[Re-release] Five Steps to Nonprofit Strategic Planning

Mission: Impact

In episode 114 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton is re-releasing a favorite from last year. It includes:

• What strategic planning is and is not
• The five steps to a comprehensive strategic planning process
• The Keys to ensuring your plan gets put into action and stays relevant

The five steps are 1. kick off, 2. discovery or listening tour, 3. explore, 4. decide, 5. plan & act

Strategic planning: Strategic planning is a structured process for setting priorities for the medium term (3-5 years). It involves gathering insights from stakeholders, identifying themes, exploring futures, and making decisions to focus the organization’s future in service of its mission.

What it is NOT

• It’s not about predicting or controlling the future.
• Just the document, it's about conversations that build alignment and shared understanding.
• It is not just a retreat

Kick Off

• Setting yourself up for success
• Let everyone know what is happening and what is coming
• Pull together a team
• Equity considerations

Discover

• Go on a listening tour
• Interviews, focus groups, surveys – what will work for you.
• How are you making participation accessible?

Explore

• Share the current state as well as hopes and aspirations
• Explore the wider landscape and ecosystem for trends
• imagine new futures for the organization

Decide Prioritize and decide on the future directions and goals: Where will you put your energy? Revisit your mission and vision – are they aligned with where you are going?

Plan & Act Define action steps, success indicators, and feedback mechanisms. Keeping the Plan Fresh Agree on a process for reviewing and updating the plan

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