building the programs or services that help your community.
Ready to dive deeper? Learn how to implement these roles effectively by watching our recorded session Scrum in Nonprofits: Why Use an Agile Approach
Defining Your Product Vision and Stakeholders
Before your Scrum team starts working, you need a clear Product Vision. This is a brief statement of the desired future state your project will achieve. A strong vision is simple and aligns perfectly with your nonprofit’s mission.
You must also identify your Stakeholders. These are the end users, such as community members or donors, who use your services. Their feedback during the Sprint Review is vital to making sure your Scrum team stays on the right track.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people should be on a nonprofit Scrum Team? Most successful Scrum Teams are small, typically ranging from 3 to 9 people. This size allows for better communication and faster decision-making.
What is the main goal of a Product Owner in a nonprofit? The Product Owner focuses on maximizing the value of the products or services resulting from the team’s work. They ensure that the team works on the most impactful tasks for the community.
Does everyone on the Scrum team need to be an expert in everything? Team Members should strive to be cross-functional—meaning that while everyone has unique skills, the team as a whole has all the necessary abilities to release work during a Sprint.
Take the Next Step Toward Agility
Mapping out your team is just the beginning of your Agile journey. We want to help you create a lasting impact in the communities you serve.
Download our free Scrum Role Chart to start naming the individuals who will fill these roles on your Scrum team today.
Want to learn more about these roles? Take advantage of our Scrum Basics for Nonprofits recorded webinar, where we guide you through each role in more depth.