How to Create a Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Your Nonprofit
You’ve already envisioned the great future your nonprofit will bring into reality. But how exactly are you going to get there? The bridge between your ideas and making them a reality is a strategic plan. In this video, I’ll guide you step-by-step through creating a comprehensive strategic plan for your organization.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Strategic Plan
Step 1: Define Your Mission and Vision Statements
We previously discussed how to write your mission statement. Your vision statement, similar to the mission statement, will focus more on your desired outcome or future.
Step 2: Conduct a SWOT Analysis
SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Create lists for each category using input from your team or by analyzing your data. This analysis will help you identify areas where your organization can improve.
Step 3: Brainstorm Strategies
Get your team together to brainstorm high-level strategies. These are overarching goals that will guide your action plans.
Step 4: Create Action Plans
Action plans are specific tasks, responsibilities, or timelines. Ensure these are SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Align your strategies and action plans with your mission and SWOT analysis.
Step 5: Resource Planning
Plan how you'll use your resources to meet your goals or gather more resources if needed. Consider financial resources, staffing, donations, and partnerships.
Step 6: Share Your Plan
Share your strategic plan with your organization and stakeholders. Create a polished document or presentation and get initial feedback to ensure alignment with your goals.
Step 7: Monitor Progress
Monitor your progress towards the goals using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Utilize project management tools like Trello or Asana for smaller action plans and tracking. For larger strategic planning, tools like Donor Books and ClearPoint Strategy can be helpful. Regularly update your stakeholders on progress or setbacks.
Step 8: Update Your Plan
Update your strategic plan periodically. Ensure everyone is still on board and communicate any changes to all involved parties.
Example of a Strategic Plan
To give you an idea of how to organize your strategies, let’s look at Habitat for Humanity’s Strategic Plan for 2020. Normally, you’ll want your strategic plan to cover a longer period, such as four to five years.
- Layer 1: Broad goals like building a sustainable organization or community impact.
- Layer 2: More specific goals like funding the mission and growing skills and leadership capabilities.
- Layer 3: Further detailed goals under each second-layer goal.
- Layer 4: SMART goals, such as increasing non-sales tax contributions by $100,000 annually to at least $2.1 million.
Creating Your Strategic Plan Document
You can create a document to share your strategic plan with your organization and stakeholders. Options range from a simple slideshow presentation to a professionally designed document.
Download the Worksheet
If you're struggling to find a starting point for drafting strategies, make sure to download the worksheet that comes with this training.
Join the Conversation
What challenges have you faced in strategic planning for your nonprofit? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below. If you need personalized assistance, reach out to our team.
Conclusion
Creating a comprehensive strategic plan is essential for guiding your nonprofit to success. By following these steps, you can develop a plan that aligns with your mission, utilizes your resources effectively, and measures your progress. Watch our video to learn more and ensure your strategic plan is impactful and achievable.
Call to Action:
- Watch the Video: Click above to get detailed guidance on crafting your nonprofit’s mission statement.
- Subscribe: Stay updated with more tips and strategies by subscribing to our newsletter.
- Contact Us: For personalized support, reach out to our team of experts.
Frequently
Asked Questions
A strategic plan for a nonprofit is a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the organization’s mission, vision, and goals. It includes actionable steps and strategies to achieve these goals, utilizing resources effectively and measuring progress through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
To define mission and vision statements for a nonprofit, start by articulating your organization’s purpose and core values (mission statement). Then, envision the future impact and long-term goals of your organization (vision statement). These statements should align closely to provide a clear direction for your strategic plan.
A SWOT analysis evaluates a nonprofit’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This analysis is crucial for strategic planning as it helps identify internal and external factors that can impact the organization’s success, guiding the creation of effective strategies and action plans.
Brainstorming strategies involves gathering your team to develop high-level goals and objectives. This collaborative approach ensures diverse perspectives and ideas are considered, leading to more innovative and comprehensive strategies that align with your mission and SWOT analysis.
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives. In nonprofit action plans, SMART goals ensure that tasks are clear, trackable, realistic, aligned with the organization’s mission, and have defined timelines for completion, enhancing accountability and progress monitoring.
Resource planning is essential in a nonprofit strategic plan because it determines how financial, human, and material resources will be allocated to achieve goals. Effective resource planning ensures that the organization can sustain its activities and expand its impact, addressing any gaps in resources through fundraising or partnerships.
Nonprofits can effectively monitor progress towards their strategic goals by using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and project management tools like Trello, Asana, Donor Books, or ClearPoint Strategy. Regularly updating stakeholders on progress and setbacks ensures transparency and allows for timely adjustments to the plan.
It is important to update a nonprofit’s strategic plan periodically to reflect changes in the organization’s environment, resources, and goals. Regular updates ensure that the plan remains relevant, aligns with current priorities, and continues to guide the organization towards its mission and vision effectively.