HOW TO PLAN STRATEGICALLY FOR AB 12 Oscar Wolters-Duran Project Coordinator Homeless Youth Capacity Building Project John Burton Foundation CHARTING A NEW PATH FOR THP-PLUS:

Springboard: Change is inevitable Write down three things that have changed in the past two or three years that have impacted your organization These can be internal to your organization, or external

Change is inevitable! The economy changes Funding opportunities change Client needs change Knowledge and best practices evolve Policies, rules, and regulations change Staff changes Competitors emerge

Hopeful take aways What is strategic planning and why is it important? How do we go about strategic planning? What changes will AB 12 bring, and how can we plan proactively to meet them?

What is strategic planning? The creation of a coordinated set of actions designed to create and sustain a competitive advantage in achieving a (nonprofit’s) mission. May include the revision of the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Strategy is ongoing and not just contained in a static plan!

What are the benefits of planning? Building upon strengths Increased creative energy Increased ability to accomplish mission Energized staff and board A more focused marketing message Ability to say no to opportunities that aren’t right!

When should it happen? When major internal or external changes occur When staff or board seem disengaged, unmotivated When facing challenges or opportunities

A new model of planning Streamlined Ongoing and real-time Strengths-based

Real-time strategic planning Based on La Piana Associates’ Real Time Strategic Planning model. F Implementation Plan E Strategic Plan C Key Strategic Questions B Strategy Screen A Identity Statement D Strategy Brainstorm Who are we? Mission People served Geographic areas covered Programs How do we operate? Sources and uses of funding Staffing What is our market position? Other players Unique competitive advantages Market trends What are the opportunities and challenges we must respond to? What criteria should we use to evaluate strategies? Non-negotiables What potential strategies could we employ to respond to the Big Strategic Questions? Data Gathering

What changes does AB 12 bring? Find a partner (or two) and spend a few minutes discussing these questions: How will AB 12’s passage impact my organization? What challenges will it present? What opportunities become available?

AB 12 and the Big Questions AB 12 is likely to raise some “Big Strategic Questions” for THP Plus organizations. What big questions do you have in the areas of: Resources (staffing, funding, knowledge) Programs and services Messaging (branding, media, mission)

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