Successful Strategic Planning Jane Jordan, Founding Principal PartnersWithNonprofits.Org

Strategic Planning Is... LONG RANGE AND USABLE

Strategic Planning Is...  Understanding who and what we are  Imagining what we most want to be  Determining how best to get there, and  What our organizational priorities should be About 20% of all nonprofits have a strategic plan

Strategic Planning Isn’t... A WASTE OF TIME

Strategic Planning Isn’t...  A substitute for strategic leadership  Volunteers and staff  A substitute for strategic thinking, acting and learning  Strategic plans are not “cast in concrete”  They must be fluid and responsive to changes in our environment

A Strategic Plan Isn’t...  An operating plan  Operating plans grow out of strategic plans and are short-term  A business plan  A case for support  The case for support is geared toward attracting philanthropy and other types of investment

Strategic Planning Involves... WORK THAT’S WELL WORTH IT

Strategic Planning Involves...  Your board and your staff  Pulling together everyone  Your funders and stakeholders  Even your kids!

Strategic Plans Include... EVERYONE’S BEST THINKING

Strategic Plans Include...  A clear grasp of external opportunities and challenges  A realistic assessment of your internal strengths and weaknesses  An inclusive approach to planning  An empowered planning committee and sr. staff  Clear priorities and an implementation plan

Strategic Plan Components

Plan Components  Vision, Mission and Values Statements  Vision: “What will the world be like...?  Mission: “Why do we exist? What do we do? What don’t we do?”  Values: “What are our guiding principles? What do we believe in?”  Broad Goals and Objectives  “What do we want to achieve?”  Strategies, Tactics...an Implementation Plan  “How will we accomplish our goals?”  Implementation Plan: A user’s guide to success

The Planning Model Vision, Mission, Values Goals Strategies Tactics SWOT   

Phases of a Plan

Strategic Planning Phases Phases  Assessment  Vision, Mission  Goals, Strategies  Tactics  Monitoring & Tracking Activities  SWOT Analysis  Board Retreat  Planning Committee work  Staff Committee work  Board & Staff oversight

The Dreaded SWOT PHASE ONE - ASSESSMENT

SWOT Analysis Internal  Strengths:  Reputation, people, resources  Weaknesses:  Be honest – “weak links,” internal obstacles to progress External  Opportunities:  Trends, collaboration opportunities, new markets  Threats:  Competition, lack of community awareness

Talk to “Outsiders”  Don’t rely on your own opinions  Get feedback from:  Funders  Volunteers  Families  Other supporters  Kids!  Who else?

Vision and Mission PHASE TWO

Vision and Mission  Vision  What the world will be like when you have achieved your mission  Mission What you are deeply passionate about What you are best in the world at What drives your economic engine Your true mission, your strategic niche

Goals and Strategies PHASE THREE

Goals and Strategies Goals  “What do we want to accomplish?’  Desired outcomes  External or internal focus  Broad, comprehensive and often far-reaching  Measurable Strategies and Tactics  “Means to an end”  How we actually accomplish our work  Addresses how goals are achieved  Action steps (short- term) come from strategies

Implementation THE COMMITMENT TO GROWTH

Implementation  Strategic plan:  Why  What  Implementation plan:  Who  When  Where  How +  Communication

Implementation  Plan that drives your agency? OR...  Document that sits on the shelf?  Successful implementation...  Gets the right people on the bus  Ensures available funds and time  Creates an environment that supports implementation

Implementation  Implementation = Change  Implementation...  Gets  Promotes organizational growth in our growing and changing environment  Forces us to change and grow personally

Changes Happening Today  Things that are affecting nonprofits right now:  The graying of America...more people living longer and needing more services  Global philanthropy...U.S. philanthropy going to more countries...global disasters, Asian mega-millionaires  Innovation in technology...Face-to-face is old way of doing things...do you Tweet?  A blending of our population...by 2045, people of color will outnumber whites in the U.S.  The blending of charity and business in the U.S...is the nonprofit becoming obsolete?

Thank You