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Many nonprofits get by without a strategic plan for years, sometimes even decades. But “getting by” isn’t most leaders’ goal. We all want to lead thriving, sustainable, and high-performing organizations. A strategic plan can help you get there. After guiding...
Organizational leaders do a lot of planning. The ability to consistently design and implement project plans, program plans, and other plans can make the difference between an organization’s long-term failure and success. In our work with hundreds of leaders and scores...
Whether you lead a business or nonprofit organization, it is essential to understand internal and external factors that can impact your sustainability and success. A SWOT analysis is one of the top ways to do this. In this article, we’re going to cover what a...
Stakeholder interviews are one of the most powerful ways to gather fresh insights about your organization when planning for the future. Whether you’re aiming to grow, pursuing new opportunities, or dealing with unexpected setbacks, stakeholder interviews help ensure...
A strategic planning stakeholder survey is designed to gather insights about your organization from a diverse set of stakeholders. These insights should then directly inform your strategic planning process. Let’s look at what goes into an effective stakeholder survey...
What is the timeline for a strategic planning process? This is one of the first questions new strategic planning clients often ask us. It sounds simple, but the question actually has two parts: How long will the strategic planning process take? How long of a period...
A frequent question we hear from strategic planning clients is: How often should our organization review and/or revise its strategic plan? At Funding for Good, we believe successful strategic planning is an active process, not just a static product....
Most organizations undertaking strategic planning choose to work with a consultant. But how can you find the right consultant for your organization? We recommend treating the consultant selection like an interview or hiring process. Create a short-list of consultants,...
Vision and mission statements are at the heart of nonprofit work. Our vision and mission articulate our organization’s reasons for being. They drive our programs. They inspire our volunteers and donors. So, if your organization has solid vision and mission...
Do we need a strategic plan if our organization already has an annual plan? This is a common question we hear from organizations that are deciding whether to invest in a strategic planning process. So, let’s take a look at the difference between these two types...
One of the most common questions we get from clients is: Does it matter when we start our strategic planning process? Our answer is a resounding yes. Let’s dig into why! Your Strategic Plan in Context Your organization’s strategic plan does not exist in a vacuum. To...
Are you weighing whether to hire a consultant for your organization’s strategic planning process? When you decide to undertake a strategic plan for your organization, it’s tempting to consider doing it yourself. You might wonder: Why not save money on those...
If you’re an organizational leader, you’ve likely heard the quote: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." But what happens when culture doesn’t exist in the traditional sense—between people gathering—but rather across bits of data transmitted from laptops and cell...
A strategic plan is one of the most powerful tools nonprofits can develop. Strategic planning can help your nonprofit organization increase impact, reduce internal friction, align stakeholders, and raise more revenue. In this article, we’ll dive into everything you...
Can you share your strategic plan template with us? Can you share a copy of a strategic plan you created for a client? These are two of the top questions our team here at Funding for Good receives from nonprofit leaders preparing for a strategic planning...
A nonprofit strategic plan costs money and time. But can it pay for itself with better fundraising? Here at Funding for Good, our answer is a resounding, yes! At its heart, nonprofit fundraising is about showing donors how their contributions will create impact...
When nonprofit organizations draft strategic plans, the expectation is stability. A three-to-five-year vision is meant to guide priorities, operations, and growth. But what happens when the world changes faster than the paper it’s written on? In a recent episode of...
From Fortune 500 companies to small businesses to local nonprofits, one thing most leaders agree on is that strategy matters. Smart strategy can turn around a struggling organization, grow a seed program into a thriving community pillar, and transform an idea...
If you’re getting started with strategic planning, you might be wondering how deeply to engage your employees. You’ll certainly bring in your leadership team and department heads. But what about other managers and non-management staff? Are there benefits to...
If your business or nonprofit is preparing for a strategic planning process, you’ve likely heard the advice to find a great consultant to guide your way. But finding that great consultant is often easier said than done. While there are plenty of strategic planning...
When rapid changes are happening outside our organizations, having tools for strategic and nimble decision-making is more important than ever. One powerful tool that both nonprofits and businesses can use is an environmental scan. Environmental scanning allows...