If nonprofits want to attain their objectives and get results, strategic planning is crucial. Strategies that will help a nonprofit promote its goal are identified through a strategic planning process. Ideally, as staff and the board participate in the process, they commit to quantifiable goals. They accept execution priorities, and agree to periodically review the organization’s strategies as internal and external surroundings evolve. SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats ) is a common way to kickstart the process.
Evolve with the plan
Planning for the future and looking ahead should be ongoing processes. The charity may need to modify its strategy when numerous things alter. Review the strategy from time to time, making changes as needed and adjusting it to the nonprofit’s strategic aims. Another way to consider success, how to get there, and what resources it will require is to articulate and visualize an organization’s theory of change.
A strategic plan is your blueprint
The strategic plan of a nonprofit serves as a roadmap, a guide, and a focal point for the route the organization will take. The staff, board members, and outside constituencies develop an explicit knowledge of an organization’s mission, strategy, and organizational values.
Planning is crucial and vital to keep all staff members focused on the future, whether the nonprofit is in its infancy, one that is striving to recover, or one that is thriving. Clarity and buy-in are produced when all staff levels are given the opportunity to participate. An employee or volunteer won’t know how to participate successfully if they are asked to help fulfil goals without being told what those goals entail. Regarding each person’s contribution to the organization’s responsibility and sustainability, transparency is crucial.
The process of developing your strategic plan is not linear. Everything is interconnected. While there are various models for strategic planning available to nonprofits, charities, and NGOs, each situation and set of objectives will call for a distinct strategy. Establishing clear, important goals aids an organization in carrying out its mission and increases its appeal on social media and through other channels for attracting donations and volunteers.
Strategy components
When considering the components of your strategic plan, include at a minimum the following sections:
- a mission statement
- an overview of the vision, goals, and activities
- list of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
- an evaluation of available resources
Connecting your nonprofit’s strategic objectives to the agenda for board meetings and including a brief discussion about some aspect of the strategic directions is effective in keeping everyone interested and maintaining the relevance of the strategic efforts. The plan is scarcely acting as a strategic guide if no one references or updates it.
True adaptive tactics demand that ingrained presumptions are abandoned. As the world becomes more unpredictable due to the complexity of our physical and social systems, it is important to be proactive and use resources wisely to enhance nonprofit’s outreach.
Connect the Dots
Story Resonate provides guidance and tools for nonprofits and charities to establish goals, execute plans, and meet objectives. Our donor management system helps organizations enhance campaigns for a broader outreach to bolster support from donors and volunteers. And with a clear and workable strategic plan in place, you can drive your nonprofit to success.