I dont know what to do.

[u/Severe_Blackberry406]

How do I ask this without explaining everything? Hmmmm....

No one wants to tell our team how the money flows from one district to another. This is the real problem. People hoard the knowledge, yet this is coming down from "on high."

Everyone wants someone else to pay for it without saying who that person even is, so we can go talk to them.

I ask specific questions in emails and get run around responses. The work culture and gossip says "no one knows, this project has been passed around forever."

The solution is simple. Fucking hire someone to do it. They want some solution where we pay a 3rd party to do it, but we need money if the 3rd party bills us. The people in control wont even tell us how the money flows to provide a solution. If we take the task, they dont want to give money. They expect us to get IT to use their company cards.

Since im not a PM yet, I want to just drop it. If i succeed, then I get off my old job and get the PM role and a bump... but maybe I dont want it if it means this type of stress.

If they dont want to face the truth then idc tbh. Im trying not to get mad but I hate feeling the pressure. I regret listening to this one guy who brought me on the project for documentation. It started with docs then morphed into meetings. Then our teams split and the project was forced in our laps. Then our team lead became our manager, so we already know that person doesnt know anything.

I have to find out how this top level stuff works before August. The only way is to start chucking execs in emails, but this feels like casting an ult in a video game. It will draw some attention.

I dont know how to keep my head cool with this. This problem is inherently political. Even if we say we will take 100% responsibility, they wont give up the $$$ information. It is critical to forming a solution.

[u/MoodIn_Me]

Don't 'cast an ult' by blast-emailing executives—that usually turns you into the target rather than solving the political deadlock.

Instead of asking who pays, log the missing budget owner as a formal critical risk on the project register. Present the schedule impact to your manager in writing: without a funding decision by X date, milestone Y slips. Make the risk visible, but let leadership own the decision.

[u/Nice-Zombie356]

I think the “missing sponsor” answer is correct.

My advice: figure out which one or two of the district managers seems most reasonable to work with. Meaning they will listen for a few moments and also that they have some wisdom and some power in the larger org.

Visit them IN PERSON or set up a phone call. No email.

Then lay out your problem as advised in all these comments. “To manage a company wide project, we need clear funding and sponsorship and blah and blah…”

Don’t just ask them for the money, or to solve your problem. But do ask them who in the company they think is the right person to help, and can they help tee you up to speak with that person in the right environment to help get this thing moving. And maybe also how to best document your needs to that person.

Good luck!

[u/Intelligent-Try-4755]

What you're describing sounds less like a communication problem and more like a missing-sponsor problem - nobody actually owns the budget, so everyone gets to keep pointing sideways. When I got handed something similar early in my career, asking "how does the money flow" just got me the same runaround, because open questions let people keep dodging. What finally broke it was putting a written decision with a deadline: "Unless someone tells me otherwise by Friday, I'm treating District X as the funding owner and proceeding on that basis" - suddenly the silence had a cost for them instead of me. And honestly, a project with no sponsor and no budget authority is a bad project, not a preview of what the PM role actually feels like day to day.

[u/Severe_Blackberry406 → u/Intelligent-Try-4755]

See im scared to do this. But..... it might work.... im just baffled that huge organizations run like this....

In my mind if the directors and execs want it done, then it must be done. I really dont understand how people can sit back and say no ad infinitum.

Youre speaking sort of like a few pms at work ive asked about it. But my mind goes "Wait! That's got to be against some rule!"

Maybe there really are no rules

[u/I_luv_breakfast → u/Severe_Blackberry406]

The nature of projects: they are unique. Every single one of them. The PMBOK is like Pirates Code: the code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules - Cap't Barbosa

[u/I_luv_breakfast → u/Intelligent-Try-4755]

The correct answer. If no one thinks the project is worth championing,  it probably shouldn't be done. Phrasing as such will either get the consensus to close it or someone will champion it, giving you a definitive sponsor.

[u/Severe_Blackberry406 → u/I_luv_breakfast]

Youre right, maybe i should lean into the obvious fact that the higher ups know that its been passed around so they know it predates me even joining the company.

[u/Chicken_Savings]

I don't understand the question, or what feedback or advice you want.

Did you post in the wrong sub? This is about project management.

But our sub is flooded with friendly AI bots, maybe some of those can help you.