The learning outcomes are as follows:
LO1: to examine the role of grassroots sports as a tool for social change, equity, and sustainable development;
LO2: to analyze the importance of the business model canvas from a social sector lens;
LO3: to assess the effectiveness of FALP and its linkages to women’s empowerment;
LO4: to evaluate the extent to which personal experiences shape the design and implementation of intrapreneurial initiatives that serve societal needs; and
LO5: to evaluate the strategies for an early-stage social initiative to engage in scaling for impact.
Simply Sport Foundation (Simply Sport), a non-profit organization established in India in 2020, was established to support grassroots athletes in achieving success both in sport and in life. One of its flagship initiatives, the Female Athlete Leadership Program (FALP), was conceptualized by Aditi Mutatkar, a former international badminton player and program head at Simply Sport. FALP was designed to empower rural sportswomen through a holistic curriculum that combined athletic training with life skills such as communication, financial literacy, health and menstrual cycles.
The program had successfully completed its first cohort of 22 female athletes in partnership with the Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA). ASA had played a pivotal role in funding the execution of FALP, while Simply Sport provided the HR support to execute the program.
With proof-of-concept established, Mutatkar now faced a critical decision on how to secure funding to scale FALP and extend its impact. The three funding options under consideration were as follows:
CSR funding from Indian companies;
grants from Indian and foreign foundations; and
charging participants for enrolment in the year-long program.
Each option had its trade-offs in terms of building legitimacy for Simply Sport without compromising on its mission. Additionally, the decision had an impact not only on the future of FALP but also on the organization’s ability to deliver on its vision of grassroots empowerment through sports.
The case is intended for MBA students, students of executive MBA programs and participants of short-term executive education programs that focus on educating people about causes. The case is also a perfect fit for executive sessions for NPO start-ups. In the MBA or executive MBA program, the case is suitable for courses on social entrepreneurship, general management, and sports management. The case can be taught in a 90-minute session with a focus on how to channelize a cause into a start-up, build an understanding of scale and impact for an NPO, and the various available funding options.
CSS11: Strategy.
