WHAT IS STRATEGIC PLANNING?
- A management tool
- A process which includes assessment, analysis and action
- An attempt to create a fit between your organization's mission, it's strengths and resources and the threats and opportunities out there in the environment
- It's a set of decisions about what to do, why to do it and how to do it
- It's a way to help organizations focus energy and ensure that everyone is working toward the same goal
- It's a product - a written document of your intent for your organization
WHY DO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING?
- To use resources more effectively
- To build teamwork and expertise
- To produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what your organization is, what it does and why it does it
- To answer the questions
- Who are we?
- What's important to us?
- Where are we going?
- How will we get there?
- What vision do we have about what we might become in the future?
- What are the values that will guide us?
WHY ELSE DO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING?
- A funder requires it
- The boss says we are going to do it
For further reading on Strategic Planning see:
Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations — A practical Guide and Workbook by Michael Allison and Jude Kaye — Support Center for Nonprofit Management — 1997 published by John Wiley and Sons.
Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation by Carter McNamara, MBA,PhD, published by Authencity ConsultingLLC
If you would like to talk to Pat about having her facilitate the strategic planning process for you, she can be reached at pat@management-strategies.org or 716 483-6939.
