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Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Your Complete Guide

by Funding For Good | Jan 23, 2023 | Strategic Planning

Guide to nonprofit strategic planning

Every nonprofit could benefit from a strategic plan. Funders are increasingly asking to see organizations’ strategic plans. Talented staff and potential hires are increasingly eager to work with organizations that have clear and compelling visions. And, as leaders, we’re all looking to increase our organization’s impact.

A nonprofit strategic plan can provide all these benefits and more. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of strategic planning, how nonprofit strategic planning differs from the private sector, and how to make sure your organization’s planning process is successful.

  • What is a nonprofit strategic plan?
  • Does my nonprofit need a strategic plan?
  • The nonprofit strategic planning process: what to expect

What is a Nonprofit Strategic Plan?

A nonprofit strategic plan is a written roadmap for where an organization is going, how it will get there, and specific ways to determine if the organization has “arrived” at the destination. A strategic plan is the result of a process designed to create a shared vision and strategic alignment across organizational stakeholders.

This last part is especially critical for nonprofit organizations. Strategic planning isn’t solely about the written plan. It’s about building consensus across your board, staff, and other stakeholders, so that your team is focused, driven and ready to increase impact.

The process of strategic planning is designed to create shared vision and strategic alignment across organizational stakeholders.

A written plan can be put on a shelf and forgotten. But it’s nearly impossible to set aside a shared vision for the future when your board and staff are deeply invested.

What is a nonprofit strategic plan? A roadmap for where your organization is going and how it will get there.

Is your nonprofit ready for strategic planning?

How is nonprofit strategic planning different from the private sector?

Though we don’t often think of nonprofits as businesses, they actually are. Nonprofit is a tax status, not a business model .

Even if there’s no profit involved, nonprofit leaders still need to understand how to run a business . This includes balancing income and expenses, managing risk, securing appropriate insurance, bookkeeping and financial controls, ensuring adequate human resources support, managing staff, deciding where to invest and where to pull back, and more.

But nonprofits are also different from for-profit businesses in a few ways that affect the strategic planning process:

Nonprofit vision and mission

Nonprofit organizations exist to carry out a vision and mission to make a specific impact externally in the world. While organizations need to make sure they can afford costs, there is no profit motive and no shareholders to satisfy. Which is why vision and mission should drive every aspect of nonprofit strategic planning.

Read more: What Happens When Nonprofit Business Plans Stray from an Organization’s Mission?

Nonprofit staff motivation and expectations

People generally work in nonprofit organizations because they want to contribute to change. Nonprofit staffers may even trade higher salaries in the private sector. This can mean that staff bring different expectations to working in nonprofit organizations. Staff want to be engaged in decision-making. They want to consistently feel like their work is contributing to a greater good. They want to feel supported in their career growth. All of which means that nonprofit leaders will need to think very intentionally about how staff are engaged in and connected to a strategic planning process.

Read more: Engaging Staff in Strategic Planning

Nonprofit fundraising

Fundraising is one of the most essential functions in any organization. Unlike for-profit businesses, nonprofits generally raise the bulk of their income not from selling products or services, but from individual and institutional donors. This can include grants, major gifts, small dollar donations, endowed gifts, and more. In return for their contribution, donors expect to see an organization make an impact in the world. Which is why strategic planning can be especially helpful for nonprofits, as it spells out an inspiring, impact-driven, long-term vision.

Read more: 5 Ways to Boost Fundraising with a Strategic Plan

Role of the nonprofit board

The majority of nonprofit boards are non-paying positions. Yet nonprofit boards are responsible for over an incredible amount of oversight. This means that, like staff, board members will be attracted by vision and mission. Unlike for-profit boards, which are thinking about shareholders, a nonprofit board is primarily focused on ensuring an organization is able to fulfill its vision and mission. Nonprofit board members should thus be deeply involved in strategic planning.

Read more: What is Nonprofit Governance and Why Does it Matter?

Does My Nonprofit Need a Strategic Plan?

Studies consistently show that organizations with a written plan double their likelihood of success. Yet according to research, only half of nonprofits have a strategic plan . Among those organizations that do have strategic plans, too few actually put them to use.

Investing in a strategic planning process is one of the most important things you can do to boost your organization’s impact and chance of success.

Whether your nonprofit is new or established, growing or struggling, a strategic plan can position your organization to thrive.

Are you ready to build a sustainable, impactful organization?

Why is strategic planning important for nonprofits?

Running a nonprofit organization is not easy. Many nonprofits operate on lean budgets. Leaders wear multiple hats. Staff are often overwhelmed, filling multiple roles in order to meet program deliverables (and secure that next grant). Board members are volunteers, often with their own careers to manage.

Adding strategic planning to the mix can feel overwhelming. Which is why many nonprofit leaders wonder: Is strategic planning worth doing?

Strategic planning does require both financial resources and time from staff and board leadership. But research and first-hand experience working with dozens of nonprofits shows that there are incredible benefits to nonprofit strategic planning.

  • Save time by getting aligned: The strategic planning process brings together board and staff leadership to co-create a vision for your organization’s future. This includes strategic direction, programmatic and financial priorities, and measures for success. Because the process itself is based on consensus building, it creates valuable buy-in—which will ultimately save time and reduce friction.
  • Save money with smarter spending: Your strategic plan will make clear where you need to invest to achieve your 3-5-year goals. This saves you from spending precious resources in non-core areas. And because your plan includes measures of success, you’ll be better able to assess when spending is paying off, and when it isn’t, enabling you to quickly course correct.
  • Get your team invested: Did you know that 95% of employees don’t understand their company’s strategy ? At the same time, one of the top things workers find demotivating is “ a lack of meaning in their work .” A strategic planning process that engages employees and creates buy-in can transform how staff members feel about their day-to-day work. A strategic plan that employees feel invested in can re-energize your team, break down silos, and increase productivity.
  • Boost your impact: A strong strategic plan leaves no doubt about what your organization is trying to accomplish. Combining ambitious goals with actionable strategies, your plan will be designed to increase your success. For nonprofits, this means increasing both impact and sustainability. By providing clear benchmarks, your plan will also help you better evaluate your progress toward goals—catching challenges before they become costly missteps.
  • Raise more money: Donors want to invest in organizations with a strong vision, a commitment to sustainability, and a focus on creating and measuring impact. Which is exactly what a strategic plan provides. In addition to directly sharing your strategic plan with major contributors, your fundraising staff can repurpose it into language for grant proposals and supporter emails. Quarterly strategic plan progress reports for the board can be quickly transformed into compelling impact reports for donors. A strategic plan is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your development team.
  • Kickstart strategic decision-making: A strategic plan is more than simply a document. It’s a tool that should guide nonprofit board and staff leaders in making strategic decisions. Whether it’s which programs to expand or which to cut, a strategic plan spells out a set of shared values and priorities. So instead of debating major decisions from scratch each time, your team can align more quickly by asking: Which choice will best advance our organization’s stated goals and values?

While it’s easy to think of a nonprofit strategic plan in terms of how much it will cost, strategic planning isn’t simply a line item in a budget. It’s an investment in your organization’s future.

The real question nonprofit leaders should be asking is: Can my organization afford to keep operating WITHOUT a strategic plan?

How is strategic planning different from other planning?

Nonprofit leaders often feel like they’re swimming in plans. At any given moment, we’re either creating, editing or approving annual plans, department plans, and project plans. We hone our mission statements. We work with development or marketing staff to refine proposals and brochures. And that doesn’t even include the individual development plans we craft with our direct reports.

But despite all this planning, leaders and staff can still end up feeling rudderless. That’s a sure sign that you’re spending time on the wrong plans or creating your plans in the wrong order.

Start with a strategic plan

A nonprofit strategic plan is a roadmap for where you’re going—and the types of plans you need to create to get there. Your strategic plan does four important things that other plans are simply not designed to do:

  • Provide a 3-5-year vision for your nonprofit, including goals, objectives and benchmarks to evaluate success.
  • Articulate an overarching strategy for the organization as a whole. Each program, project and department within your organization needs to be contributing to the organization’s overall goals.
  • Align stakeholders on a shared vision for success. This includes your board of directors and staff leadership from every single department.
  • Guide decision-making at all levels of the organization.

Once you have a strategic plan in place, then annual plans, project plans, proposals and more will all flow from that overarching vision.

Annual plan vs strategic plan

Ideally, your annual plans will flow from your strategic plan. A strategic plan covers a 3-5-year period, with a focus on a clear vision and roadmap to get there. In contrast, annual planning is about the nuts and bolts of how you’ll be implementing your strategic plan in a given year, including who is responsible for specific deliverables.

Your annual plans will also go into more depth about the ongoing activities that keep the organization operating, but aren’t necessarily detailed in your strategic plan. Consider bringing the same curious and creative approach you used in the strategic planning process to assess these ongoing functions. Is there a way to handle basics like budgeting and bill payment more effectively and efficiently?

Read more: What is an Annual Plan vs a Strategic Plan?

Project plan vs strategic plan

Where a strategic plan covers vision and strategy for an organization overall, a project plan focuses on goals, objectives, activities, and outcomes for an individual project. The scope of project plans varies significantly. A single project plan could cover anywhere from two weeks to two years, and involve one person or dozens. The key to a successful project plan is making sure that everyone involved in the project understands their individual roles, deliverables, and deadlines.

Once you’ve created your strategic plan, you’ll likely need many project plans as you start implementation. For example, as part of a goal to increase small dollar donations, you’ll need a project plan for your year-end appeal, as well as ongoing donor communications. If you’re organizing events, you’ll certainly need project plans for those. And if you’re executing on organizational changes that will affect staff, such as shifting to a four-day workweek, a project plan will be critical.

Read more: What is a Project Plan vs a Strategic Plan?

Prospectus vs strategic plan

A prospectus is a printed booklet or brochure that serves as a promotional piece. In the nonprofit sector we tend to think of this as a marketing piece. We might call them “one-pagers,” “collateral,” or the “leave behinds” for a donor meeting.

Regardless of the name, a prospectus is the abridged, polished, and outward-facing version of your strategic plan. It’s the kind of language you use on the “about us” or “what we do” pages of your websites.

Ideally, once you have a new strategic plan, you’ll start updating all of these various materials to reflect your organization’s updated vision, direction, and impact goals. Just keep in mind that, where your strategic plan might delve explicitly into internal organizational changes , a prospectus or similar materials will focus on external impact .

The Nonprofit Strategic Planning Process

What are the steps in nonprofit strategic planning.

Many nonprofits choose to work with a consultant for their strategic planning. This enables board and staff leadership to focus on strategy, rather than running a planning process. It’s also especially helpful to have a skilled consultant who can advise on how to best engage staff members. As a neutral third party, consultants can garner unexpected insights from staff and other stakeholders through surveys, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups.

When working with a consultant, your strategic planning process should include at least three steps:

  • Step One: Preparation. This is the getting started phase. Your consultant will create a work plan and timeline, set roles and expectations, gather and analyze stakeholder input, conduct an organizational assessment to identify internal and external challenges and opportunities, and ensure that the organization’s vision and mission are clear.
  • Step Two: Strategic planning sessions or retreat. This is where the real consensus-building work happens. Your strategic planning consultant will facilitate one or more intensive strategy sessions with your board and staff leadership, and any other stakeholders you’ve agreed to include. Make sure your team is focused and ready to actively participate.
  • Step Three: Strategic plan creation. The final stage is where your vision comes together on the page. You’ll work closely with your consultant as they prepare and finalize your written strategic plan. You’ll also want to be proactive about building internal awareness, alignment, and buy-in across your organization. Your consultant can help you develop and implement a thoughtful roll out strategy .

What is unique about the nonprofit strategic planning process?

While nonprofit and for-profit strategic planning may follow a similar process, nonprofits will want to carefully consider a few additional areas:

  • Stakeholder engagement: Nonprofit board and staff at every level are part of your organization not because of money, but because of mission. That often brings much higher expectations of participation in decision-making processes. Nonprofit leaders launching strategic planning processes should work closely with their consultants to make sure staff are engaged at the appropriate level to create authentic buy-in.
  • Sustainability: Where businesses will be thinking more about increasing revenue and decreasing costs, nonprofit financial planning should focus on sustainability. When it comes to attracting the best staff and raising consistent money, a strong and sustainable nonprofit is like a magnet. This is very different from the private sector where short-term wins that boost shareholder profits are rewarded.
  • Fundraising strategy: Fundraising is pretty unique to the nonprofit sector, and it will generally be an important element of your strategic plan. The closest for-profit parallel might be entrepreneurs pitching investors or applying for loans. But unlike business entrepreneurs, nonprofit fundraising never ends. Grants are for one year terms. Some aren’t renewable. Donors have to be asked to give every single year, sometimes multiple times before you land that gift. Fundraising is high-stakes, deadline-driven, and unrelenting. Every single employee’s salary depends on your fundraising team to do their job. So creating a strong and diversified fundraising plan is a must-do.

Is strategic planning long, expensive, and difficult?

No! An effective nonprofit strategic planning process doesn’t have to be painful and drawn out. Though many of us in the sector have experienced the dreaded “never-ending planning process.” You can prevent that scenario from playing out in your organization by selecting the right consultant. Focus on finding consultants who understand your sector, are familiar with organizations of your size or growth stage, and are skilled facilitators.

Because a strategic plan is only as strong as the consensus-building process that creates it.

How do I find a nonprofit strategic planning consultant?

Many strategic planning consultants work with both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. We recommend being sure that your consultant has at least some experience working with organizations like yours.

Read more: Complete Guide to Strategic Planning Consultants

strategic planning guide for nonprofits

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Strategic Planning for Nonprofits

A strategic planning process identifies strategies that will best enable a nonprofit to advance its mission. Ideally, as staff and board engage in the process, they commit to measurable goals, approve priorities for implementation, and also make a plan to revisit the strategy on an ongoing basis as the internal and external environments change.

Many nonprofits start the process by identifying the nonprofit’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats, in what is commonly called a “SWOT” analysis. Looking at external factors (community needs or the economic outlook, for example) as well as internal capacity is important.

Looking ahead and planning for the future actually should be continuous: as various factors change, the nonprofit may need to adjust its plans. While the process of bringing everyone together to plan for the future is energizing, once the process is in the rearview mirror, don’t let the plan gather dust on the shelf. If no one refers to the plan after it is completed, then it’s hardly serving as a “strategic” guide! Revisit the plan periodically, making adjustments and adapting the plan as circumstances change.

Omnia ad Feb 2024

Some have argued for throwing out the “plan” completely, or reducing it to a very short, concise document, easily digestible by staff and board. Articulating an organization's "theory of change" is another way to think about what success will look like, how to get there, and what resources will be needed. There are hundreds of consultants and volumes of written materials just on strategic planning, and many others that help nonprofits develop a theory of change. We've selected just a few for you below.

Your  state association of nonprofits  may also offer educational programs and workshops throughout the year to assist your nonprofit with proactive planning. Plus,  staying current  with trends and policy issues that affect nonprofit operations is key to being prepared to adapt to a changing environment.

Practice Pointers

A good way to keep your nonprofit’s board engaged is to tie the nonprofit's strategic initiatives to the agenda for board meetings, and to include a short discussion about some aspect of the nonprofit’s strategic direction in every board meeting agenda. 

Strategy is one of the board's most important roles. BoardSource offers  an array of resources  to help boards engage fruitfully in strategic planning.

More About Planning

  • Budgeting for Nonprofits
  • Business Planning for Nonprofits
  • Financial Management

Additional Resources

  • Sample  strategic agenda  for a board meeting
  • Sample  Timeline for Strategic Planning  (Washington Nonprofits)
  • BoardSource's strategic planning resources  for nonprofit boards
  • The Strategic Plan is Dead: Long Live Strategy  (Stanford Social Innovation Review)
  • The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution: Real-Time Strategic Planning in a Rapid-Response World  (David La Piana)

Disclaimer: Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is neither intended to be nor should be construed as legal, accounting, tax, investment, or financial advice. Please consult a professional (attorney, accountant, tax advisor) for the latest and most accurate information. The National Council of Nonprofits makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein.

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Crafting an Effective Nonprofit Strategic Plan: A Guide for Success

Nonprofit Strategic Plan Blog Header

For any nonprofit organization, strategic planning is not just a mere exercise; it is the compass that charts the course towards its vision and mission. It involves setting clear objectives, defining actionable steps, and aligning resources to achieve the organization’s goals effectively and efficiently. Without a well-crafted strategic plan for nonprofits, you risk drifting aimlessly, losing sight of their purpose, and failing to make a significant difference in the communities they serve.

In this article, we will delve into the various components of strategic planning for nonprofits, exploring the significance of conducting a thorough SWOT analysis, identifying key stakeholders, defining measurable objectives, and fostering a culture of adaptability. Along the way, we’ll address common challenges and share best practices to help you navigate potential roadblocks with confidence.

By the end of this journey, you will understand that strategic planning is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that demands continuous refinement and engagement. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be ready to propel your nonprofit forward, making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of those you serve.

So, if you’re ready to unlock the true potential of your nonprofit and leave a lasting legacy, join us as we embark on this enlightening exploration of crafting an effective nonprofit strategic plan. Let’s build a better future together.

Understanding Nonprofit Strategic Planning

Understanding nonprofit strategic planning models is crucial for the success and sustainability of any nonprofit organization. At its core, a strategic plan is a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the organization’s mission, sets specific goals and objectives, and defines the actionable steps required to achieve its vision effectively and efficiently.

Key Benefits of Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations

Embracing strategic planning can yield a multitude of advantages for nonprofit organizations. By charting a clear and well-defined path, your nonprofit can unlock its true potential and thrive in its mission-driven endeavors. Here are some key benefits that strategic planning brings to your nonprofit:

1. Vision Clarity and Alignment: A strategic plan helps crystallize the vision and mission of your nonprofit. It enables the executive director and all stakeholders to rally behind a common purpose, fostering alignment and ensuring that every effort supports the overarching goals.

2. Goal Setting and Prioritization: Through strategic planning, you can set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. This process allows you to prioritize initiatives, focusing your resources on activities that will have the most significant impact.

3. Resource Optimization: Nonprofits often operate with limited resources. Strategic planning enables you to optimize the allocation of these resources, ensuring that they are directed towards the most critical programs and initiatives that align with your mission.

4. Improved Decision-Making: With a strategic plan in place, you have a framework to guide your decision-making processes. It helps you assess opportunities and challenges against your long-term objectives (such as donor acquisition, growth of your revenue streams, or donor retention ), making it easier to make informed and effective choices.

5. Enhanced Accountability and Evaluation: A well-defined strategic plan establishes clear performance indicators and milestones. This fosters a culture of accountability, allowing you to evaluate progress and make necessary adjustments to keep your nonprofit on track.

6. Adaptability to Change: Nonprofit environments can be dynamic and subject to various internal and external stakeholders and influences. Strategic planning equips your organization with the flexibility to adapt and respond to changing circumstances, ensuring resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Strategic Planning vs. Operational Planning

While strategic planning and operational nonprofit planning are interconnected, they serve distinct purposes within a nonprofit organization:

Strategic Planning: Strategic planning is a high-level process that sets the long-term, strategic direction of the nonprofit. It involves defining the organization’s mission, vision, and overarching goals. Strategic planning focuses on answering fundamental questions such as “Where do we want to be in the next 3-5 years?” and “What impact do we want to create?” The outcomes of strategic planning provide the guiding framework for the organization’s decisions and actions.

Operational Planning: Operational planning, on the other hand, is a more detailed and short-term process that supports the overarching strategic plan itself. It outlines the specific actions, tasks, and resources required to implement the strategies and achieve the goals set in the strategic plan. Operational plans break down the larger strategic objectives into actionable steps, starting from the baseline of the project , and allocate responsibilities among team members. These plans are often reviewed and adjusted regularly to ensure progress and efficiency.

In essence, strategic planning defines the “big picture” and long-term vision, while operational planning focuses on the practical steps and immediate actions needed to realize that vision. Together, these strategic planning processes and approaches form a cohesive framework that empowers your nonprofit to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the communities you serve.

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Types of Nonprofit Strategic Plans

Understanding the various types of strategic plans for nonprofits will empower you to choose the most suitable approach to navigate your organization toward success. Different scenarios and organizational needs call for different strategic planning models. Let’s explore four common types of strategic plans:

Long-Term Strategic Plan:

  • Overview and Purpose: A long-term strategic plan, often spanning three to five years or more, is a forward-thinking roadmap that sets the course for the nonprofit’s future. It involves extensive research, analysis, and goal-setting to achieve significant and sustainable impact.
  • Nonprofit Example: An environmental conservation nonprofit aims to reduce carbon emissions and protect endangered species over the next decade. Their long-term strategic plan outlines strategies for fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement to achieve these ambitious goals.

Annual Strategic Plan:

  • Overview and Purpose: The annual strategic plan is a shorter-term, more focused version of the long-term plan. It breaks down the broader objectives into specific action steps for the upcoming year. It allows organizations to adapt and respond to evolving circumstances while staying aligned with the long-term vision.
  • Example: A youth empowerment nonprofit designs an annual strategic plan to provide educational scholarships, mentorship programs, and skill-building workshops for underprivileged youth within the next year, based on their long-term goal of creating a generation of empowered and self-reliant leaders.

Issue-Based Strategic Plan:

  • Overview and Purpose: An issue-based strategic plan centers around addressing a specific problem or challenge faced by the organization or the community it serves. It hones in on targeted solutions and resources to tackle the issue effectively.
  • Example: A hunger relief nonprofit develops an issue-based strategic plan to combat food insecurity in a particular region. The plan may focus on expanding partnerships with local farmers, implementing mobile food distribution programs, and conducting community outreach to raise awareness about hunger and nutrition.

Comprehensive Strategic Plan :

  • Overview and Purpose: The comprehensive strategic plan is an all-encompassing approach that considers multiple aspects of the nonprofit’s operations. It addresses organizational structure, financial sustainability, human resources, program development, and more, offering a holistic perspective to achieve the mission.
  • Example: A healthcare nonprofit creates a comprehensive strategic plan that outlines goals for expanding medical services, improving infrastructure, investing in staff training, and enhancing community outreach efforts, ensuring they provide accessible and quality healthcare to a broader population.

By understanding these diverse types of strategic plans and their respective purposes, you can tailor your nonprofit’s approach to strategic planning to best suit its unique needs and maximize its impact on the communities it serves. Remember that strategic planning is not a rigid process; it is adaptable and iterative, allowing your organization to grow, thrive, and evolve over time.

What Should a Nonprofit Strategic Plan Include?

As you embark on crafting a robust strategic plan, it is essential to understand the key components of a nonprofit strategic plan that will shape your path to success. A well-structured nonprofit strategic plan template ensures that your nonprofit stays focused, aligned, and equipped to achieve its mission and make a meaningful impact. Let’s explore the essential elements that every nonprofit strategic plan should include:

Overview of the Essential Components of a Nonprofit Strategic Plan

Before diving into the specifics, it’s crucial to grasp the fundamental components that form the backbone of your nonprofit’s strategic plan. These elements will interconnect and guide your organization toward its overarching goals.

Mission and Vision Statements

The mission and vision statements serve as the guiding beacons for your nonprofit’s purpose and direction. The mission statement defines the organization’s fundamental reason for existence, while the vision statement paints a compelling picture of the desired future impact. These mission statements should be clear, concise, and inspiring, reflecting the heart and soul of your nonprofit.

Goals and Objectives

Your strategic plan should outline measurable and time-bound goals that align with your mission and vision. Goals represent the broader outcomes you aim to achieve, while objectives are specific, quantifiable steps that lead to attaining those goals. They provide clarity and direction to your nonprofit’s efforts, ensuring everyone is working towards the same vision.

Strategies and Action Plans

Strategies are the high-level approaches and initiatives your nonprofit will undertake to achieve its goals. They outline the methods you’ll employ to overcome challenges and leverage opportunities effectively. Action plans break down these strategies into actionable steps, assigning responsibilities, deadlines, and performance indicators to ensure progress and accountability.

Resource Allocation and Budgeting

A strategic plan must consider the allocation of resources to execute your initiatives successfully. This includes financial resources, staff capacity, technology, and other essential assets. Budgeting plays a critical role in aligning your strategic priorities with available resources, enabling you to make informed decisions about funding and investments.

As you integrate these components into your nonprofit’s strategic plan, remember that communication and collaboration are essential. Involving key stakeholders, board members, and team members in the strategic planning team and process fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to the shared vision. Additionally, strategic planning is an iterative process—regularly review and adapt your plan as your nonprofit evolves and responds to changing external factors.

By incorporating these vital components into your strategic plan, you’ll lay a strong foundation for your nonprofit organization’s future growth, impact, and sustainability. A well-crafted plan will empower your organization to make a positive difference in the communities you serve, driving you closer to achieving your mission and creating lasting change.

How to Create a Strategic Plan for a Nonprofit

Let’s explore the step-by-step process of crafting an effective strategic plan to elevate your nonprofit’s impact and achieve its mission. To make it easier, we have crafted a strategic plan for nonprofits template which can be accessed here or you can search online for a nonprofit strategic plan example!

Preparing for Strategic Planning

Assessing the Organization’s Current State: Begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your nonprofit’s current state. Evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) to gain a comprehensive understanding of internal capacities related resources, and external challenges.

Identifying Key Stakeholders and Involving Them in the Process: Engage key stakeholders, including board members, other staff members, volunteers, and beneficiaries, in the strategic planning process. Their insights and perspectives are invaluable and will contribute to a more inclusive and successful plan.

Establishing Clear Objectives and Goals: Before diving into the strategic planning process, set clear objectives. Define what you aim to achieve through the strategic plan and the desired outcomes for your nonprofit’s growth and impact.

Steps in Developing a Nonprofit Strategic Plan

Conducting a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats): Thoroughly analyze your nonprofit’s internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. This analysis will help you identify areas for improvement and leverage points to capitalize on.

SWOT Analysis Guide for Nonprofit Strategic Planning cover

Get Started with Your Nonprofit SWOT Analysis.

This worksheet includes a simple how-to guide, an example tailored to the nonprofit sector, and a template to help you conduct your own SWOT Analysis.

Defining the Organization’s Mission and Vision: Craft a compelling and concise mission statement that defines your nonprofit’s fundamental purpose. Pair this with an inspiring vision statement that illustrates the ideal future your organization strives to create.

Setting Measurable and Achievable Goals: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that align with your mission and vision. These goals will provide the roadmap for your nonprofit’s strategic initiatives.

Developing Strategies and Action Plans: Outline the strategies and action plans that will drive your nonprofit toward its goals. Break down each strategy into actionable steps, and assign responsibilities and deadlines to team members.

Allocating Resources and Budgeting: Determine the resources required to execute your organization’s strategic plan effectively. Allocate budgets to various initiatives, ensuring financial alignment with your nonprofit’s priorities.

Implementing and Monitoring the Strategic Plan

Assigning Responsibilities and Creating a Timeline: Assign clear responsibilities to team members and create a timeline for the execution of your strategic plan. Regularly review progress and hold each team member or individuals accountable for their roles.

Communicating the Strategic Plan to Stakeholders: Communicate the strategic plan to all stakeholders, including board members, staff, donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries. Transparent and effective communication will foster support and enthusiasm for the plan.

Establishing a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress of your strategic plan. Regularly measure key performance indicators and assess whether you’re on track to achieve your goals.

Making Adjustments and Adapting to Changing Circumstances: Be flexible and adaptive in your approach. As circumstances change, adjust your strategic plan accordingly. Embrace a continuous improvement mindset to keep your nonprofit agile and responsive.

By following these steps, your nonprofit will create a powerful strategic plan that charts the course toward its mission, amplifies its impact, and brings positive change to the communities it serves. Strategic planning is an ongoing process, so remember to revisit and refine your plan regularly to stay true to your vision and keep your organization on a path of growth and success.

How Keela Can Assist in the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Process

Keela is a cutting-edge nonprofit management software that combines essential fundraising tools into one centralized platform. From donor management to your fundraising strategy, communications, and beyond, Keela streamlines your nonprofit’s operations, freeing up valuable time to concentrate on strategic planning and mission-driven initiatives.

Let’s explore how Keela can be your ally in building a strategy for your nonprofit.

Goal and Objective Tracking

Keela enables you to set clear, measurable goals and objectives within the platform. Monitor progress, track key milestones, and ensure your nonprofit stays on course to achieve its strategic vision.

Action Plan Management

Efficiently break down your strategic initiatives into actionable steps with Keela’s project management feature . Assign responsibilities, establish deadlines, and easily view the status of each task, fostering a proactive approach to plan execution.

Manage your nonprofit’s resources effectively with Keela’s accounting integrations . Align financial plans with your strategic priorities, ensuring that funding is channeled toward key initiatives that drive impact.

Stakeholder Engagement

Keela’s communications features enable seamless communication with board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries. Engage stakeholders in the strategic planning process, fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach.

Data and Analytics

Access valuable data and analytics in real-time with Keela’s reporting tools . Analyze the performance of your strategic plan, identify areas of improvement, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your nonprofit’s impact.

By harnessing the power of Keela’s nonprofit management software, you can streamline your strategic planning process, improve decision-making, and enhance overall organizational effectiveness . Keela serves as a reliable companion on your journey to success, helping your nonprofit make a lasting impact on the communities it serves.

Connect with us to discuss how Keela can help you build a strategic plan for your nonprofit!

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Conclusion 

In conclusion, strategic planning is the cornerstone of nonprofit success, providing the roadmap to achieve impactful and lasting change. By incorporating essential components such as assessing the organization’s current state, setting clear objectives, and engaging stakeholders, your nonprofit can forge a clear path towards its mission and vision. Embrace the step-by-step process of creating a strategic plan, from conducting a SWOT analysis to allocating resources and implementing a monitoring framework.

As nonprofit leaders, it is vital to prioritize strategic planning and recognize its transformative power. A well-crafted strategic plan brings together your board leadership, team, donors, and supporters, uniting efforts and resources towards a common purpose. With strategic planning at the heart of your organization, you can navigate the ever-changing landscape and respond to challenges with resilience and purpose.

In this journey of strategic planning, Keela emerges as a valuable tool and ally for nonprofits. With its comprehensive nonprofit management software, Keela empowers your organization with goal and objective tracking, resource allocation, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven insights. Embrace Keela as your strategic planning companion, streamlining operations and elevating your impact.

As you embark on this strategic planning adventure, keep in mind that it is an iterative process. Stay open to adaptation and continuous improvement, remaining agile in the face of change. Remember to communicate the strategic plan transparently with your team and stakeholders, fostering collaboration and shared commitment.

In the end, your nonprofit’s strategic plan is more than a document—it is a guiding light that propels your organization toward meaningful and sustainable change. Embrace strategic planning as a powerful force in your nonprofit’s journey, and with Keela’s support, forge a path that leads to a brighter future for the communities you serve. Together, let us create a world where your nonprofit’s vision becomes a reality. Start your strategic planning with Keela today and make a difference that will endure for generations to come.

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About the author:

Meredith gray head of marketing, keela.

Meredith has always had a passion for work that makes an impact. Having spent over 7 years working in fundraising, she has gained extensive knowledge in marketing, peer-to-peer, events, and sponsorship and firmly believes that all successful fundraising strategies start with your data.

Having experienced it first-hand, she understands the challenges nonprofits face when building a fundraising strategy and loves connecting with other like-minded fundraisers to brainstorm new and creative ways to leverage data to increase revenue. When not working, Meredith can be found trying out one of Toronto’s diverse restaurants, breaking a sweat in a spin class, or researching her next travel destination.

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Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Ultimate Guide + 7 Examples

This guide explores how to conduct effective nonprofit strategic planning.

  • Leadership/Culture
  • Strategy/Planning

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Nonprofit strategic planning can help your organization meet challenges effectively and take advantage of new opportunities. Despite the many benefits that strategic planning can bring, 49 percent of nonprofits lack a strategic plan.

Organizations that do have a strategic plan continually express the advantages that this type of preparation gives them. One study found that 86 percent of respondents believed that having a strategic plan positively impacted revenue generation through grants, donors, events and other avenues.

Whether you’re starting a new nonprofit , crafting an emergency plan to react to unexpected external circumstances, or creating your strategy for the next two to five years, this guide will help your nonprofit get the most out of its strategic plan. We’ll cover:

Nonprofit strategic planning FAQs

Types of nonprofit strategic plans, nonprofit strategic planning template, 5 steps of strategic planning for nonprofits.

  • 7 nonprofit strategic plan examples

How donor management and fundraising software can support strategic planning

Annual strategic planning is the key to unlocking your growth potential for the future. Let’s get started.

What is strategic planning for nonprofits?

Nonprofit strategic planning is the process of creating a blueprint that guides an organization for a specified time period and helps accomplish its goals. The strategic planning process involves reflecting on your mission to identify your most important goals and determining the strategies you’ll use to reach them.

A good strategic plan ensures you have charted the necessary pathways to meet (and hopefully exceed) your organization’s goals.

How often should you develop a standard nonprofit strategic plan?

Ideally, every three to five years, your board and staff directors will meet to realign goals and begin the strategic planning process. This plan is a living blueprint based on everyone’s ideas.

What are common misconceptions about nonprofit strategic planning?

When it comes to strategic planning, there are a few common hesitations that nonprofits voice throughout the process. Here are three misconceptions about the process:

  • It’s a cliche, but it’s true — you have to spend money to make money. During the strategic planning process, you should identify areas to spend money effectively in ways that increase your fundraising return on investment. When you make strategic purchasing decisions, you can set your organization up to fundraise more productively than ever before.
  • Your nonprofit shouldn’t fear experimentation — taking calculated risks fuels innovation and helps you reach your mission more efficiently.
  • We recommend that you don’t place board members in charge of setting strategic direction. The board should be tasked with providing oversight of your organization’s strategy, not setting the priorities themselves.

Learn more about common strategic planning misconceptions in this Bloomerang webinar:

How do you begin the nonprofit strategic planning process?

You’ll discuss measurable objectives for the team to reach and draft the priorities for each of these objectives. You may begin with a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. This can help you start defining goals and considering which strategic planning model will best work for your organization.

Different circumstances and goals will require different types of nonprofit strategic plans. Choose a strategic planning model based on your nonprofit’s current circumstances, opportunities and threats.

Carefully examine the following strategic model plans to decide which one will best suit your nonprofit’s needs:

This chart highlights the primary nonprofit strategic planning models, which are described within the text.

Standard Strategic Planning Model

The standard strategic planning model, also known as the basic planning model, vision-based model, goals-based model or conventional model, is the most common nonprofit strategic planning model.

It’s best to use this model when your organization’s external surroundings are generally calm. When you start using this model, the economy is probably stable, your community and country are at peace and your organization is well-established in the community.

Generally, this model follows these steps:

  • Define your organization’s mission and goals.
  • Set specific, short-term goals you would like to reach to get you closer to those larger goals.
  • Create a clear plan to reach short-term goals, including who is responsible for each goal’s success.
  • Write these actions down and create a timeline to complete each one.

Here’s an example of what this would look like: Let’s say your organization is an animal shelter. In the next year, your specific short-term goal is to increase the shelter’s capacity by 50 animals and invest in the materials to do so.

To do this, your organization will need to increase fundraising revenue by $10,000 by finding new outreach opportunities and strengthening relationships with existing supporters to increase donor retention.

You may decide to ask one team member to post to social media every day to engage your online audience . Meanwhile, you may assign another person to call new donors to thank them and increase your new donor retention .

This model is the most common because the climate in which your organization resides is, more often than not, fairly stable. When it does become unstable, that means it’s time to switch to a different model.

Issues-Based Strategic Planning Model

An issues-based strategic planning model can be used when your organization’s internal operations are in more turbulent conditions. For example, if you’re undergoing frequent staff turnover, a change in leadership or are understaffed, you may find an issues-based strategic planning model to be the best choice.

This nonprofit strategic planning model helps organizations get back on track if they have strayed from the path to success.

To implement this strategic planning model, complete the following tasks:

  • Brainstorm the elements that are holding your organization back from success.
  • Decide how to address each of those elements to get your organization back on track.
  • Carefully monitor your progress and adjust the strategy accordingly.

Consider the following scenario: Your nonprofit has limited staff and struggles to increase fundraising revenue. You may decide to address this by working with an external fundraising consultant or directing your staff’s attention to building relationships with your most engaged donors who are likely to increase their giving amounts.

An issues-based nonprofit strategic planning model is a living plan. Instead of setting it in stone, set check-in milestones and make adjustments based on your progress and results.

Organic Nonprofit Strategic Planning Model

The organic or nonlinear nonprofit strategic planning model is best when there are uncertain external factors that threaten your nonprofit’s situation.

Using this model, your team members will come together to solidify their understanding of the organization’s mission and goals. Each person then comes up with actionable next steps to help get closer to that goal by the next time the group meets.

Generally, putting this model into practice looks something like this:

  • You and your team members go on a retreat to unify your understanding of the organization’s big-picture goals.
  • Each team member examines their own strengths and decides on an actionable goal they can achieve based on that strength by a certain date.
  • The team meets together again either quarterly or annually (or as frequently as you’d like) to discuss your progress toward each goal and mission impact.

For instance, you may find that one team member, Theo, is especially good at face-to-face communication on the retreat. He’s empathetic and understanding and would be a great candidate for holding meetings with major donors to build relationships with them. He may have a goal to leverage the information in your new donor database to foster relationships and grow major giving by 10% in the coming year.

This model never looks the same for two organizations. Each team member has inherent strengths, so this model is designed to help your nonprofit make the most of your unique strengths.

Real-Time Nonprofit Strategic Planning Model

The real-time nonprofit strategic planning model is useful when your nonprofit is in the midst of a crisis, like an economic recession or national/global catastrophe. The situation could also be limited to your organization. For instance, you might have been the victim of a cyberattack or your headquarters might have been severely damaged in a tornado.

This model relies on an extreme focus on short-term goals that aim to help you weather the storm. Your nonprofit staff members might meet as frequently as every week to discuss your progress toward these short-term goals. The model usually looks like this:

  • Your organization frequently meets as a large group to define short-term objectives for individual team members.
  • In these team meetings, you discuss whether you’ve met these goals, your day-to-day progress and any roadblocks your organization members face.
  • After the crisis period, your organization takes inventory of the progress made or damage done, thanks team members for their hard work and creates a new strategic plan using a different model.

Consider the following situation: You discover that your nonprofit was the victim of a cyberattack that potentially left some donors’ information at risk. In response, you meet with your team to define and align on urgent next steps.

You assign several team members to assess the extent of the attack and summarize their findings into a clear report. Then, you designate other team members to notify impacted donors as quickly as possible about the breach. You outline the steps you’ll take to keep donors’ information more secure in the future and prevent future attacks.

As you can see, these goals are small and manageable in a short time. Goals are created as responses to the direct impact that external forces have on your organization’s internal operations.

Alignment Nonprofit Strategic Planning Model

The alignment nonprofit strategic planning model is best when your organization has great individual departments or team members but has trouble when it comes to communication between these departments.

This model tends to look something like this:

  • Your team members meet to learn about the issues each individual faces in their position.
  • You re-establish the common mission that everyone on your team is working towards.
  • You outline tweaks that your team can use to improve internal communication processes.

For instance, say your organization has an incredible grant writer, an excellent executive director, a communicative and empathetic major gift officer and very capable fundraisers. However, they have trouble communicating with one another about the nonprofit’s goals and what each of them is doing to reach those goals. The result is discord among teams and a lack of progress.

In this case, consider ways to encourage teamwork between members. You may provide an overall fundraising goal for your fundraisers and major gift officer to work on together. Or, you may set up check-in meetings for everyone to meet with the executive director and ensure that the director knows what’s happening in each department and can prioritize their tasks accordingly.

The alignment nonprofit strategic planning model is a great way to set new communication standards and processes to incorporate moving forward as a team.

Before you dive into the strategic planning process, it can be helpful to know what type of plan or report you’re going to end up with. Generally, strategic planning forms look similar to this:

This image shows a nonprofit strategic planning template (described further in the text below).

This template outlines all of the essential planning steps that we’ll review in the next section. Here is a high-level overview of what your plan should include:

  • Your organization’s mission statement. Your mission statement should dive into why your organization exists. What is it that you’re trying to accomplish? How are you different from other organizations? This statement should use precise language but non-finite verbs. This leaves it open for continuous improvement and development of your mission; it will never be complete but always be a work in progress.
  • Your primary goals and specific objectives within those goals. Identify priorities for the types of programs and services you’ll offer to support your goals, target audience for your services, target supporter audiences, advocacy and public policy aims and branding or marketing objectives.
  • Who is responsible for each objective and what activities they will complete to work toward the objective. You’ll assign each team member a clear role in the process and outline the tasks they will complete that support your overarching goals.

Let’s take a closer look at how to develop each aspect of your strategic plan.

Use these steps to launch the strategic planning process:

1. Set fundraising targets

Use your organization’s budget to determine generally how much you need to raise to achieve your philanthropic goals. Then, outline the strategies you’ll use to acquire that funding.

For example, you may decide to raise:

  • 50% of funding from individual contributions to your annual fund
  • 20% of funding from your planned giving, legacy and endowment programs
  • 20% of funding from corporate giving programs
  • 10% of funding from grants

Every nonprofit will have a different breakdown of their fundraising goals based on their current fundraising initiatives and their community’s giving capacity.

2. Get input from key stakeholders

Next, ask your stakeholders for input about your fundraising goals. Provide context for your goals and philanthropic objectives, explain how each will impact your mission, then ask for feedback about the plan.

The different stakeholders you should reach out to include:

  • Board members
  • Staff members
  • Key corporate and community partners
  • A fundraising consultant

Running the plan by everyone will help you make sure that the goals you’ve set are achievable and manageable for your team.

Stakeholders might raise the alarm if your fundraising amount is drastically different from last year or if you’re relying on strategies that have been ineffective in the past.

For example, let’s say your nonprofit has a good track record with grant writing. You’ve won 80% of the grants you’ve applied for, so you decide to dedicate a large portion of your fundraising revenue plan to be raised using grant money. Seems reasonable, right?

Well, your grant writer may bring up the valid point that you’ve only been that successful because you’re incredibly picky about the type of grant you apply for. While the percentage looks impressive, there aren’t enough grants out there to meet the goal you’ve set. This is great insight and enables you to switch up your strategy to be as successful as possible.

3. Determine your key fundraising and marketing strategies

You may consider doing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of your past fundraising to better understand what areas you’re already strong in and what could be improved.

This chart can help you outline your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats clearly and concisely:

This image shows a breakdown of a nonprofit SWOT analysis, which you can use during your strategic planning process.

Some of the fundraising and marketing strategies your organization should take into consideration include:

  • Major gift fundraising . Major gift fundraising likely makes up a large portion of your proceeds. If it doesn’t already, this is one area of your strategy you’ll want to improve.
  • Donor-centric stewardship . Donor stewardship leads to better retention rates and better fundraising results down the line. This ties in well with your marketing strategy and ensures you’re communicating regularly and effectively with donors.
  • New donor acquisition and retention . The second donation a donor gives is the “golden donation” because most donors lapse after the first gift. After the “golden donation,” there’s about a 60% chance they’ll give again.
  • Online fundraising . While more revenue probably comes from in-person conversations with major donors, most of your donors probably prefer to give online. It’s convenient so long as your fundraising page is well-optimized.
  • Peer-to-peer fundraising . Peer-to-peer fundraising is a great strategy to attract new donors while raising additional funds from your committed supporters. Leverage the power of your social networks to raise funds using this avenue.
  • Monthly giving . Recurring gifts are essential because they’re a consistent source of revenue. If someone sets up a recurring gift, you can probably count on that gift being given for an extended period and account for that in your future budget.

Assign areas that need improvement a lower fundraising target than the aspects of your strategy where you already know you’re strong. This way, you can try out different strategies to make these elements stronger without as much pressure.

For example, if you know your nonprofit has an incredible major giving program, specify that a larger portion of your fundraising will likely come from this avenue. If you know that you could use improvement on your new donor retention rates, you might set that at a lower goal and use this as an opportunity to try out new things like calling new donors and setting up a welcome email series.

4. Establish SMART objectives

When you set your fundraising goals, make sure they’re SMART:

  • Specific: Target a specific area for improvement
  • Measurable: Quantifiable
  • Attainable: Achievable based on your past successes
  • Realistic: Reasonable based on your available resources
  • Time-based: Aligned with a specific time frame

For example, let’s say you have a specific goal for increasing individual contributions to your annual fund.

Here are a few examples of SMART goals that target this objective:

  • Acquire 500 new donors through your online fundraising page within a year.
  • Call 100% of the new donors who give within 90 days of their gift.
  • Acquire 200 new donors through a 2-week peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.
  • Expand your monthly giving program by 100 donors within a year.
  • Retain 70% of donors from last year.

These goals include specific numbers and time frames to help orient your strategic planning around quantifiable metrics.

5. Choose tactics to support each objective

Use reporting tools in your donor management system and marketing platforms to help keep your team accountable for reaching your goals.

Assign each team member an individual role that they’re responsible for. Here’s an example of a chart that clearly defines each activity, the staff member accountable for the task and the deadline:

This image shows how to plan out activities that support your nonprofit strategic plan and assign staff members to complete each task.

When everyone is clearly aware of their role at the organization and how their actions will impact the mission at large, you’ll make sure everything gets done. Plus, everyone will have a sense of purpose as a part of the team.

In addition to assigning team member roles, you can also automate certain processes to free up more staff time. For example, if you used to send out the monthly newsletter manually or personally manage every social media post, consider investing in new marketing software as part of your strategic plan.

Ask yourself some of the following questions.

  • What areas of our work do we need more time for?
  • What can we automate?
  • Who at our organization has repetitive tasks that take time away from more important activities?

Sometimes the answer to these questions leads you to invest in new nonprofit software like a new CRM to automate donor engagement efforts or volunteer management tools to streamline volunteer scheduling.

7 Nonprofit Strategic Plan Examples

Here are links to some strategic plans from other nonprofit organizations for you to analyze and consider while you plan your own:

1. The Denver Foundation’s 2021 Strategic Framework

This is a screenshot showing priority areas within the Denver Foundation’s nonprofit strategic plan.

The Denver Foundation is a community nonprofit foundation committed to strengthening the Metro Denver area.

The organization’s 2021 strategic framework was written to provide guidance for a decade — a longer period than a typical strategic plan. This extended time frame means the document is intended to be a living, flexible blueprint that will evolve as the community’s needs change.

The strategic plan is outlined in a user-friendly online booklet that clearly displays the organization’s mission, vision, purpose and values. It also details new policies, such as a new donor management approach, priority service areas and the organization’s business model.

This represents an example of a more far-reaching plan that will help the organization develop a long-term approach to reaching its mission.

2. Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles 2022-2023 Strategic Plan

This is a screenshot of the five priorities listed in the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles strategic plan.

The Girl Scouts organization provides programming and leadership training for girls in communities across the country and worldwide.

Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles outlined a strategic plan for 2022-2023 . On the online web page, the organization points out five strategic priorities. This helps interested readers get a quick overview of the organization’s most important plans before diving into the full report.

In the complete plan, each priority also includes information about specific initiatives to support the goal and the intended outcome of each objective. This helps audience members understand the actions they should expect to see from the organization over the coming months.

3. Habitat for Humanity Australia Strategic Plan 2021-2024

This is a screenshot showing the national and international goals from Habitat for Humanity Australia’s nonprofit strategic plan.

Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to provide affordable housing to families in need around the globe.

The organization’s Australian branch published a strategic plan for 2021-2024 that aligns a vision for the country’s programs with the organization’s overarching international activities.

The plan also includes a visually-engaging strategic pyramid that depicts how the strategic plan fits into Habitat for Humanity’s purpose, mission, vision and principles. This can help readers visualize how each element of the strategic plan is like a puzzle piece that helps build the full picture of the organization’s efforts.

4. Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta Strategic Plan 2021-2025

This is a screenshot of a goal chart with numerical goals from the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta strategic plan.

Boys & Girls Club of America is dedicated to providing enriching after-school programs for kids and teens. The Metro Atlanta chapter’s 2021-2025 strategic plan outlines plans to reach more kids, grow their supporter base and improve diversity and inclusion.

The plan includes five main focus areas, each with a few specific objectives, along with specific quantifiable goals. The plan also incorporates a timeline chart depicting when each goal is projected to be completed.

This level of specificity is essential for staying on target and reaching goals effectively.

5. SAMHSA’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

This is a screenshot from SAMHSA’s strategic plan.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a U.S. government agency established to make mental health and substance abuse help and resources more readily available.

The organization’s 2023-2026 strategic plan is oriented around four guiding principles: equity, trauma-informed approaches, commitment to data and evidence and recovery.

The plan includes plenty of data and research to explain why each principle was chosen. It also highlights five priorities for this three-year period that will help bring each principle to life.

6. The Nature Conservancy of Pennsylvania and Delaware Strategic Roadmap

This is a screenshot of the Nature Conservancy of Pennsylvania and Delaware’s nonprofit strategic plan.

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to promote worldwide conservation efforts. The Pennsylvania and Delaware Chapter released a strategic plan for 2022-2024 that illustrates how the chapter will take local actions to support the overarching mission.

The plan is organized into sections based on strategic priority or geographic location. Critically, it includes information about how the chapter will scale up its conservation efforts and how donors, partners and volunteers can support each effort. This brings supporters into the conversation and helps them envision the steps they can take to have an impact on the mission.

7. UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025

This is a screenshot of the timeline chart from UNICEF’s current strategic plan.

UNICEF is a United Nations Agency devoted to providing humanitarian aid to children worldwide.

The 2022-2025 strategic plan starts with an informational overview of the progress that has been made along with challenges that children face around the world. Next, the plan details strategic shifts that the organization is currently taking, along with five goal areas.

The plan ends with a detailed roadmap chart of each principle and objective and the target completion dates.

Donor management and fundraising software (like Bloomerang !) can offer plenty of support throughout your entire strategic planning process. Here are just a few of the ways you can use integrated donor management and fundraising software to streamline your planning:

  • Review data analytics and reports to understand your nonprofit’s current fundraising and donor engagement situation. Use this information to understand what’s going well and where there is room for improvement.
  • Set goals and assess progress made toward them. Using your software, you can establish goals and assign team members to take charge of each task.
  • Improve your supporter outreach. Strengthen donor and corporate partnerships throughout your strategic planning work by using your donor management software to create communication segments and campaigns.
  • Identify prospective major or recurring donors. With a donor management platform like Bloomerang , your CRM will automatically identify highly engaged donors who are likely to upgrade their giving amount or frequency.

Interested in seeing what these activities look like in practice? Schedule a Bloomerang demo today for a personalized look at how our nonprofit software solutions can support your organization’s strategic plan.

Wrapping up

Don’t just check off the “strategic plan” box for your nonprofit. Instead, use the information and resources in this guide to create a comprehensive and valuable plan that you’ll use to grow your organization.

Want to learn more about effective planning and nonprofit management? Check out these additional resources:

  • The Essential Guide to Writing a Fundraising Plan . Your nonprofit’s fundraising approach will be greatly influenced by your strategic plan. This resource will help you develop a clear fundraising plan to support your strategic planning.
  • Online Fundraising | Ultimate Success Guide + Tips and Ideas . Your strategic plan should outline your digital fundraising initiatives for the years ahead. Use this online fundraising guide to amplify those efforts!
  • 16 Top Donor Management Software Solutions (+ Buyer’s Guide) . Donor management software can help provide insights that fuel your strategic plan. This guide highlights 16 donor management solutions to consider.

Discover How Our Donor Management Software Can Empower Your Fundraising Strategy.

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Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Key Steps + Top 10 Examples

This guide will review how to create a nonprofit strategic plan.

A new year approaches, and your nonprofit is eager to raise more than ever before. You don’t have a set plan in place, but as long as you host a series of fundraising campaigns and reach out to your major donors every now and then, you should be on track to meet your goals, right?

Think again! You might have a strong guiding mission motivated by a worthy cause, but if you don’t have a roadmap to carry out that mission effectively, it’ll be much more difficult to see your goals through.   Strategic planning   gives your organization the foundation it needs to weather any storm and stay on track to completing your objectives.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about nonprofit strategic planning, including:

Nonprofit Strategic Planning FAQs

Steps for creating a nonprofit strategic plan, the essential nonprofit strategic plan template, top ten examples of nonprofit strategic plans, tips for maintaining your nonprofit’s strategic plan, how a nonprofit consultant can support strategic planning.

Backed by a comprehensive strategic plan, you’ll be able to advance your mission and power more good in your community. Let’s begin!

Before we jump into how to create your strategic plan, you’ll need to have the basics down. Let’s break down what a strategic plan is and how it can benefit your organization.

What is a strategic plan for nonprofits?

A nonprofit strategic plan is a bold plan of action that aligns an organization’s goals with its values to provide a dynamic performance map for future endeavors. 

It is, of course, impossible to anticipate all of the slowdowns or obstacles that might arise throughout a specified time period. However, a strategic plan allows your organization to face any challenges that may come your way with a unified mindset driven by an overarching blueprint.

The strategic planning process involves assessing your organization’s current situation, consulting with team members and formalizing findings into an action plan.

What are the different types of strategic plans?

Your organization may desire a strategic plan to help get through a specific initiative or unexpected event, or you may just want guidelines for the years ahead. There are different types of strategic plans based on your nonprofit’s primary objective, including:

  • Standard strategic plan:   Like its name suggests, a standard strategic plan is the typical model for creating a roadmap for achieving your overarching long-term goals. This conventional planning model is best suited for nonprofits whose internal and external conditions are stable. For instance, if your nonprofit has good standing in its community, isn’t experiencing any political or economic threats and has consistent donor support, you can benefit from this traditional strategic approach.
  • Issue-based strategic plan:   Unlike a standard strategic plan, an issue-based strategic plan is favorable for nonprofits that are experiencing a specific internal problem. For instance, consistently falling short of your   online fundraising goals   or experiencing increased staff turnover would constitute a need for issue-based strategic planning. Your goals for an issue-based strategic plan will be more specific than those of a standard strategic plan so you can correct the given issue.
  • Organic strategic plan:   An organic strategic plan is similar to an issue-based strategic plan, but is ideal for nonprofits that are facing an external threat. For example, a new government policy that affects your nonprofit’s work might prompt your organization to create this type of plan. An organic strategic plan allows you to consider how this external threat is affecting your nonprofit and how you can proactively make adjustments to better meet your future goals.
  • Real-time strategic plan:   A real-time strategic plan is necessary for nonprofits that are experiencing an unexpected event, like a natural disaster. For example, if you’re an animal rescue organization and a hurricane damaged several of your shelters, you’ll need this plan to act fast. Rather than making long-term goals for the future, this plan involves setting short-term goals to quickly solve the problem at hand.
  • Alignment strategic plan:   An alignment strategic plan seeks to improve collaboration between different teams at your nonprofit. For example, if your fundraising team isn’t in constant communication with your marketing committee (and vice versa), you’ll likely have a gap in how well you’re able to promote your fundraising needs to your donors. This type of planning involves brainstorming ways your team members can better work together and laying out a framework for more seamless communication, such as establishing monthly check-in meetings between different teams.

Consider the different obstacles and opportunities your nonprofit is facing to help you decide which type of strategic plan makes the most sense for you to create at this time. Keep in mind that while the situational factors that inspire these different types of plans may differ, the core planning process is the same. Backed by a comprehensive plan, you’ll be able to lay out a clear framework for turning your goals into reality.

Why should your nonprofit create a strategic plan?

Without a strategic plan, it’s very challenging to keep your organization on track and complete goals in an efficient manner.

For example, you might want to tap more donors to power your community initiatives. But how many donors are necessary? How will you measure your success? What campaigns or   stewardship activities   will you lead? Without clear answers to questions like these, you won’t have the necessary preparation to confidently tackle your objectives.

A strategic plan helps simplify decision-making whenever your organization reaches a crossroads or an unexpected situation. It synthesizes the various teams within your nonprofit so that everyone, from your board to staff leaders, is on the same page.

What are the benefits of strategic planning for nonprofits?

As mentioned previously, there are numerous benefits of nonprofit strategic planning, from simplifying decision-making to helping achieve goals promptly. These   benefits are multiplied   when your board members and staff leaders are engaged and in agreement with your nonprofit’s strategic plan from the start.

Involving your top leaders and decision-makers in strategic planning ensures these important stakeholders feel a sense of ownership over the plan. This leads to greater accountability when carrying out the plan because each individual feels more responsible for seeing it come to fruition.

Additional benefits of strategic planning include:

  • Better time management.   You’ll gain a better sense of which tasks you can eliminate from daily activities to save time. If something doesn’t align with your priorities, you can rearrange your staff’s responsibilities to reorient the team around your strategic plan.
  • Ability to say no to activities or projects that don’t align with your priorities.   Whenever new ideas arise, you’ll have a clearer sense of direction for which ideas should be pushed forward and which shouldn’t.
  • Improved staff and board management.   A strategic plan ensures staff and   board members   understand their roles and have clearly defined responsibilities.
  • Better understanding of your guiding principles.   Undergoing the process of reviewing your organization’s principles and modifying your approach to achieving your goals can help rally everyone around your guiding priorities.
  • Opportunity to clarify/strengthen your organization’s mission statement.   Use the strategic planning process as an opportunity to carve a niche for your nonprofit in the industry by strengthening your mission statement. Get to the heart of your mission by inviting input from individuals both inside and outside of your organization.
  • Opportunity to assess results.   When top leaders are involved in both goal-setting and follow-through, they’ll be more likely to set realistic goals and understand their role in working toward those goals.

If you decide to invest the time and energy into strategic planning, the benefits can positively influence your organization for years to come.

Aly Sterling Philanthropy recommends adopting an individualized strategic planning model that focuses on strengthening your nonprofit’s financial health, capacity, effectiveness and relevance within the community. This process involves a partnership with an   experienced nonprofit consultant   who brings robust planning tools and resources, and your nonprofit leaders themselves who have insider knowledge of your organization.

The essential steps of this strategic planning approach include:

There are three steps to the Aly Sterling Philanthropy strategic planning process: assess, align, and act.

The strategic planning process begins with a pre-planning session between the consultant and organizational leaders. In this meeting, you’ll take a deep dive into your organization to assess its history, infrastructure, core programs and vision for the future.

Another element of the pre-planning process is   surveying stakeholders   to gather insights and opinions. Depending on your nonprofit’s situation, your stakeholders may include:

  • Current and past board members
  • Current and past annual, major and planned giving donors
  • Influential community members such as political leaders, foundations or trust officers and church leaders
  • Prominent business owners
  • Volunteers and staff
  • Certain recipients of your services, such as patients, alumni or consumers

When conducting these interviews, it’s important to choose participants carefully. Seek a variety of perspectives, including from individuals who’ve expressed discontent with certain aspects of your organization. These perspectives can provide the tough love needed to help your organization grow and become more effective.

Donor or volunteer surveys are also a great way to continue your supporter stewardship efforts. Supporters are typically flattered to be asked to participate and offer their points of view.

The next step to strategic planning is engaging your board and staff members in a dynamic strategic planning retreat. This encourages organizational leaders to consolidate and discuss their thoughts in a dedicated, action-oriented forum.

Within this half-day retreat, leaders will establish priorities and start to visualize what success looks like with the help of the consultant. In this time, the consultant will build consensus and seek suggestions for short- and long-term opportunities and hurdles.

In the final strategic planning step, your   nonprofit’s consultant   will summarize their findings and offer a recommended plan of action to your organization’s leadership. The consultant will review the highlights and top insights from the planning retreat to highlight key priorities.

Your partner will continue to provide dedicated support as your nonprofit identifies responsibilities for each leader, key objectives, performance indicators and a timeline for completion. This encourages accountability throughout the implementation process.

In the Aly Sterling Philanthropy strategic planning model, a consultant leads your team through each step of the process. This specialist facilitates everything from managing the stakeholder surveys to the planning retreat and final strategic plan document.

By the end of the strategic planning process, your organization will be equipped with a dynamic plan of action.

Your organization’s strategic plan will be based on several guiding pillars. These pillars are the elements within your organization that require the most attention. In this section, we’ll present a template for what your organization’s plan might look like and explain each element.

Let’s walk through an example of a strategic plan for a nonprofit that focuses on these five pillars:

  • Mission clarity:   Why are you in operation? What does your nonprofit do to make a difference in the community?
  • Marketing and PR:   How do you communicate your mission to a wider audience?
  • Financial sustainability:   How do you sustain your operations?
  • Community engagement:   How do you raise awareness of your mission in the community and earn support?
  • Infrastructure and process:   Is your organization’s infrastructure aligned with your strategic goals?

Here is an example plan for the fictional XYZ Foundation. The first page of this strategic plan summarizes each of these pillars, including the specific goal and action steps associated with each:

Use this blank version to add your nonprofit’s pillars and action steps:

Use this blank template to input the details of your nonprofit's strategic plan.

Next, you can break down each pillar into its own chart to pinpoint specific actions and tasks associated with every priority:

Use this template to lay out the action steps associated with each of your organization's strategic planning priorities.

For each priority, determine the associated action steps, timeline/milestones, leaders, necessary resources and future/ongoing actions:

  • Action steps:   What tasks, projects or events are necessary to complete the priority? List out each required step that will allow your team to complete the goal.
  • Timeline/milestones:   When should you complete each task? Having a set timeline for each step is a great way to foster accountability.
  • Leaders:   Which team member(s) will take responsibility for each task? Ensure each person is aware of their role and the associated timeline for completing their tasks.
  • Necessary resources:   What resources will you need to be able to complete each task? These might include people, databases or input from board members or staff members.
  • Future/ongoing actions:   How will you ensure that the task or project will remain ongoing instead of fizzling out? Determine the timeline and team member responsibilities for maintaining each priority.

These documents will provide a tangible resource your team can turn to for guidance as they carry out your strategic plan. Fill out these templates using your organization’s top priorities and tasks associated with each step.

While your strategic plan should be individualized to your nonprofit, it can be helpful to draw inspiration from other organizations to guide your approach. See what’s possible for your nonprofit by exploring this list of the top nonprofit strategic plans.

1. Boys and Girls Club of America

The   Boys and Girls Club of America   is dedicated to creating brighter futures for young people across the country. As a national organization with an ambitious mission, it was essential for the Boys and Girls Club of America to craft a comprehensive strategic plan that unites their Club partners and families around their vision for the future.

The Boys and Girls Club of America summarizes their mission, vision, and purpose in their nonprofit strategic plan.

In their strategic plan titled “Great Futures 2025,” the Boys and Girls Club outlines four strategic priorities that will help them cultivate young leaders:

  • Increase program quality
  • Strengthen organizations
  • Advocate for youth development
  • Reach more youth

To reach these goals, this nonprofit has outlined specific initiatives they’ll lead, such as improving program effectiveness through establishing quality standards, increasing government funding for youth development and building strong partnerships with schools. This level of specificity gives the Boys and Girls Club a clear framework to achieve their goals over the next few years.

2. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

The   Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles   seeks to achieve equal justice for impoverished individuals in the greater Los Angeles area. To bring this mission to fruition, the Legal Aid Foundation created a dynamic strategic framework that addresses the specific actions they’ll take over the course of five years.

The Legal Aid Foundation lays out the following seven strategic priorities:

The Legal Aid Foundation lists out seven strategic priorities to center their nonprofit strategic planning around.

  • Legal services
  • Staff development
  • Financial & fund development

Not only does this organization detail what these priorities are, but they also identify the staff leads, the specific goals and the metrics that will be used to measure success for each priority. Plus, the Legal Aid Foundation explains how each strategic priority connects back to their cause and founding principles, helping to ground their plan in their mission.

3. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio

The   Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio   aims to enrich the lives of sick children and their families through providing housing, resources, educational programs and more. This charity created a strategic plan for 2022-2025 to become a leader in access to healthcare for children.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio opens their nonprofit strategic plan document with a summary of who they are.

Their plan is organized around strategic initiatives like building capacity to support the programmatic needs of the community and identifying and implementing opportunities to enhance quality healthcare access. With these guiding priorities in place, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio can effectively rally their team around their goals and put their dreams into action.

4. Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio

Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio   is devoted to eliminating barriers to work and providing opportunities for people to reach their full potential. Guided by their philosophy of the “power of work,” Goodwill needed a strategic plan to help community members live independently, earn a fair living wage and meet their personal goals.

Goodwill created concise objectives to guide their nonprofit strategic planning.

Their 2022-2024 strategic plan begins by outlining their vision and values, including integrity, passion and respect. Next, the plan identifies specific objectives to transform lives in their community, organized into categories like financial sustainability and community. This guide is a great reference point for their staff and ensures everyone is on the same page.

5. Metroparks Toledo

Metroparks Toledo   is a park district that is committed to conserving the region’s resources through the management of natural parks and open spaces. As explained in the introduction of their strategic plan, Metroparks hopes to not only improve outdoor spaces for the enjoyment of the public, but also cultivate high performance and satisfaction among park employees.

Metroparks Toledo describes their core priorities, goals, and associated actions as part of their nonprofit strategic plan.

In their strategic plan, Metroparks kicks off with an overview of who they are, their mission and vision for the future. Then, they break down the following strategic priorities:

  • Maintenance of core services
  • Organizational health
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Becoming the leader in natural resource conservation
  • Engagement in our story
  • Strategic community partnerships
  • Sustainability of funding

Following the   Aly Sterling Philanthropy strategic planning   model, Metroparks outlines a plan of action for each of these priorities, including key objectives and key performance indicators to measure their progress. This helps Metroparks’ community members and employees understand the actions this organization will take to advance their mission.

6. Alzheimer’s Association

The   Alzheimer’s Association   seeks to end Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia through conducting global research, driving risk reduction and early detection and improving access to quality care. This organization released a 2023-2025 strategic plan to accelerate their mission and change the trajectory of Alzheimer’s for millions of people.

As part of their nonprofit strategic planning, the Alzheimer’s Association identifies their six strategic priorities.

The Alzheimer’s Association builds a strong case for support in their strategic plan by identifying relevant statistics, like the rising costs of Alzheimer’s in the nation which is projected to be more than $1.1 trillion in 2050. After explaining that there’s no time like the present for accelerated progress, they then cover their strategic priorities, including advancing public policy, increasing revenue and boosting awareness.

To establish a clear framework for their projected progress, the Alzheimer’s Association outlines strategic, measurable objectives. For instance, they explain that they’ll accelerate research by providing more funding opportunities, aiming to invest $110 million by the end of 2025. This specificity will provide their entire team with the clarity necessary to complete their responsibilities and contribute to the Alzheimer’s Association’s success.

7. Bryan Area Foundation

The   Bryan Area Foundation   is a community foundation that strives to improve the lives of individuals living in Williams County, Ohio. One of their central projects is providing millions of dollars to worthy community projects and scholarships, and to continue this charitable giving (along with over initiatives), the Bryan Area Foundation needed a strategic plan that outlined how to make this possible.

The Bryan Area Foundation has made immense progress in their nonprofit strategic plan for 2021-2023.

In their 2021 to 2023 strategic plan, the Bryan Center Foundation identifies a number of new projects for this organization to complete, including a revitalization of downtown Bryan to grow the number and quality of businesses. Since launching this plan, the Bryan Center Foundation has already created a Community Impact Project and Forgivable Loan Program, supporting their commitment to “Building for the future.”

8. DeKalb County Community Foundation

The   DeKalb County Community Foundation’s   mission is to benefit organizations and communities throughout DeKalb County, Illinois. In their strategic plan for 2022-2024, this foundation hopes to create change by addressing the following four key areas: Endowments and Donor Services, Stewardship, Grantmaking and Community Initiatives.

DeKalb County Community Foundation’s goals in their nonprofit strategic plan are precise and measurable.

DeKalb County Community Foundation’s goals and objectives are precise, with measurable objectives like realizing a minimum 3% financial donations increase in annual contributions to Community Impact Funds. Specific, measurable goals give this foundation the direction they need to maximize their success and foster accountability across their team.

9. World Wildlife Fund of Colombia

The   World Wildlife Fund (WWF) of Colombia   aims to set Colombia on a path to sustainable, low carbon and resilient development. WWF created a strategic plan for 2020-2025 to address their ambitious goals to make the country a better place for people and wildlife.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) of Colombia provides an excellent example of nonprofit strategic planning because they list out specific targets and strategies to support their mission.

The organization’s strategic plan is centered around three main priorities:

  • Mainstreaming biodiversity, conservation, and climate change planning into territorial development plans
  • Promoting inclusive and equitable social, political and institutional governance
  • Advocating for responsible consumption, markets and financial institutions

WWF not only addresses Colombia’s strategies and goals in their strategic plan document, but also global targets to improve people and animals’ lives worldwide. This helps to connect WWF Colombia to the core principles and mission that define WWF as a whole.

10. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest   (BBBSCM) was established to create professionally supported mentoring relationships and build brighter futures for today’s youth. In their strategic plan for 2020-2023, BBBSCM details their mission, vision, values and beliefs, making this a great resource for supporters getting to know their organization as well as for staff and volunteers to reference in their work.

As part of the nonprofit strategic planning process, the BBBSCM overviews their strategic initiatives in detail.

Then, this organization goes over their top four priorities and associated objectives with each, such as increasing sustainable funding by identifying 5-10 new major donor prospects, with the goal of adding 3-5 major donors per year. BBBSCM also identifies their strengths, challenges, threats and opportunities and tailors their strategic plan to these elements.

As a result, BBBSCM demonstrates in their strategic plan document that they’re committed to seeing their mission through and will take the necessary steps to create their vision for the future.

Here are some of our top tips for   keeping your strategic plan alive :

  • Fill out the above templates using information from your retreat.   Make sure your plans are formalized in a document that is shared across your organization. As you fill out the template, take a “less is more” approach and only include essential information. Also, make sure you’re setting SMART goals—those that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.
  • Work as a group.   Create a task force to work collaboratively on your strategic plan. Keep the group large enough to be helpful, but not so large as to be a roadblock.
  • Present your plan to key stakeholders.   Host regular check-in meetings as a team to measure progress and maintain accountability.
  • Keep your plan front and center by posting it in a visible location.   Print and post your strategic plan in a communal space, such as your office or conference room, and ensure it’s also digitally accessible.
  • Explain your plan in a public, formal presentation.   When you make your plans known to a wider audience, it increases the expectation that you will see them through. It also engages your community and stakeholders in your organization’s plans.
  • Celebrate successes.   Plan celebrations for when you reach key milestones throughout your plan to recognize successes and keep staff and stakeholders informed of your progress. Plus, having a celebration to look forward to can   motivate your team   to complete its goals!

With these tips, you’ll be able to maintain the initial excitement and momentum built during your strategic planning process. This will ensure your plan is doing what it was meant to – furthering your organization’s mission effectively.

The right nonprofit consultant will walk you through every step of the strategic planning process. By tapping into their years of expertise in working with nonprofits like yours, they’ll help you craft a dynamic framework to improve your organization’s financial health, effectiveness, capacity and relevance within your community.

Your consultant will support your strategic planning by:

  • Collecting stakeholder insights in the beginning stages of the planning process
  • Leading your team through a productive retreat
  • Compiling findings into a plan of action and final strategic plan document

In addition to these core services, your consultant can also help you:

  • Create a   fundraising strategy   that will lead to stronger supporter relationships and a sustainable donation pipeline
  • Examine your existing tech stack and suggest solutions to augment your toolkit
  • Identify donor stewardship strategies that will encourage donors to give more frequently and in larger amounts
  • Strengthen your internal team, from your staff to your board members, so everyone is firing on all cylinders in pursuit of your mission

Do your research to find the   right consulting firm   that will thoughtfully and objectively consider your nonprofit’s current state and work with you to create a pathway to success.

Wrapping Up

When it comes to making your mission a reality and following through on your promises, don’t just wing it! A nonprofit strategic plan gives you the necessary framework to confidently tackle your goals, unify your team and leave a lasting impact on your community.

While taking an in-house approach to strategic planning is an option, it can be challenging to build a cohesive plan from the inside. Partner with the expert consultants at   Aly Sterling Philanthropy   to get an unbiased look at your organization and receive realistic guidance to construct your strategic plan.

For more information on nonprofit strategic planning, check out the following resources:

  • Build Your Fundraising Strategy From the Ground Up . In addition to an overarching strategic plan, your organization can benefit from a blueprint made specifically to guide your fundraising. Use this guide to craft a plan that optimizes your nonprofit’s fundraising efforts.
  • The Essential Fundraising Plan Template for Nonprofits . Having a formalized road map to guide your fundraising is critical to keep your organization on task. Use this template to construct your fundraising plan.
  • 20+ Nonprofit Consulting Firms for Your Philanthropy Needs . Nonprofits often need guidance in a wide range of different areas. This list of top consultants includes experts who specialize in a variety of topics.

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  • How to build a strategic plan for your ...

How to build a strategic plan for your nonprofit (with template)

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Every organization needs a strategic plan—even if you’re a nonprofit. A strategic plan helps you define who you are, what you want to achieve, and how you’ll get there. Use our template to walk through the three steps of creating a strategic plan: Assessing your situation, developing your strategy and building your plan.

If you’re not quite sure where to start and how a strategic plan will help your nonprofit grow, this article is for you. Learn what a strategic plan for nonprofit organizations should entail, how to write one, and check out our template for further inspiration.

What is a nonprofit strategic plan?

A nonprofit strategic plan is a tool that helps you define where your nonprofit organization wants to go and what actions you will take to achieve your goals.

At its core, the process for nonprofits doesn’t differ too much from the strategic planning process other organizations and industries embark on. Regardless of your form of work, you need a strategic plan to define where your organization wants to go and what actions you need to take in order to get there.

This plan should be updated every three to five years to ensure your organization continues challenging itself and growing.

[inline illustration] what is a strategic plan (infographic)

Before you can create an action plan or a roadmap for your nonprofit that drives results, you need to walk through the following three steps of strategic planning:

Step 1: Assess your current situation

Step 2: Develop your strategy

Step 3: build your strategic plan.

Once you’ve built your strategic plan, you can set KPIs and schedule the milestones your organization needs to hit in order to be successful.

Whether you’re creating a strategic plan for the first time or updating your existing one, it’s important that you consult and involve the right people in this process. Create a strategic planning team that consists of senior executives, board members, and key team members who can contribute to the long-term success of your nonprofit.

We’ll walk you through the steps your strategic planning team will take on this journey and provide a template that you can use to assist your team during this process. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Assess your situation

Before you can figure out where you want to go, you need to assess where you are right now. Gather all the information you can about your nonprofit so your strategic planning team has a clear understanding of who you are and where you’re at.

Demographics: While some of these questions may seem trivial, it’s a good idea to start with questions that are easy to answer and align your strategic planning team.

How big is your organization?

Where are you located?

What is your annual net asset?

How many people do you employ?

What is your target demographic?

Success and goals: Before you dive into the details, it’s good practice to give yourself credit for the things you’ve accomplished in the past. First of all, this will give you better clarity on your strengths and opportunities (which you’ll analyze in more depth later). But this also puts your strategic planning team in a positive and optimistic mood which will make the process much easier and more enjoyable.

What were your biggest accomplishments so far?

Do you have any goals set for the future?

How thought-out are these goals, and do they meet SMART goal criteria ?

Capital: As a nonprofit, money may not be your main driver. However, in order to make an impact, you need capital. So ask yourself where you’re currently getting your revenue.

Does the government fund you?

How successful has fundraising been in the past?

Who are your donors or sponsors?

What other revenue streams do you have?

Are there any revenue sources you haven’t considered yet?

What does your grant management process typically look like?

Stakeholders: A stakeholder analysis is key in strategic planning. Your internal and external stakeholders are the people who can impact the success of your organization, so you need to know who they are and what their roles are. 

Internal stakeholders are team members who are directly impacted by the strategic plan and likely the ones who are already on your strategic planning team. External stakeholders are usually agencies, clients, or other parties who are involved financially or contribute otherwise to the performance of your organization.

Who are our top stakeholders (internal and external)?

Why do they believe in our nonprofit?

What do we need from them (e.g., labor, capital, marketing, etc.)?

Why do we believe and trust in these stakeholders?

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats: Finally, you’ll want to conduct a SWOT analysis to find out  your internal strengths and weaknesses and how external threats and opportunities can influence your nonprofit’s success. 

What makes us stand out from other nonprofits in the industry?

What past events have impacted our success and why?

Are there any weaknesses that have prevented us from reaching our full potential in the past?

Once you’ve completed your SWOT analysis, you’re ready for the next step: developing your nonprofit’s strategy.

In this phase of the strategic planning process, you’ll take the information you’ve gathered in step one and put your heads together to define who you want to be as an organization—more precisely, you’ll define your values, mission, and vision statements .

[inline illustration] Mission, vision, and values definition (infographic)

Mission and vision statement

You’ll want to start out with your mission and vision statements. If you already have these statements in place, review and consider updating them to match your new strategy.

It’s not always easy to come up with vision and mission statements for your nonprofit organization. That’s why it can be helpful to check out how others have put their dreams into writing. Take a look at three examples of how nonprofit organizations define their vision and mission:

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s mission and vision statements are very closely intertwined. The organization’s mission is to “Create a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life.” Their vision is to help all people lead a healthy and productive life.

The American Red Cross

The mission statement of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate “Human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.​”

Their vision statement reads as follows: “The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action.”

The Research Foundation for The State University of New York

The Research Foundation of SUNY’s mission is to provide “Talent, services, and technology that empower SUNY to research, innovate, and transfer discoveries that transform the world’s knowledge economy.”

Their vision is to “Make it the best place for faculty, students and staff to research, innovate, and solve the world’s most pressing problems.”

Company values

Next, you’ll want to define your nonprofit’s core values . Try to define anywhere between five to 10 values that describe your organization and align with your mission and vision.

Here are some examples of values that could describe your nonprofit:

Reliability

Trustworthiness

Communication

Transparency

Assessing where you’re at and defining who you are are two crucial steps in the strategic planning process. They build the foundation for your strategic plan that you’re ready to create now that you’ve put in the groundwork.

The heart of your strategic plan consists of your strategic priorities and goals for the future. They will inspire your implementation plan and ultimately define how effective and successful your new strategy will be. 

You should pick at least three main strategic priorities based on what you’ve learned from your SWOT analysis. For example, if your SWOT analysis showed that you only have a couple of revenue sources, you could make “diversifying revenue streams” a strategic priority. 

Your strategic priorities don’t have to be super built out—that’s what happens in the next and final step of your strategic plan.

Step 4: Create SMART goals

Creating SMART objectives is crucial so you can successfully put your new strategy into action.

Your SMART goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. For example, to diversify your revenue streams, your SMART goal could be:

“Over the next three years, we plan to add at least seven new revenue streams to our repertoire by applying to one new government fund per quarter, hosting monthly fundraisers on social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter), and bi-annual in-person charity events.”

Nonprofit strategic plan template and example

Use our template to build a strategic plan for your nonprofit that drives results. Don’t forget to include stakeholders, your board of directors, and key staff members in your strategic planning process—their insight and ideas will shape the future of your company.

Here is what your nonprofit strategic plan can look like once you start working on it:

[inline illustration] nonprofit strategic plan template (example)

You can download the template using the button below and modify it to your organization’s needs.

Put your plan into action

After you’ve built your strategic plan, there’s just one step left: put it into action. Implementing your strategic plan is both rewarding and scary. All the hard work you put into building a strategy for your nonprofit is about to come to fruition.

With the support of Asana’s goal-setting software, you can turn your strategic plan into actionable steps so you can easily track, manage, and share your strategic initiatives with shareholders and teammates.

Related resources

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What is strategic planning? A 5-step guide

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6 steps for operations leaders to build a better annual plan

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Your company's goal-setting approach needs to change. Here's why

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Software4Nonprofits

  • Start a Nonprofit

Strategic Plan for Nonprofits: A Comprehensive Guide

  • October 2023

Strategic Plan for Nonprofits

The strategic planning process is a structured approach to determine the best direction for an organization. It involves detailed planning, adaptability, and a thorough understanding of the current situation. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting a robust strategic plan for nonprofits.

1 – Pre-Planning Phase

Before diving into the planning process, it’s essential to gather insights and set the stage for informed decision-making.

  • Conducting a SWOT Analysis:  Before setting sail, it’s crucial to understand the current position. A SWOT analysis helps identify the organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This introspection forms the foundation upon which the strategic plan is built.
  • Gathering Input from Stakeholders:  A ship’s crew must be in sync for the voyage to be successful. Similarly, input from all stakeholders, including board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries, ensures that the plan is holistic and inclusive.

2 – Setting SMART and Objectives

A strategic plan should have a clear vision (long-term goals) and actionable steps (short-term objectives) to achieve that vision. These should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART).

3 – Identify Key Activities and Initiatives

  • Determine Priorities : Based on the needs of the beneficiaries, prioritize programs or services that have the highest impact or urgency.
  • Explore Partnership Opportunities : Research potential organizations or entities for collaboration. Identify how a partnership can benefit both parties and amplify the nonprofit’s impact.
  • Plan Fundraising Campaigns : Map out a calendar of fundraising events and campaigns for the year. This can help in ensuring a steady flow of funds and allocating resources to crucial initiatives.

4 –  Allocate Resources Effectively

  • Draft a Budget : Assign a tentative budget for each initiative. This should take into account expected donations, grants, and other income sources.
  • Schedule Initiatives : Create a timeline for the year, plotting out when each initiative will be launched and its expected duration.
  • Delegate Responsibilities : Based on expertise and availability, assign team members to lead or support each initiative. This includes not just the core team but also volunteers and occasional collaborators.

Tools and Resources for Effective Planning

In the multifaceted realm of nonprofit strategic planning, leveraging a diverse range of tools and resources can greatly enhance the planning process and its outcomes.

Strategic Planning Software

Embracing modern technology can significantly streamline operations and foster a clearer strategic vision.

  • Work Management Platforms: Platforms like Trello are invaluable. They offer features like task boards, timeline views, and integration with other tools, facilitating project management and progress tracking. Such platforms also enable remote teams to collaborate effectively, vital in today’s increasingly virtual work environments.
  • Data Analytics: Platforms such as Google Analytics or Tableau for Nonprofits help organizations delve deep into their digital footprints. They can track website visits, donor engagement patterns, and campaign effectiveness, enabling data-driven decision-making.
  • Collaboration Tools: Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams  are more than just messaging platforms. They offer file sharing, video conferencing, and integration with other software, centralizing communications and ensuring teams remain aligned.

Workshops and Training Programs

  • Skill Development: Workshops on topics like grant writing or digital fundraising not only provide theoretical knowledge but often include practical exercises and real-world examples, enhancing applicability. Organizations like “GrantSpace” offer specialized courses tailored to nonprofit needs.
  • Strategic Planning Workshops: Entities like BoardSource provide training modules that help nonprofit boards align their visions, understand their roles better, and optimize their decision-making processes.
  • Networking: Conferences hosted by associations such as the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) offer a blend of learning sessions and networking opportunities, allowing professionals to exchange experiences and forge collaborative partnerships.

Consultancies and Expert Inputs

Specialized external expertise can illuminate blind spots and enhance strategic robustness.

  • Strategy Consultants: Firms like the Bridgespan Group or McKinsey’s Nonprofit Practice bring a wealth of experience from working with diverse nonprofits globally. Their insights can help refine strategic goals, optimize resource allocation, and identify potential challenges.
  • Legal and Compliance Advisors: The complex web of regulations governing nonprofits can be daunting. Associations like the National Council of Nonprofits offer resources and consultations to help navigate legal intricacies, from fundraising regulations to employment laws.
  • Financial Planning: Financial consultants, such as those associated with the Nonprofit Finance Fund offer expertise in budgeting , financial risk assessment, and sustainable funding strategies, ensuring financial health aligns with strategic goals.

Evaluating the Success of a Strategic Plan

To ensure a strategic plan remains aligned with a nonprofit’s goals and adapts to changes, regular evaluation is paramount.

1 – Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • Quantitative KPIs: These are numeric indicators, such as the number of beneficiaries served, funds raised, or projects completed. For instance, a nonprofit focused on education might track the number of students graduating from its programs annually.
  • Qualitative KPIs: These pertain to non-numeric outcomes, like beneficiary satisfaction, brand perception, or stakeholder engagement levels. An example could be surveying the improved quality of life for beneficiaries after receiving aid.

2 – Feedback Mechanisms

  • Beneficiary Feedback: Understanding the direct impact on those served by the nonprofit provides insights into areas of success and potential improvement. For instance, a healthcare nonprofit might seek feedback on the accessibility and quality of medical services provided.
  • Stakeholder Feedback: Regular check-ins with donors, volunteers, and partners can shed light on their satisfaction levels, concerns, and suggestions for enhancement.

3 – Periodic Reviews

  • Annual Reviews: Yearly assessments, typically involving board members and key staff, evaluate the year’s achievements against set goals, adjusting future strategies as needed.
  • Mid-term Audits: For longer strategic plans, conducting a mid-term audit can be beneficial to realign with changing circumstances, be they internal shifts or external challenges.

Strategic planning is the compass guiding nonprofits toward their mission. By leveraging tools, adapting to challenges, and regularly evaluating their journey, nonprofits can maximize their impact and ensure lasting, positive change in the communities they serve.

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Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: Common Models and Best Practices

A well-rounded nonprofit strategic plan is essential whether the internal or external states are critical or not. Many organizations leverage strategic planning to secure funds, increase reach, and scale services. According to BDO’s 2024 Outlook, 62% of nonprofits consider strategic alliances with other organizations in the next 12 months.

Strategic planning nonprofit organizations always have the upper hand in handling both critical and day-to-day scenarios. Having a thought-through blueprint allows for acting mindfully and leveraging every team member’s unique advantages. Thus, according to the Nonprofit Sector Leadership Report, strategically wise nonprofits have the following benefits compared to organizations without strong strategic capabilities:

  • 7% more likely to engage in partnerships.
  • 14% more likely to take a calculated risk.
  • 15% more likely to implement annual CEO reviews.
  • 25% more likely to implement efficiency evaluation practices across the organization.

However, as much as 49% of nonprofits struggle to formulate and execute strategic plans. This time, Board-room.org has explored all the vital elements of developing a solid strategic plan for nonprofits and put a white paper that you can put into practice after reading.

How to enhance the efficiency of the board ?

Get insights in our white paper

What is strategic planning for nonprofit organizations? 

Strategic planning is the process of creating an action course for any company or project. Although the general idea behind developing a strategy is similar across all organizations, the people and factors that contribute to the process are unique to each cause.

Compared to for-profit companies, nonprofits have drastically different goals. This means that the tools and tactics used for achieving these intentions will also be specific to nonprofit operations. And strategic planning for nonprofits means creating a detailed resume of all the instruments and techniques that will contribute to the main goal.

The overall strategic planning process varies depending on the organization’s standing in the community, the external forces, and the internal dynamics. That’s why nonprofit firms might take different approaches to it.  

But at the same time, the essential strategic planning process steps for nonprofits remain constant. Here are five key phases of putting together a strong strategy:

  • Outlining the ultimate goal . Commercial organizations aim to earn revenue, but for nonprofits, the money they make is just an instrument that assists with making an impact. Any earnings are reinvested into the nonprofit organization to promote its goal. Therefore, defining and comprehending the primary purpose always acts as the foundation for a nonprofit strategic plan.
  • Gathering input from stakeholders and contributors . Nonprofit organizations are highly people-driven. That’s why it is necessary to consider the opinions and strengths of all contributing associates.
  • Indicating a fundraising strategic plan for nonprofits . The main task of every nonprofit is to attract awareness and raise funds. There are always multiple solutions to acquiring strategic planning resources for nonprofits, and the organization’s task is to find the right one. 
  • Setting objectives . A nonprofit strategic plan has to include sub-goals and objectives of the ultimate goal. The objectives are divided into short-term and long-term and sometimes don’t influence the main purpose directly but rather serve as a supporting factor.
  • Finding an optimal approach to each objective . Each objective is backed by specific roles and actions to help realize it. The strategic plan will also outline the time frames and quality-measuring methods to ensure the objectives are met.

How nonprofit strategic planning differs from the corporate sector?

While nonprofits are typically 501(c) tax-exempt organizations , their operating models resemble those of corporate businesses regarding financial management, human resources, and leadership structures. However, there are fundamental differences between nonprofit and corporate strategic planning processes. Let’s check the differences in the comparative table.

Common nonprofit strategic planning models

The strategic planning nonprofit model defines the regularity and format of every strategizing event or activity. Once again, consider your organization’s unique attributes and most influential outside factors for the optimal path.

Below are a few approaches to strategic planning for nonprofit organizations, including the pros and cons of every style.

Organic planning

This nonlinear, almost go-with-the-flow strategic planning nonprofit method helps organizations make the most relevant plans in uncertain times. An excellent example of when organic strategizing worked best was during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020.

In the organic model, the nonprofit’s contributors meet up regularly to take actions based on the most relevant data and complete analysis of each team member’s advantages.

  • Best for : Short-term planning during turbulent external conditions
  • Not ideal for : Long-term planning, organizations with weak internal operations, large-scale external crises

Issue-based planning

When the internal instability is more substantial than external difficulties, nonprofit strategic planning needs to focus on the issues within. The task is to spot the weak elements and craft a problem-solving technique using internal and external assets.

For example, if the last fundraising event did not meet expectations, the nonprofit might want to reconsider the fundraising strategy and marketing tactics or appoint different staff to help move the cause forward.

Ideally, issue-oriented strategic planning will happen on a milestone basis until the company achieves internal balance and is ready to transition to a new strategizing model.

  • Best for : New organizations and nonprofits with a past of poor management or non-strategic decision-making
  • Not ideal for : Addressing an external crisis, establishing conduct between separate effective departments, long-term planning, as in a board succession plan

Alignment planning

Aligning nonprofit strategic planning and implementation is a must when the external conditions are stable and all departments function properly but fail to communicate with one another. Such disbalance might happen when the main goal is not relevant or apparent to everyone within the organization.

This way, each contributor performs well at their position but does it out of touch with the overall course. Once again, a lack of alignment can happen due to inadequate strategic management or poor strategic planning in the past.

The outcome of proper alignment is improved internal communication, meaning that most plan items will circulate the organization members on the same page, reestablishing the shared mission and employing tactics for more productive work.

  • Best for : Understanding and rectifying cooperation imbalance within the organization
  • Not ideal for : Major external or internal turbulence and long-term strategizing

Standard planning

The most straightforward approach to nonprofit strategic plan development is so-called vision-based or standard nonprofit strategic plan. It includes annual planning (usually for a 3-year or 5-year term). This strategizing method builds off the organization’s main goals in times of internal and external stability.

Standard style planning starts with outlining an organization’s mission, defining the supporting objectives, and then scheduling specific and measurable procedures for that mission’s accomplishment.

  • Best for : Established organizations with a successful history of nonprofit strategic plan establishment during non-critical times
  • Not ideal for : Turbulent scenarios and companies with a lack of internal balance

Real-time planning

The real-time approach is the most code-red strategic planning nonprofit model. Unlike the uncertainty-based organic method, real-time strategies are adopted when the crisis is already unraveling.

Force-major events, such as natural catastrophes and anything from an economic recession to a global pandemic, can serve as a reason to consider a robust nonprofit risk management plan . This crisis-management planning method calls for frequent meetings, constant reassessment of losses and achievements, and effective communication practices. 

  • Best for: Immediate crisis management in all types of organizations
  • Not ideal for : Times of relative external stability or long-term planning

How to create a strategic plan for a nonprofit?

Once you’ve established which strategic planning nonprofit model suits your organization best, it’s time to add value to your strategy by zooming in on several foundational elements.

  • Governance. Establish a strategic planning committee. Follow nonprofit governance best practices to ensure the optimal composition of the planning committee. It will help you accumulate diverse perspectives and formulate a comprehensive plan.
  • Research . Gather data on all possible contributors to your cause. The research stage will include getting to know other companies that operate with similar purposes, finding people and other organizations that can benefit you, exploring the major challenges of the field, and so on.
  • SWOT analysis . Take a look at your organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A good nonprofit strategic plan has to be equally self-aware and forward-looking. Tip : You can also use SWOT analysis to assess each separate element of your strategy, including tactics and employees.
  • Objective establishment . A Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely (SMART) model is excellent for creating both long-term and short-term objectives. Here, it is vital to make sure that every sub-goal ultimately serves the original purpose.
  • Impact and values alignment . Your nonprofit strategic plan helps describe the correlation between the organization’s internal values and the impact you’re aiming to make. Outlining the values also lets all contributors feel unified and collaborate more effectively. Tip : Good indicators of goodwill and compassion in the nonprofit’s culture are transparency, integrity, and accountability of every member.
  • Input consideration . As mentioned earlier, people drive nonprofits. And even though the financial power comes from donors, it is the nonprofit’s employees who operate the whole mechanism. Therefore, consider including human resources development and deployment, enhanced communication, and uncompromised inclusivity to be a part of your nonprofit strategic plan.
  • Progress evaluation . Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track efforts based on your strategic goals. While KPIs may vary depending on the nonprofit and its objectives, here are a few common metrics to consider.

One solution to common strategic issues for nonprofit organization

Many nonprofit boards follow common misconceptions about strategic planning, often originated from the lack of financing. Here are two main misconceptions inhibiting the strategic efforts of nonprofits.

1. You can save on HR development

Statista has revealed that 43.3% of U.S. nonprofits name rising operating expenses as the biggest challenge. Many organizations, especially small nonprofits, limit staff financing, relying on volunteers, to allocate scarce resources more diligently. However, professional staff is essential to nonprofit success and should be one of the top priorities in the organization.

2. Administrative costs should be reduced

Charity Navigator recommends nonprofits spend less than 30% of their budgets on infrastructure, IT systems, and innovations. Donors also believe nonprofits should cut these expenses as much as possible, which is a common misconception. 

The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle study has revealed that overhead spending levels should be much higher than recommended by Charity Navigator. For instance, the study suggests that 35% of overhead spending positively impacts cultural nonprofits.

Free strategic plan template for nonprofits : What should a nonprofit strategic plan include?

Here’s a generalized nonprofit strategic plan example. Remember that your final strategic plan will be tailored to your organization’s unique needs and goals. However, you might still include many of the following sections:

  • Executive summary is the foundation of any strategic plan template. Sum up the plan’s key points, clarifying its purpose for anyone who didn’t participate in strategizing. It’s a good idea to write this segment last.
  • Board authorization is necessary for corporations. Here, board members officially authorize the strategy by dating and signing it.
  • Organizational description exists to inform outsiders about the history and the key achievements of your organization. There’s no need to include it during internal strategic plan template development.
  • Mission statement – this summarizes why your organization exists – its values and goals – sometimes with references to particular events or people.
  • Vision statement – this describes your organization’s operational aims.
  • The values statement outlines the culture of your organization. As discussed above, its values should be directly tied to your nonprofit’s mission and serve as a guide for all contributors.
  • Values statements outline the culture of your organization. As discussed above, its values have to reflect your nonprofit’s mission and serve as a guide for all contributors.
  • Marketing approaches describe the various ways of attracting attention to your organization and its cause. 
  • Objectives and tactics are essentially a detailed illustration of the established objectives and of who will achieve what and when.
  • One-page SWOT summary works as both a base for your strategic plan for nonprofit template and proof that techniques and objectives were set correctly.
  • Risk analysis helps minimize the possible damage of various critical scenarios and keeps everyone in the organization on the lookout for undesirable factors.
  • Financial projections are a way to quantify the strategy. Define specific amounts and deadlines and commit to meeting the established goals using all necessary resources.
  • Appendices in your strategic planning for nonprofit organizations template cover anything that can add more value, illustrate data, or support any plan element. For example, you can include things like:
  • Task management framework
  • Strategic planning approach description
  • Research data and analysis
  • Operating budgets
  • Financial reports
  • Communication channels description
  • Strategic plan renewal schedule

Writing a strategic plan for a nonprofit based on your organization’s unique characteristics and purposes helps to operate smoothly and achieve goals faster. Additionally, having a strategy can improve the sense of effective teamwork and take your nonprofit to new levels.

Another crucial aspect of the strategic planning process for nonprofits is developing comprehensive bylaws that outline the rules and regulations governing the organization’s operations, board structure, and decision-making processes.

You can use our guide to learn how to write bylaws for a nonprofit organization and use them as a foundation for internal governance and management. 

3 nonprofit strategic planning examples

Below, you can check three examples of strategic plans for nonprofits. You can find seven more examples in our whitepaper.

1. YWCA 3-Year Strategic Direction

  • Key elements : A message from the CEO, achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic, regional context, mission, vision, value statements, and measurable objectives.
  • Hallmark : Visual storytelling, concise structure, infographics.
  • Link : YWCA 3-Year Strategic Direction .

2. YMCA DC Strategic Plan 2015 – 2017

  • Key elements : Organisation’s description, executive summary, goals, and measurements of success.
  • Hallmark : Brevity, attractive visuals.
  • Link : YMCA DC Strategic Plan 2025 – 2017.

3. Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres Canada Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023

  • Key elements : Mission and vision statements, values, and strategic priorities.
  • Hallmark : Conciseness, attractive visuals.
  • Link : MSF Canada Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023: In Essence

Get an A-Z strategic planning guide for nonprofits

Check 10 real-life templates to follow

Strategic planning for nonprofit organizations: Two best practices

Extra research coupled with robust stakeholder communication campaigns will help you maximize your strategic efforts. Below, you can check the two best practices to extend research and mission alignment aspects.

Peer organization research

Successful nonprofit leaders conduct extensive peer research while developing strategic plans. It helps to establish performance benchmarks within scenario planning, align expectations, and reveal effective but overlooked approaches. Here are the ways to conduct benchmarking:

  • Conduct benchmarking interviews . Nonprofits can interview similar organizations with similar challenges to share experiences and access networking opportunities.
  • Research case studies and industry literature . Case studies, research papers, and meta-studies reveal hidden risks and opportunities in specific scenarios. A researched example of a strategic plan for a nonprofit organization can also help you build realistic expectations.

Communication planning

To ensure effective execution, one should communicate the strategic plan effectively. Here are a few practices to update key stakeholders on strategic initiatives and align their perspectives:

  • Invest in workshops and presentations. Walk your stakeholders through the strategic plan. Answer the questions and promote discussions.
  • Tell a compelling story . Present the plan as a relatable narrative. Use graphs, charts, and infographics to provide information in a digestible format.
  • Leverage communication channels wisely . Distribute the executive summary of your strategic plan alongside the full document in the channels your board and staff regularly use. Besides emails, use corporate chats and social media.

What tool to use for creating and sharing nonprofit strategic plans?

A board portal is a management tool that boards can use to securely collaborate and share board materials, including strategic plans. This helps to ensure board of directors cybersecurity , avoid strategic issues, and increase efficiency. This is possible due to a variety of features that providers offer:

Document management features:

  • Drag-n-drop to upload documents quickly
  • Bulk upload to upload many files simultaneously
  • Storage to store all confidential data in one place absolutely securely
  • Sharing to distribute board documents and worksheets safely and have paperless board meetings 
  • Scheduling to choose the date and assign participants quickly and easily
  • Agenda builder to choose a board meeting agenda template , complete it with the required data, and share it with board members 
  • Minutes to choose a board meeting minutes template , fill it in after the meeting, and share it with the rest of the team

Collaboration features:

  • Voting to get answers and make decisions fast
  • E-signature to get signatures and approvals in one click
  • Task assignment to create a task, set a deadline, and assign an expert
  • Progress tracking to monitor the team’s performance

Communication features:

  • Chats to discuss business-related questions securely and n real-time
  • Video calls to gather board members online and conduct virtual board meetings

You can have a look at the board portal comparison and choose which provider suits your needs the most.

The bottom line

  • A strategic plan summarizes the organization’s goals and outlines actionable achievement steps . Common strategic planning models include organic, issue-based, alignment, standard, and real-time.
  • Successful organizations develop strategic plans in six steps: governance , research , SWOT analysis , objective establishment , impact alignment , and progress evaluation .
  • The most common misconception about nonprofit strategic planning is to allocate minimal resources to staff development and administrative management . Studies reveal that nonprofits’ infrastructure and human resources are chronically underfinanced.
  • Peer research helps nonprofits broaden strategic perspectives while strong stakeholder communications improve execution. Board management software is one of the best strategic planning tools for nonprofits to improve communications.

How to develop a strategic plan for a nonprofit?

There are five fundamental components to a strategic plan for a nonprofit: research, SWOT analysis , SMART objectives outlining, impact and values alignment consideration, member and community input examination.

What are the strategic planning goals for nonprofits?

Any nonprofit’s goal is to make an impact. And all the strategies have to align with reaching that goal. For example, if a nonprofit focuses on delivering housing options, the strategies can involve fundraising events, networking with real estate companies, and communicating with communities to explore their unique needs.

What are the essential components of strategic planning for a nonprofit?

Once the ultimate goal is outlined, the directors must gather input from stakeholders and contributors. Based on the collective vision, the board will then indicate the most fitting marketing and fundraising strategies, set long and short-term objectives, and outline the exact steps for achieving these objectives.

Why is strategic planning important for nonprofits?

Because nonprofits are often driven by volunteers. This means the most time-saving and effective way for them to approach governance is by strictly adhering to a thought-out strategy.

Who is responsible for strategic planning at nonprofit organizations?

Strategic planning work is executed by members of the board. However, strategic planning should also include the best practices for managing the board of directors , including training and succession planning.

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  • Jul 21, 2023

Strategic Planning 101: A Step-by-Step Guide for Nonprofits

A strategic plan is a living document that keeps everyone — the staff, board, volunteers, and other stakeholders — on the same page about the organization's major priorities.

This guide will unravel the enigma surrounding strategic plans, shed light on their importance, and equip you with actionable steps to develop your own.

Chess Board

If you lead a nonprofit or hope to, you've undoubtedly heard the term "strategic plans." Though the idea of strategic planning might seem complicated and daunting, it doesn't have to be. In this ultimate guide, I will demystify the concept of strategic plans, explain their significance, and provide you with practical steps to create one for your organization. By the end, you'll realize that crafting a strategic plan is an empowering and essential process for nonprofits of all sizes.

What is a strategic plan?

Do nonprofits need strategic plans.

Common mistakes in strategic planning

Building a strategic plan committee

Step-by-step strategic planning process

Key insights

On the most basic level, strategic planning is setting long-term goals for the organization and creating action plans to achieve them. Thus, the strategic plan is a document resulting from the strategic planning process.

As a part of the goal-setting process, strategic planning also involves identifying or clarifying the organization's mission, vision, and values and analyzing its internal strengths and weaknesses, external opportunities and threats, and the nonprofit's broader landscape.

You can think of your strategic plan as a roadmap to reach the organization’s future vision. When developing your plan, there’s no way you could know all the possibilities and challenges your organization will face over the next three to five years. Thus, your strategic plan will change as you gather information along your journey to the organizational vision.

Research has shown that strategic planning significantly benefits nonprofit organizations. It plays a crucial role in developing adaptability to environmental changes, enhancing organizational decision-making processes, and prioritizing development initiatives.

While organizations often engage in formal strategic planning because a funder requires it, its impact extends well beyond potential funding benefits. Implementing strategic planning can trigger positive changes in a nonprofit's mission, structure, board, and management roles. The top three benefits of strategic planning, based on my experience, are:

Unity of Purpose: Strategic planning aligns all key players, including the board, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders, towards a common goal. By charting a clear and well-defined course, strategic planning ensures everyone is on the same page, working harmoniously to achieve the organization's mission and vision.

Enhanced Oversight: The strategic planning process provides the board with a valuable lens through which they can effectively oversee the work of the executive director and the entire staff. It creates a structured framework to evaluate the organization's progress, ensuring it remains on track and aligned with the strategic objectives.

Focus on Long-Term Objectives: Amidst the daily hustle and bustle of managing the organization, it's easy for the executive director to become entangled in day-to-day operations. Strategic planning acts as a guiding system that empowers the director to concentrate on the big-picture, measurable goals and the overall mission. By outlining a roadmap of strategic priorities, the director can dedicate efforts to crucial aspects that drive the organization's long-term growth and impact.

strategic planning guide for nonprofits

Overall, strategic planning is a valuable tool that can empower your organization to thrive in a dynamic environment, achieve your goals more effectively, and strengthen your impact on your communities.

Common Mistakes in Nonprofit Strategic Planning

The strategic planning process doesn't have to be overly complex, but there are some common slip-ups to be aware of. Here are twelve of the most common mistakes:

Mistake #1: Lack of Inclusivity. Failing to involve key stakeholders, such as board members, staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, and community partners, can result in a plan that lacks diverse perspectives and buy-in from those essential to its successful implementation.

Mistake #2: Neglecting Data and Research. Strategic plans should be based on thorough data analysis and research. Skipping this step can lead to uninformed decisions and unrealistic goals.

Mistake #3: Setting Unrealistic Goals. Establishing overly ambitious or unachievable goals can lead to frustration and demotivation among stakeholders when expectations are unmet.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Implementation Challenges. Failing to consider the resources, capacity, and expertise required for plan execution can lead to difficulties in achieving goals and objectives.

Mistake #5: Neglecting Communication and Transparency. Not communicating the strategic plan clearly to all stakeholders or being transparent about the decision-making process can result in confusion and resistance to the plan.

Mistake #6: Overlooking External Factors. Neglecting to consider external factors, such as changes in the nonprofit sector, economic conditions, or shifts in community needs, can render the plan obsolete or less effective over time.

Mistake #7: Disregarding Organizational Culture. A strategic plan that does not align with the organization's culture and values may encounter resistance from staff and hinder successful implementation.

Mistake #8: Focusing Solely on Fundraising. While fundraising is essential, concentrating solely on financial goals can overshadow other critical aspects of the nonprofit's mission and impact.

Mistake #9: Neglecting Evaluation and Review. Failing to establish a system for monitoring progress and evaluating the plan's effectiveness can prevent the organization from learning, adapting, and improving its strategies.

Mistake #10: Adopting a Static Approach. Viewing the strategic plan as set in stone rather than a living document can limit the organization's ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Mistake #11: Relying on a Consultant Alone. While consultants can provide valuable expertise, relying solely on external consultants without involving internal stakeholders can result in a lack of ownership and commitment to the plan.

Mistake #12: Inadequate Resources for Planning. Allocating insufficient time, budget, or human resources to the planning process can lead to rushed or incomplete strategic plans.

To avoid these mistakes, nonprofits should invest time in thorough planning, involve diverse stakeholders, and maintain a flexible approach considering internal and external dynamics.

Reviewing and updating the strategic plan can also help address emerging challenges and opportunities effectively.

Building a Strategic Planning Committee

The nonprofit strategic planning team should include diverse stakeholders interested in the organization's success who can provide valuable insights. This ensures that the strategic plan is well-informed, aligned with the organization's mission, and supported by those responsible for implementation. Your strategic planning committee members could include the following:

Nonprofit Board of Directors: The board plays a crucial role in setting the organization's direction and ensuring the plan aligns with its mission and values.

Executive Leadership Team: Senior leaders, including the executive director or CEO, bring expertise to develop realistic and achievable strategies.

Staff Members: Involving team members from different departments ensures the plan reflects the collective wisdom and expertise of the organization's operational workforce.

Volunteers: Volunteers offer unique perspectives and experiences, especially regarding beneficiaries and community needs.

Donors and Funders: Engaging major donors and funders helps align the plan with their priorities and may increase funding opportunities.

Beneficiaries and Service Users: Involving representatives of the communities served provides insights into their needs and preferences.

Experts or Consultants: External experts or consultants contribute objectivity and best practices to the process.

Community Partners: Collaborating with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies, or community groups strengthens the overall impact.

Inclusive and collaborative engagement of stakeholders fosters open communication and leads to a more comprehensive and effective strategic plan for the nonprofit organization.

If your organization is new and you’re creating your first strategic plan, your committee will likely only include a few people. At a minimum, the founder and board chair should work together to determine the organization’s goals, then solicit and implement feedback from the rest of the board and any key stakeholders.

Step-by-Step Strategic Planning Process

strategic planning guide for nonprofits

Developing a strategic plan for a nonprofit involves a systematic and comprehensive process to set clear goals, define strategies, and allocate resources to achieve the organization's mission effectively.

There are several strategic planning models, but the best approach is one that works for you and your organization. If you plan carefully, avoid the common pitfalls discussed above, and create a realistic plan for your organization, you can’t go wrong. You can always adjust your plan as you gather more information and pursue your strategic goals.

The following steps outline a typical process for developing a strategic plan:

Step 1. Mission and Vision: Form, reaffirm, or revise the organization's purpose (mission statement) and the desired future state (vision statement) it aims to achieve.

Step 2. SWOT Analysis: Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the organization's internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats in the operating environment.

Step 3. Goal Setting: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals aligned with the mission and vision. Typically, you’ll want to stick to 3-5 specific goals for the coming years.

Step 4. Strategy Formulation: Develop strategies and an action plan to achieve goals with a clear timeline. These strategies should capitalize on the organization's strengths, address weaknesses, and take advantage of opportunities while mitigating threats.

Step 5. Resource Allocation: Identify the resources (financial, human, technological, etc.) required to implement the strategies effectively.

Step 6. Implementation: Put the strategic plan into action and assign responsibilities to individuals or teams for various tasks and initiatives.

Step 7. Communication: Engage stakeholders, including board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and the community, to ensure alignment and support for the strategic plan.

Step 8. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly measure progress toward achieving the goals and make necessary adjustments to the plan. This step ensures the organization stays on track and learns from its experiences.

The strategic planning process helps nonprofit organizations become more focused, efficient, and effective in pursuing their missions. It also allows them to respond to changes in the external environment and adapt to new challenges and opportunities. By having a clear strategic direction, nonprofits can make better decisions and allocate resources to maximize their impact and bring them closer to their ultimate vision.

Key Insights

This article explored what a strategic plan entails, why it matters, and how to create one. Your strategic plan will be a living document that evolves as your organization gathers information along its journey toward its vision. It will act as your roadmap, guiding you toward your desired destination, even when facing detours and unexpected adventures. The benefits of strategic planning for nonprofits are numerous, ranging from developing adaptability to enhancing decision-making and fostering teamwork.

You might already know nonprofits often undertake strategic planning to meet funder requirements, but its positive impact goes beyond just funding benefits. The process can initiate positive changes in your mission, structure, board, and management roles. By fostering a strategic mindset, providing clarity on your organization's direction, and improving overall performance, strategic planning empowers nonprofits like yours to thrive in a dynamic environment and significantly impact communities.

However, be aware that the strategic planning process can be complex, and you should be cautious to avoid common mistakes. Inclusivity is paramount, involving key stakeholders such as your board members, staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, and community partners. Neglecting data and research, setting unrealistic goals, and overlooking implementation challenges can hinder successful strategic planning. Open communication, transparency, and consideration of external factors are essential for effective plans that adapt to changing circumstances. Avoid a rigid approach and prioritize evaluation and review to ensure continuous improvement.

In conclusion, strategic planning is vital for guiding you toward your goals and strengthening your impact on the communities you serve. Developing and implementing a strategic plan with inclusivity, flexibility, and careful consideration allows you to chart a course toward success and fulfill your mission effectively.

Need help with your strategic plan? Contact me to set up a consultation.

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  • Strategic Planning in Nonprofits

Strategic Planning in Nonprofits (SPiN) covers six planning elements: preparing, listening, envisioning, planning, executing, and evaluating. SPiN anchors each unit in why it matters and provides tools to help learners act on what they learn to better achieve their nonprofit’s mission.

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Strategic Planning in Nonprofits Guide

Start by downloading the Strategic Planning in Nonprofits Guide. As you work through the guide, watch the video for each chapter. Find activities, templates, and other documents to help put what you learned into practice in the document vault. Keep on learning with other resources on nonprofit governance, finance, and more.

What We Cover in Strategic Planning in Nonprofits

Introduction.

Start by reviewing the stages of Strategic Planning. You will get an overview of the content covered in the subsequent chapters.

A key to successful Strategic Planning is “planning to plan”. To achieve a thoughtful plan that is truly strategic, you’ll need an effective process that is inclusive, transparent, and well-informed.

When an organization’s leadership knows about the people you serve and other relevant data about your program and organization, your strategy improves, and you gain respect among your key audiences. You will be able to tell your story better, and your relationships and community impact will grow.

When your organization invests time to develop or renew a powerful mission and vision, you will be able to answer the questions “Who are we?” and “Why do we exist?”, have a strong connection to your organization’s core purpose, and set the stage for a strong, well-grounded strategy.

It is important to clarify what specific areas of focus and strategies you will use to achieve your mission. Planning helps you to chart a course to turn your vision into reality; determine what actions best support your Mission and Vision; ensure that your plan is right-sized and achievable by analyzing resource and capacity issues; inspire others to take action to help your organization to succeed.

We have all heard stories about plans that sit on the shelf and are never referred to again. You have just done a lot of work to set the strategic direction of your organization and get everyone on the same page. Be sure to continue to utilize the plan framework and hold yourselves accountable to reach your goals.

Evaluation will help you learn whether your activities are producing the desired results or change you are seeking to accomplish, gain new insights into how you can improve your programs and increase your impact; demonstrate to funders and donors that your work is making a difference; and give you data that can serve as a foundation for your next strategic plan.

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Nonprofit Strategic Planning: A Simplified Step-by-Step Guide

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. These links, if used and purchases made, we may earn a small commission. These affiliate programs do not impact the recommendations we make or the resources we refer you to. Our focus is on providing you the best resources for your nonprofit journey.

For illustration purposes, we will present a fictitious example of a nonprofit called “Feed the Community,” a food bank serving a mid-size city.

Step 1: Preparation

Strategic planning is a process that requires a well-defined scope, timeframe, and participation from stakeholders. It includes clarifying the purpose of planning, identifying who should be involved, and what resources are needed. A planning committee is often formed to oversee the process.

In the case of Feed the Community, they formed a planning committee consisting of board members, staff, volunteers, and representatives from their community partners. They decided that the strategic planning process would span over three months, with weekly meetings.

Step 2: Mission and Vision Statement

The mission statement describes why the organization exists and the needs it meets, while the vision statement describes the future state the organization aspires to achieve. These two statements provide the overall direction for strategic planning.

Feed the Community’s mission statement is, “To eliminate hunger in our community by providing nutritious food to families in need.” Their vision statement is, “A community where all families have access to the food they need to thrive.”

Step 3: SWOT Analysis

The SWOT analysis identifies the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, forming the basis for strategy formulation.

Feed the Community identified their strong relationships with local food providers (strength), lack of volunteer training program (weakness), an opportunity to collaborate with other local nonprofits (opportunity), and a threat from an upcoming supermarket chain that could reduce their food donations (threat).

Step 4: Establish Strategic Goals and Objectives

These are the high-level outcomes that the organization seeks to achieve in line with its mission and vision. Objectives are more specific, measurable actions toward achieving the goals.

Feed the Community establishes their strategic goals: To increase the quantity and quality of food distributed, and to enhance community awareness and support. Objectives to support these goals are set, like increasing food distribution by 15% in the next two years and hosting quarterly community engagement events.

Step 5: Strategy Formulation

Based on the goals, objectives, and SWOT analysis, the organization forms strategies that outline how the goals and objectives will be achieved.

The strategies to achieve Feed the Community’s goals include strengthening relationships with local food providers, implementing a new volunteer training program, and launching a community outreach campaign.

Step 6: Implementation Plan

An implementation plan breaks down the strategies into actionable tasks, with clear roles and timelines.

Feed the Community’s implementation plan includes tasks like meeting with local farmers, developing a training curriculum for volunteers, and planning a kickoff event for the community outreach campaign. Each action step is assigned a responsible staff member and a deadline.

Step 7: Monitoring and Evaluation

Regular monitoring and evaluation ensure the plan is on track and adjusts as necessary. It includes defining key performance indicators and establishing a feedback mechanism.

Feed the Community puts a system in place to monitor their progress. They decide to track metrics such as pounds of food distributed, number of volunteers trained, and attendees at community events.

A Unique Perspective: Strategic Planning as an Opportunity

Strategic planning is often seen as a tedious process, something to be completed and then set aside. However, strategic planning should be viewed as an opportunity, – a chance to engage your stakeholders, to reflect on your achievements, and to imagine the future. It’s an investment in your nonprofit’s success and sustainability.

Feed The Community’s Strategic Plan: A Closer Look

In light of the steps we’ve discussed, let’s delve into Feed The Community’s strategic plan and analyze it further.

Mission and Vision

Feed The Community’s mission and vision statements are their north stars, guiding every step in their strategic planning. Their mission, “To eliminate hunger in our community by providing nutritious food to families in need,” emphasizes the immediate need they address – hunger. Their vision of “A community where all families have access to the food they need to thrive,” paints a picture of the future they aim to create.

SWOT Analysis

Through a thorough SWOT analysis, Feed The Community identified:

  • Strengths: Strong relationships with local food providers and a dedicated volunteer base.
  • Weaknesses: A lack of volunteer training program, limiting the effectiveness of their volunteers.
  • Opportunities: The potential to collaborate with other local nonprofits to increase their reach and impact .
  • Threats: The upcoming supermarket chain which could disrupt their food donations.

This analysis provided critical insights that informed their strategic goals and objectives.

Strategic Goals and Objectives

Feed The Community set two strategic goals:

  • Increase the quantity and quality of food distributed.
  • Enhance community awareness and support.

These goals led to specific objectives such as:

  • Increase food distribution by 15% over the next two years.
  • Launch a volunteer training program within the next six months.
  • Host quarterly community engagement events to raise awareness.

Strategy Formulation

With their goals and objectives set, Feed The Community’s strategies began to take shape. For instance, to increase food distribution, they decided to strengthen their relationships with local food providers, identifying additional sources of nutritious food. To address the lack of a volunteer training program, they aimed to create a curriculum that covers safe food handling, distribution logistics, and customer service. Lastly, to enhance community awareness, they chose to launch a community outreach campaign, starting with a major kickoff event.

Implementation Plan

The implementation plan for Feed The Community became a roadmap for turning their strategies into action. Each task was given a deadline and a responsible party. For example, the development of the volunteer training program was assigned to the Volunteer Coordinator, with a six-month deadline for launch.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Feed The Community defined key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor their progress. These included the number of pounds of food distributed, the number of trained volunteers, and attendance at community engagement events. They also set up a feedback loop with their staff and volunteers to ensure they were responsive to any necessary adjustments.

In this way, Feed The Community developed a comprehensive strategic plan that directly responded to their specific needs and context, set clear and measurable objectives, and created a robust plan for achieving their goals. By applying the same methodology, any nonprofit can create a strategic plan that will guide them toward achieving their mission and vision.

Final Thoughts: Lessons from Feed The Community’s Strategic Planning

strategic planning guide for nonprofits

Feed The Community’s journey in strategic planning underscores the importance of a systematic, thorough, and participatory approach in charting the future of a nonprofit. Every step was geared toward ensuring the plan’s alignment with its mission, adapting to its strengths and weaknesses, seizing opportunities, and mitigating threats.

Here are some takeaways:

  • Involve Key Stakeholders: Feed The Community involved their staff, volunteers, and board in the process. This inclusivity not only brought diverse insights to the table but also fostered ownership of the plan, which is critical for successful implementation.
  • Be Specific and Measurable: Their strategic goals translated into specific, measurable objectives, making it clear what success would look like and how it would be measured.
  • Think Holistically: The plan wasn’t just about increasing food distribution. It also aimed to enhance community awareness and support, and to improve the volunteer program, reflecting a holistic understanding of their organization and community.
  • Be Ready to Adapt: They understood that strategic planning is not a set-and-forget exercise. Regular monitoring, evaluation, and feedback systems were set up to adapt to changes and ensure continual alignment with their mission and vision.

Ultimately, Feed The Community’s experience illustrates that strategic planning, when executed well, can enable nonprofits to magnify their impact and enhance their sustainability. With a well-crafted strategic plan in place, nonprofits can navigate the future with clarity, confidence, and a renewed commitment to their mission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How often should a nonprofit review its strategic plan?

Typically, a strategic plan should be reviewed annually to assess progress, adjust to changes, and plan for the next year. However, it might be necessary to review and adjust the plan more frequently, depending on how rapidly the nonprofit’s environment is changing.

2. Who should be involved in the strategic planning process?

Strategic planning should involve key stakeholders, such as board members, staff, volunteers, and even beneficiaries. Their diverse perspectives can enrich the plan and foster a sense of ownership, increasing the likelihood of successful implementation.

3. How long should the strategic planning process take?

The duration of the strategic planning process can vary depending on the size and complexity of the organization, the level of stakeholder involvement, and the urgency of the strategic issues to be addressed. However, most nonprofits find that the process takes several weeks to a few months.

Related Reading

  • Bryson, John M. “Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement.” Wiley, 2018.
  • Matrix Mapping for Nonprofits: Achieving More by Doing Less – NPCrowd
  • Hiring Nonprofit Consultants: Is It Worth it – 6 Scenarios – NPCrowd
  • A Comprehensive Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Plan [+ Free Template]

strategic planning guide for nonprofits

Associate Executive Director - Nonprofit

Tom is a multi-disciplined leader with over a decade of experience in nonprofit operations, technology leadership in government, and over two decades of servant leadership.

It is the process of growing others in confidence that drives Tom. "We get to help shape the leaders of tomorrow. I want that future to be bright."

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The Essential Components of A Nonprofit Strategic Plan [With Template]

Reviewed by:

October 13, 2022

Last Updated:

October 30, 2023

Table of Contents

You may have heard of nonprofit strategic planning and felt overwhelmed by the concept. But there’s no need to worry!

In this post, we are going to walk you through what a strategic plan is and help provide some insights into how to write the right type of strategic plan for your nonprofit.

We will also include some examples of good nonprofit strategic plans as well as common mistakes to avoid. If you’re ready to develop a strategic plan for your nonprofit, then continue reading to learn more.

5 Free Nonprofit Strategic Planning Templates To Use

What Is a Nonprofit Strategic Plan?

A nonprofit strategic plan is a document that helps drive and guide all of the work of your nonprofit. A good strategic plan will lay out the major goals and objectives you hope to achieve and specific steps for reaching those goals and objectives.

It is important to recognize that a strategic plan is not a linear document. You should think of your nonprofit strategic plan more like a flow chart as it needs to connect all of the pieces of your nonprofit to each other.

If you are working on creating a strategic plan for your nonprofit, you will need to start by understanding the different types of strategic plans. You can use the list below to help determine which type best fits the needs of your nonprofit.

While there are many different strategic planning models, the five that we have listed are most common among nonprofits.

1. Standard Planning: Best for Stable Conditions

A standard planning model is used when internal and external conditions are calm and your nonprofit is operating normally. This is the best model for nonprofits that are creating a strategic plan for the first time, making it the most basic and common type of plan.

The first step to creating a standard planning model is to define your nonprofit’s overall mission. Then, you can lay out the goals that best align with that mission by doing the following:

  • Establish short-term, specific goals you will use to reach the larger goals.
  • Design plans and activities for reaching those short-term goals.
  • Determine who will be responsible for enacting and overseeing those plans.
  • Create a timeline that includes these plans and activities. This timeframe could be anywhere from one to three-to-five years, depending on the size of the goals being reached.

For example, a local shelter for battered women could have a goal of increasing its room capacity to shelter 50 more women and children over the next two years. The shelter determines it will need $20,000 to properly achieve this goal. Its strategic plan should clearly detail who will be in charge of outreach, who will contact donors, who will work with contractors, and any other steps needed to reach this larger goal.

By first determining the smaller goals and who will manage them, the local shelter can focus on meeting the overall challenge successfully in the allotted time frame.

It is common to create a strategic plan that lays out goals for three or five years at a time. By planning a few years at a time, your nonprofit can stay focused on achievable goals while also tying these into a larger picture.

2. Issue-Based Planning: Tackling Internal Challenges

If your nonprofit organization is dealing with internal challenges that need to be overcome, an issue-based planning model can help your organization clearly address these issues.

First, you will need to address the factors that are limiting your nonprofit’s success. Then, you can determine the best steps to address each of these factors.

Maybe your nonprofit is experiencing repeated staff turnover in a turbulent economic climate, or the leadership keeps changing due to disgruntled working conditions. An issue-based model can help solve these specific issues in an allocated period of time.

For example, maybe your nonprofit organization has repeatedly fallen short on its fundraising goal of $100,000 . An issue-based planning model can be used to identify why your organization keeps missing its goal and what it can do to fix it.

This could be done by implementing the following steps:

  • Conduct a brainstorming session to identify the things that are holding your nonprofit back from reaching its fundraising goal each year.
  • Agree on how to address each issue to get your fundraising back on track.
  • Figure out who will work on each issue, and then have someone carefully monitor their progress.
  • Have “check-in” milestones established and adjust the plan as needed to make sure you achieve success.

The last two bullets are key to successfully fixing specific issues within your organization. It is imperative to closely monitor your progress and adjust your issue-based plan as needed to get your nonprofit back on track.

3. Organic Planning: Adapting to External Changes

Unlike an issue-based planning model that deals with internal conditions, an organic planning model is used to help your nonprofit organization adapt to external changes that are impacting your nonprofit.

The “organic” nature of this kind of plan means that it will be less structured. You may not determine all of your steps at once, like a standard or issue-based plan. Instead, your nonprofit team will settle on one initial goal and make steps toward it. After you’ve reached that goal, you can organically decide on your next goal to keep moving forward.

Having your team meet regularly (maybe every quarter) will ensure your organic planning model is progressing successfully or if any adjustments need to be made.

4. Real-Time Planning: Navigating Sudden Crises

A real-time planning model is the perfect choice for nonprofit organizations that are facing either an internal or external crisis as a result of an unexpected event (consider that events of 2020!).

Usually, the impact of the event comes quickly and unexpectedly, so this kind of plan focuses on short-term goals that can be managed one step at a time to successfully make it through the real-time crisis.

For example, 27% of nonprofits across the globe have been a victim of cyberattacks, leaving their donors’ private and personal information vulnerable. This is the perfect example of a crisis that can be handled by a real-time planning model:

  • Have an initial meeting with your team to establish the short-term goals to face the cyberattack crisis.
  • Decide who will be working on each short-term goal.
  • Continue to meet to evaluate what has been done, discuss the next steps, and reaffirm the short-term goals of each team member.
  • After the crisis is over, have the team meet again to review the success of the plan and what could have been done better. 

As you can see from the example above, the goals of a real-time planning model are smaller so that they can be managed quickly and in a short period of time.

If your nonprofit is working on another strategic plan when a crisis hits, the real-time planning model will supersede any traditional strategic plan that is in place.

5. Alignment Model: Synchronizing Teams and Departments

Communication issues amongst your team members are normal, but if your staff and departments are out of sync and it’s affecting your organization, you may need to develop an alignment model strategic plan .

An alignment model will essentially streamline and restructure the way your team members communicate by focusing on the interdepartmental communication problems.

The objective of this type of nonprofit strategic plan is to align goals throughout each department so that everyone in the nonprofit can work and communicate more effectively.

Here are some ideas for how to develop this kind of plan:

  • Everyone meets to discuss the specific issues each team member is facing due to the lack of communication.
  • Small goals are set for each team member based on an established common mission. A larger goal is also set (i.e., clearer social media efforts , overall fundraising goals, etc.).
  • A framework is developed that illustrates the short-term goals each team member must achieve to improve internal communication.
  • Future meetings are established in which the team will check in and report their individual progress toward both their individual goals and the larger goal of the nonprofit.

You should choose this type of nonprofit strategic plan if your team needs help getting back on the same page and working toward a common goal. We have more information on how your nonprofit can better communicate , not only internally but also with donors, volunteers, board members, and the general public.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Strategic Plan?

Now that we’ve explained the different types of strategic plans, it’s time to go over how they can contribute to your nonprofit’s success.

Below, we have outlined the top ways a nonprofit strategic plan can benefit your organization and further its impact.

Provides Clear Direction

Your nonprofit strategic plan acts as a blueprint that guides your organization toward specific goals. As such, it provides clear direction to everyone on your team.

Without a strategic plan, you may not be able to determine if your goals are being met over the course of your given timeframe.

Once you develop the right plan for your organization, you will be able to clearly assess your nonprofit’s progress in achieving its milestones and objectives.

Enhances Grant Writing Chances

Another reason your organization should consider developing a nonprofit strategic plan is because it will enhance your grant writing success .

If you have worked with grantmakers before, you may have noticed that they often ask for you to include your nonprofit strategic plan with your grant proposal . Funders want to see how their grant would contribute to the overall strategic goals of your organization.

Your nonprofit strategic plan can also help you determine whether a specific grant is even worth pursuing in the first place. If the funding opportunity does not align with your strategic goals, you will probably waste time and effort developing a losing proposal.

Reflects Stability and Structure

A nonprofit strategic plan also communicates stability and structure to your organization’s stakeholders.

Donors, grant funders, corporate partners, etc., all want to see that your organization has carefully planned out its goals and how to achieve them.

Many nonprofit organizations even share their strategic plans on their websites so that these stakeholders and future supporters can check them out themselves.

For example, the Gates Family Foundation , a nonprofit committed to different philanthropic goals in the state of Colorado, offers their five-year strategic plan on their website . That way, their donors, partners, and staff can have a clear understanding of the structure and stability of their organization.

Gates Family Foundation

Clarifies Roles Within the Organization

Because a successful strategic plan outlines your nonprofit’s goals and gives specific timelines on how to achieve them, it clarifies the roles and responsibilities of your team members within the organization.

Your strategic plan will help your staff, board of directors , and anyone else working with your nonprofit understand what their roles are within the organization. That way, everyone can stay on task and know how their contributions are critical to achieving the larger goals of the nonprofit.

Values Team Members' Contributions

A strategic plan also helps to show your nonprofit’s staff how important their contributions are. Having a nonprofit strategic plan is a great way to illustrate how valuable your team is to achieving success and furthering your organization’s impact.

Your plan should illustrate how each team member contributes to making your nonprofit’s vision a reality. This clarification can be incredibly motivating because your team clearly knows that their efforts are making a difference.

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What Is the Difference Between a Nonprofit Business Plan and a Strategic Plan?

You may be wondering whether you really need a nonprofit strategic plan because you already have a business plan .

While they may seem similar, business plans and strategic plans serve distinct purposes. We will outline some of their key differences and use cases below.

Key Components of a Nonprofit Business Plan

Both a nonprofit strategic plan and a business plan support a nonprofit’s overall mission. However, a business plan focuses on three key elements for the nonprofit: ‍

A business plan is more of a guide for how the organization will run successfully—the finances, goods and services, marketing techniques, and overall operations of the organization.

On the other hand, the nonprofit strategic plan will be guided by a specific goal or goals during a specific point of time—one year, three years, five years, etc.

Here are some key elements that a typical nonprofit business will include:

  • Detailed budgets
  • Financial reports
  • Marketing plans
  • Financial projections
  • Audience and team information
  • Impact and operational plans

As you can see, a business plan focuses more on the practical operational side of your nonprofit organization.

Key Elements of a Strategic Plan

The key elements of a nonprofit strategic plan are determined by two things: the goals of the plan and the type of plan that is used to achieve those goals.

Each type of plan, however, should include the following:

  • Who is working on the plan and their designated role;
  • The time frame of the plan; and
  • Any adjustments that may need to be made to meet the established goals.

Duration and Time Frame

Most nonprofit strategic plans will run anywhere from one to five years, depending on which strategic plan you need and the goals of the plan. Those involved in the strategic plan should meet regularly—maybe every quarter—to make sure the plan is on track or if adjustments need to be made.

A business plan may also be a blueprint of three to five years, but most business plans usually cover one year of goals and objectives.

Target Audience and Stakeholders

The target audience and stakeholders of a nonprofit strategic plan will depend on the goals of the plan.

In general, you should reach out to key staff members who are working on the short- and long-term goals, board members, and important community partners who also play a role in achieving the goals within the plan.

In business plans, the target audience is usually the end user of the product. Therefore, most business plans focus on why their product is a good fit for this demographic. For a nonprofit, these are the benefactors of your supporters.

Role in Organizational Development and Growth

Nonprofit strategic plans play an important role in organizational development and growth. Not only are these plans a great way to engage new donors, but they can also help make your staff feel valued and important to achieving your organization's goals.

In a similar way, nonprofit business plans will focus on how your nonprofit makes a difference in your community over a period of time. It will document milestones of growth in actionable ways.

Flexibility and Adaptability

A nonprofit strategic plan is a living document, which means it is flexible enough to adapt with the environment and the nonprofit’s need for change. This is why having regular team meetings is key—that way, the team can assess whether the strategic plan is on track or adaptations are needed to better meet the goals.

Business plans are also an operational roadmap, and with that also comes flexibility. There are things that may come up that you cannot predict in a business plan. So, keeping it flexible as your nonprofit grows will help your organization adapt to changing times.

5 Steps to Create a Nonprofit Strategic Plan

1. understand your mission.

While it may sound strange to list understanding your mission, any good strategic plan starts with the basics.

Because all goals and objectives need to align with your mission, you must first make sure that everyone involved in the strategic planning process truly understands the mission of your nonprofit. ‍

Even if you feel that your mission is clear, discussing it as part of the planning process will help you understand why you do what you do. Reviewing this information will make it easier to create clear goals and objectives.

Check out our post on writing a good nonprofit mission statement to make sure that your mission statement is working for you and is aligned with your goals and objectives.

2. SWOT Analysis

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Completing a SWOT analysis involves identifying all items within each of these categories for your nonprofit. ‍

The process of identifying strengths, weaknesses, obstacles, and threats will help your nonprofit understand what actions need to be taken to reach desired goals and objectives.

Typically, this type of analysis is focused on all items related to your nonprofit, not just those specific to the goals and objectives within your strategic plan. It is also important to complete this analysis often as the items in each category can change frequently.

Below is an example of a SWOT analysis chart or map which is a good way to visualize the information within this type of analysis. You can check out this example and more SWOT analysis charts here .

3. Choose the Strategic Planning Model

You can use the information from the SWOT analysis to understand what is keeping your nonprofit from being successful.

Once you understand the current obstacles and threats, you can determine the type of planning model that best suits the current needs of your nonprofit. Here are the most common to choose from:

  • Issue-Based Planning Model: This begins with the identification and analysis of key issues and then formulates strategies to address these issues. It's often used when there are pressing problems that require immediate attention.
  • Goals-Based Planning Model : This model is popular as it helps organizations define clear, measurable objectives and then develop strategies to achieve these goals. It ensures alignment between an organization's mission and its actions.
  • Balanced Scorecard Model : The balanced scorecard is a common choice for organizations looking to balance financial and non-financial performance metrics to measure and manage their strategies effectively.
  • Scenario Planning Model : Scenario planning is employed by organizations that want to be prepared for a range of potential future scenarios, making it common in industries with high uncertainty.

4. Set SMART Goals and Objectives

Now that you have evaluated your mission, completed a SWOT analysis, and chosen the right type of planning model, you should be ready to set goals specific to your strategic plan.

Setting SMART (Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-based) goals will help you create a clear path for reaching these goals. ‍

An example of a general goal would be “increasing the reach of our educational programs”. To make this a SMART goal, you would get more specific: “we will reach 300 new students through 10 separate reading programs between June 1, 2023 and May 31, 2023.”

5. Clearly Assign Tasks

One of the most important parts of a good strategic plan is being specific. The goal of this document is to help your nonprofit be successful in reaching specific objectives, therefore it needs to include specific tasks. ‍

Your staff need to understand their role(s) in helping to reach the goals and objectives of the nonprofit. You also want to include timelines for these tasks so that you can monitor progress.

Keep in mind that because you have assigned specific tasks with timelines, you can adjust your strategic plan as needed. The document is not set in stone, so if you find things are not working out as you intended, adjustments can be made.

Common Mistakes When Making The Nonprofit Strategic Plan

Building an effective nonprofit strategic plan can seem intimidating to even the most seasoned nonprofit staff. To help you understand how to write a successful nonprofit strategic plan, we have identified a few of the common mistakes so that we can help you avoid them.

Not Being Specific

A key part of creating a good nonprofit strategic plan is to write actionable steps for achieving your intended goals and outcomes.

If you are not specific with your plans, it will be difficult to be successful in reaching your goals. A good nonprofit strategic plan will include specific tasks that are assigned to specific people and mapped out over time.

Not Involving Your Whole Team

Another important factor when learning how to write a good nonprofit strategic plan is to make sure to involve your whole team.

For your nonprofit, this team may simply be a board of directors, or it may be a larger staff as well. While each person may not be involved in every step of the planning process, they all need to be included on some scale because they will be the ones completing the work to reach the goals that you set.

It is also important to involve your whole team when completing your SWOT analysis as those involved in day-to-day nonprofit operations will understand the strengths, weaknesses, obstacles, and threats better than anyone.

Thinking the Document Is Set In Stone

We have mentioned a few times that a good nonprofit strategic plan needs to be a living document. Because both the internal and external climate surrounding any nonprofit change constantly, your strategic plan may need to change as well.

While you may create a strategic plan that maps out three to five years of plans (depending what type of planning model you use), it is important to continually monitor and reevaluate your successes and failures.

Planning Too Far Ahead

While a standard nonprofit strategic plan typically focuses on three to five years, you need to make sure you don’t plan too far ahead.

Your nonprofit needs to determine a feasible timeline that fits its specific goals and objectives so that it can be successful. You do not want to create a strategic plan just to say that you have one; you want to make sure you can successfully achieve the goals included in the plan.

If you try to plan too far ahead, it will be difficult to understand how daily tasks are actually impacting your success. Planning too far ahead can also become overwhelming and hamper the success of your nonprofit.

Best Nonprofit Strategic Plan Examples

One of the best ways to learn how to build a strong nonprofit strategic plan is to review examples from other nonprofits. We have created a list of what we feel are some great examples, but there are many out there.

Because your strategic plan is often a public document, you can find many examples simply through an internet search. We wanted to be sure to highlight some that we feel are well put together and demonstrate the information we have shared.

1. The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a national nonprofit focused on helping to protect natural places across the United States. We have chosen to highlight the strategic plan created by the Pennsylvania and Delaware chapter.

Their strategic plan does a great job of laying out clear goals and objectives, while also keeping things simple so that the plan is accessible to anyone. You will see that they break down the plan into geographic/project focus areas which is a great way to organize the information.

The nature conservancy also uses a great layout that makes the document easy to read and understand.

Another clean and organized nonprofit strategic plan that is a good example comes from YWCA of Greater Cleveland . We have chosen their strategic plan because they very clearly lay out their goals and their plans to reach them.

Similar to the plan from The Nature Conservancy, YWCA uses photos and graphics to make the document easy to read and digest by the public.

3. Philadelphia Museum of Art

Another great example of a good nonprofit strategic plan comes from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Their strategic plan is clearly organized into key focus areas which include goals and steps for achievement.

Similar to our first two example strategic plans, the Philadelphia Museum of Art uses images and a clean layout to make their plan easy to follow. We also like how this nonprofit uses active words for their goals such as engaging and activating.

4. St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital is a well known nonprofit focused on curing childhood cancer and other childhood diseases.

Their strategic plan stood out to us because it is available through their website as a live document. What we mean by this is that you can actually click through the pages as if you were holding a physical copy of the strategic plan.

Because this nonprofit focuses on medical research, their strategic plan is a bit more in-depth so that readers can see the types of work they are planning. Their plan still focuses on clearly defined goals with details about their plans for success.

They also use visuals throughout to break up the text of the strategic plan. Even though their strategic plan is a bit more text heavy, they make sure to break things down in a way that stakeholders can understand.

5. Horizons Atlanta

Our final example nonprofit strategic plan comes from Horizons Atlanta which is an organization focused on helping youth become valuable members of their communities.

We chose their strategic plan as one of our examples because they use a good structure that clearly lays out their strategic priorities early in the document.

They break down the details associated with each strategy later on, but having all priorities identified early helps those that may just want to understand the basics of the plan.

We also liked the way that they provide some good background on their nonprofit at the beginning of the plan to help those that may not be familiar with their work.

Keep in mind that a grantmaker or any other stakeholder reviewing this document may be hearing of your nonprofit for the first time. A good strategic plan will include some background which will also help put the goals and plans in perspective.

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Helpful Resources for Nonprofit Strategic Plans

For those looking to draft their nonprofit strategic plan, Instrumentl provides easy-to-use nonprofit strategic planning templates that can guide you through the process.

Instrumentl Easy-to-Use Nonprofit Strategic Planning Templates

These free strategic planning templates for nonprofits will guide you through the process from beginning to end. Check them out today!

Wrapping Up: How to Write a Nonprofit Strategic Plan

We have broken down what a nonprofit strategic plan is and provided some insights into how to create a good nonprofit strategic plan. We also provided several example nonprofit strategic plans for your review.

Using these clear goals as the backbone of your strategic plan will help your nonprofit be successful in reaching your goals.

Up next, pair this guide with our guide to the characteristics of successful nonprofits . Doing so will help you benchmark your nonprofit and where the opportunities are to improve.

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  • Nonprofit Strategic Planning Guide w/Examples

Strategic Planning

Nonprofit strategic planning can help an organization meet challenges effectively and take advantage of new opportunities. Organizations that have a strategic plan continually express the advantages that this type of preparation gives them. Studies have shown that having a strategic plan has a positive impact on revenue generation through grants, donors, events and other avenues.

Whether crafting an emergency plan to react to unexpected external circumstances or creating a strategy for the next two to five years, this guide will help nonprofits get the most out of its strategic plan.

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Strategic Planning for Nonprofits: A Guide to Future Success

This image shows a consultant sitting at a table with nonprofit professionals, guiding them through nonprofit strategic planning.

Your nonprofit depends upon the combined efforts of its leadership, staff, volunteers, donors, and advocates to generate a meaningful impact in the lives of the people you serve. However, the nonprofit landscape is always shifting—as are your teams, priorities, and resources. How do you ensure that you’re continuing to create the change you set out to create?

Strategic planning for nonprofit organizations is a crucial process for long-term success. By outlining your path forward, you can regain clarity about your work and re-motivate your team about the future.

To create an effective strategic plan for your nonprofit, it’s important to understand the basic steps and when to seek expert guidance during the process. In this guide, we’ll cover all the strategic planning essentials and walk through seven excellent examples of strategic plans:

Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: The Basics

Strategic planning for success: laridae’s expert process, 5 nonprofit strategic planning models to know, how to prepare for nonprofit strategic planning, strategic planning for nonprofits process: 4 steps, 7 stellar nonprofit strategic planning examples.

According to a  recent nonprofit sector study , 62% of nonprofit professionals reported that managing change was at least somewhat difficult for their organization over the past few years. Whether your nonprofit is looking to find clarity amid significant change, realign on its original purpose, or embark upon a major initiative, developing a clear strategic plan will set you up for success.

Click to contact us to learn how Laridae’s expert consultants can support your nonprofit strategic planning efforts.

While the strategic planning process will differ for each nonprofit depending on its specific goals, needs, and situation, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions to provide your organization with the foundation it needs to benefit from  creating a strategic plan .

What is strategic planning for nonprofits?

For nonprofits, strategic planning refers to the process of creating an actionable roadmap that defines how your organization will achieve its long-term goals over a specified period of time.

Typically, this process involves assessing your nonprofit’s current state, identifying opportunities and challenges, engaging stakeholders, and reflecting on its mission. Your strategic plan will usually outline your steps forward for the next three to five years.

When should nonprofits conduct strategic planning?

Many occasions may lead a nonprofit to undertake strategic planning. Some of the most common reasons why your organization may need to start the process include:

This image illustrates the main reasons that may lead organizations to conduct nonprofit strategic planning, detailed below.

  • Reallocating your nonprofit’s resources.  Your nonprofit often has to make the most of limited resources, from funds to staff time. With so many different priorities, it can be challenging to determine whether you’re using your resources productively. Strategic planning can help you reallocate time, funds, and energy to where it matters most.
  • Needing to realign your teams.  It can be easy to lose focus on your main priorities and mission in your day-to-day work. By conducting strategic planning, you can prevent mission drift and keep your staff, stakeholders, and community members aligned on your key purpose—while juggling all your nonprofit does to make a difference in its community.
  • Picking up where your previous strategic plan ended.  A strategic plan provides the mold that shapes your nonprofit’s future, but only for the next several years or so. At the end of this time period, your leadership and board members will need to regroup and realign on your nonprofit’s goals. This ensures that everyone remains focused on how your organization can most effectively serve its purpose moving forward.
  • Adding a new program or strategy.  If you’re planning to launch a new program or dive into a  new fundraising strategy , developing a strategic plan empowers staff members to confidently and collaboratively contribute toward your nonprofit’s success.
  • Adapting to current changes your nonprofit is experiencing.  Whether you’re facing staff turnover or larger changes in the nonprofit sector as a whole, crafting a strategic plan helps your organization adapt and continue generating impactful results from its work.

However, there are also less-than-ideal times for launching into the strategic planning process. For instance, if your nonprofit is undergoing a  change in executive leadership , it may be more difficult to produce a well-thought-out plan. Regardless of your organization’s circumstances, partnering with an  experienced nonprofit consultant  can ensure that you make the most of your strategic planning efforts.

Why is nonprofit strategic planning important?

Your nonprofit’s long-term success hinges on its ability to navigate fluctuations in its staff, fundraising results, resources, and more.  The Center for Effective Philanthropy  found that nonprofit leaders consider support in strategic planning and development to be one of the most important areas for addressing the challenges they face.

An effective strategic plan anchors your organization when it encounters rough waters and propels your impact forward when the way is clear. To make the most out of your efforts, however, it’s crucial to take a thoughtful approach and follow strategic planning best practices.

If you don’t have a lot of experience with building a strategic plan, there’s no need to worry! You can always turn to a nonprofit consulting firm that will guide you through the entire process.

At Laridae, we’ve proudly helped over 100 nonprofits in a wide range of sectors craft their strategic plans. Our  strategic planning experts  are driven by impact and equipped with years of experience working with purpose-driven organizations across Canada.

While we tailor our approach to each nonprofit’s specific needs and goals, our time-tested process follows these general steps:

This image shows four proven steps for success in Laridae’s process for nonprofit strategic planning, detailed below.

  • Planning and Research.  First, we’ll review key documents to gain an in-depth understanding of your nonprofit and hold thoughtful discussions with your leadership and board members. We prioritize securing board buy-in from the get-go so everyone can start the process together on the same page. Then, we’ll conduct research into your environment to gather the necessary context to move forward.
  • Stakeholder Engagement.  We specialize in engaging stakeholders through surveys, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, and town halls. Tuning into the thoughts and feedback of your staff, donors, volunteers, and other community members is essential to ensuring that your nonprofit continues to respect their interests and include them in your roadmap into the future.
  • Strategic Planning Retreat.  After collecting qualitative data from your stakeholders, we’ll organize a strategic planning retreat that allows all members of your board and senior management to discuss and come to an agreement on your nonprofit’s priorities moving forward. Together, we’ll take a look at critical information such as stakeholder feedback, and conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to inform your decision-making.
  • Strategic Plan Drafting.  Following the retreat, we’ll draft a tailored, actionable strategic plan for your nonprofit and collaborate with you to produce a document that meets all of your expectations.

Throughout our partnership, we’ll employ frameworks such as Design Thinking and Theory of Change to help you  maximize the strategic planning process . Guided by our human-centered approach, we’ll help you lay out all the necessary steps your nonprofit needs to take to generate the impact you desire.

Every nonprofit approaches strategic planning with different reasons and goals. As a result, numerous models have emerged to guide organizations depending on their specific circumstances. These are generalized approaches best used as a reference rather than a detailed blueprint for your strategic planning journey.

Five of the most common strategic planning models for nonprofits are:

  • Standard Nonprofit Strategic Plan.  This model outlines the most basic and comprehensive approach to nonprofit strategic planning, which involves analyzing your organization’s current situation, determining its long-term goals, and creating a plan to accomplish those goals. 
  • Organic Nonprofit Strategic Plan.  An organic nonprofit strategic planning approach is suited for organizations that prefer a more flexible process. This is useful when you’re faced with uncertain changes both within and outside of your nonprofit, as it involves revisiting your goals on a more frequent basis.
  • Issue-Based Strategic Plan.  This model focuses on addressing a single challenge, project, or focus area. Therefore, this approach will produce a strategic plan that is less comprehensive than a standard one. Developing an issue-based strategic plan allows your nonprofit to focus on handling a specific issue or opportunity in a more efficient and unified manner.
  • Real-Time Strategic Plan.  Real-time strategic planning involves continuous planning and shorter-term goals to respond effectively to changing circumstances. Nonprofits in an unpredictable or fast-changing environment may consider opting for this approach.
  • Alignment Strategic Plan.  The alignment strategic planning model focuses on creating a sense of cohesion across your leadership, teams, and stakeholders. This approach emphasizes collaboration and identifying how all roles within your nonprofit can work together more productively.

Remember, however, that no single model will be the perfect fit for your organization. The key to successful strategic planning for nonprofits is flexibility and adaptability. Therefore, it’s best to consider partnering with an expert consultant who has the experience and skills to adapt the process to your unique needs.

After exploring the basics of strategic planning for nonprofits, you may have decided that your organization needs a new strategic plan, but how do you go about it? Before you hit the ground running, take the time to determine whether your nonprofit is  ready for the strategic planning process .

Gather your leadership team and board members and ask yourselves the following questions:

This image shows the essential questions you should consider, listed below, to prepare for the nonprofit strategic planning process.

  • Do we have a clear and concise goal for this strategic plan?
  • Why are we creating a strategic plan now?
  • Is our nonprofit ready for honest, open reflection?
  • How much of our time and resources can we commit to this process?
  • Who will lead our strategic planning process?
  • How will we engage stakeholders?
  • How will we measure progress toward our strategic planning goals?
  • What tools, skills, or guidance do we need to make the most of this process?

A  BoardSource study  found that, while 78% of nonprofit CEOs reported having a formal strategic plan for their organization, only one-third of executives and half of board chairs indicated that the board had a positive impact on defining strategic priorities.

Holding a board meeting to discuss all of these strategic planning aspects ensures that everyone is committed and prepared to embark on the journey. This  proactive communication  reduces the chances of any disconnect later on.

Download Laridae’s free strategic planning self-assessment tool to determine whether your organization is ready to start the process.

Consider Hiring a Strategic Planning Consultant

There are a lot of factors to consider when preparing for a fruitful strategic planning process, and not all of them are easy to address. For instance, you may find that your nonprofit has limited time or experience to invest in planning. Or, perhaps you’d like to breathe new life into your organization’s processes and thinking.

A nonprofit consultant can boost your strategic planning results by:

  • Crafting a tailored strategic planning approach.  Nonprofit strategic planning consultants have the expertise to go beyond basic models and frameworks to create a process that directly responds to your organization’s specific needs and priorities. They’ll know where your nonprofit can best focus its time and resources to get the most out of its strategic planning.
  • Bringing a fresh perspective to your organization.  A consultant brings an objective, professional perspective to your strategic planning journey. They’re willing to facilitate tough conversations, ask incisive questions, and promote critical thinking that allows your nonprofit to advance beyond its traditional thought processes.
  • Engaging stakeholders as a neutral third party.  Before you can include stakeholders’ input in your strategic plan, you first need to collect their feedback. As a neutral third party, a nonprofit strategic planning consultant can conduct engagement activities that encourage brave, authentic conversations and glean the insights you need to guide your planning.
  • Leveraging the latest strategic planning best practices.  Nonprofit consultants have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to tips and pitfalls to watch out for during the strategic planning process. They’ll provide innovative strategies and use recent trends to enhance your results.

There are two main types of roles a strategic planning consultant can fill. They can either lead the entire strategic planning process for your nonprofit, which includes drafting your plan for you, or they can coach your leadership team as it leads your organization through its strategic planning journey. Use the answers you’ve gathered from the questions in the previous section to determine how much support your nonprofit will need.

If your nonprofit is looking to develop the internal expertise to conduct strategic plans on its own, consider looking into self-directed programs guided by expert consultants.

Laridae’s Strategy Academy , for example, helps ensure that you produce an impactful strategic plan for your organization while coaching you through every step of the process. Plus, our program’s online, cohort-based format provides additional opportunities for your team to build community and learn from other peers in the sector.

Click through to learn about Laridae’s Strategy Academy and how you can empower your team through the nonprofit strategic planning process.

Whether you’re working with an expert consultant or tackling the strategic planning process alone, we’ll walk through four essential steps that will pave the way to an effective strategic plan.

1. Examine your organization and environment.

First, to provide a foundation for your planning, take a look at your nonprofit’s current state and performance. Then, consider any trends or challenges in your sector as a whole.

Some basic factors to examine include:

  • Recent financial details, including revenue and expenses.
  • Past key performance indicators.
  • Latest trends, changes, and challenges in the sector.
  • Programs and strategies launched by similar organizations.

This general overview of your nonprofit should provide the necessary context for determining your priorities and goals moving forward.

2. Engage your stakeholders.

Stakeholder engagement provides an ideal opportunity for you to collect qualitative information about your stakeholders’ experiences, concerns, and connections to your nonprofit. By focusing on active listening, you’ll assure donors, volunteers,  staff , beneficiaries, and other members of your community that you value their input.

There are several ways you can engage your stakeholders, including:

  • Online surveys
  • Focus groups
  • Town hall meetings
  • One-on-one interviews

Different stakeholders will likely have different preferences when it comes to engagement, so use your existing data on each group to identify which activities will resonate with them most. In general, hiring a third party to conduct your engagement can create opportunities for more open and honest communication.

After gathering feedback, consolidate all the information into several important takeaways to consider as you develop your nonprofit strategic plan.

3. Conduct a strategic planning retreat.

Holding a dedicated strategic planning retreat allows all of your board and senior management members to come together and have in-depth discussions on your nonprofit overview, stakeholder engagement results, and priorities for the future. During this retreat, participants will have the chance to share their thoughts and ask any important questions they may still have.

Additionally, it can be helpful for everyone to conduct a SWOT analysis that sorts all the information you’ve accumulated into your nonprofit’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This allows you to begin piecing together your priorities into actionable steps that you can take over the next few years.

4. Review your mission, vision, and values.

While many strategic planning processes involve examining your nonprofit’s mission, vision, and values at the beginning, this is often premature. In fact, doing so may limit your thinking and approach as you learn more about your organization and stakeholders’ opinions.

By reviewing your mission, vision, and values at the end of your strategic planning journey, you’ll ensure that your team has already developed a clearer understanding of your  nonprofit’s brand , purpose, and priorities. This allows them to make more informed adjustments as necessary.

Strategic planning for your nonprofit may seem like a complex undertaking, but it’s perfectly feasible with the right approach and guidance. Take a look at these seven excellent nonprofit strategic plans to get inspired.

1. Streams Community Hub

As a nonprofit based in Shelburne, Ontario,  Streams Community Hub  is dedicated to educating and empowering youth through various art programs. Upon reaching its fourth year in operation, Streams decided that it was time to produce its first-ever strategic plan. After experiencing promising growth in reputation and size over the past few years, Streams’ board wanted to pave a path toward greater impact moving forward.

Streams partnered with Laridae to engage 230 various stakeholders, from artists to partner organizations, and develop a strategic plan for the next five years. This plan, directly responding to stakeholders’ input, outlines four directions that encapsulate Streams’ priorities for the coming years, ensuring that the organization remains focused on the community it serves.

This screenshot from Streams Community Hub’s strategic plan illustrates one of several stellar nonprofit strategic planning examples.

2. Habitat for Humanity Northumberland

When it was time to renew their outdated strategic plan, the governance committee at  Habitat for Humanity Northumberland (HFHN)  reached out to Laridae for support throughout the process. Since the nonprofit had previous experience with Laridae’s governance training and Management Training Program, they were confident in our expertise and guidance.

For HFHN, the process began with information-gathering, examining factors such as the average cost to purchase a home and Northumberland County’s population growth. Then, after in-depth stakeholder engagement, HFHN’s team was able to clarify the nonprofit’s key values: People, Partnership, and Adaptability. At the end of their strategic planning process, they had a draft that took only three weeks to reach final board approval.

This screenshot illustrates the process that Habitat for Humanity Northumberland followed in its nonprofit strategic planning journey.

3. Ontario Association of Social Workers

The  Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)  is a nonprofit organization that focuses on promoting the interests of social workers across Ontario. Following the pandemic, OASW wanted to craft a five-year strategic plan to adapt to recent changes in the community and new leadership within the association. To do so, the organization partnered with Laridae for guidance.

After a thorough planning process, which involved engaging 625 stakeholders, OASW emerged with a strategic plan that both reaffirmed its mission, vision, and values and laid out four strategic directions forward. For each direction, OASW specified exactly how it planned to accomplish its goals.

This screenshot from the Ontario Association of Social Workers’ strategic plan is an example of successful nonprofit strategic planning.

4. Surrey Place

As a nonprofit organization that serves people with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and visual impairments,  Surrey Place  needed to create a strategic plan that responded to changes in service delivery and set the foundation for long-term success. As another one of Laridae’s clients, the nonprofit was able to develop its strategy for the next three years.

The plan includes Surrey Place’s main commitments moving forward, accompanied by powerful images representing the organization’s impact, as well as three main strategic directions to guide its efforts.

This screenshot illustrates the final document that resulted from Surrey Place’s nonprofit strategic planning process.

5. Temiskaming Hospital

Temiskaming Hospital  is a nonprofit hospital driven to improve the health and well-being of people in northern rural Ontario. To prepare its strategic plan for the next five years, Temiskaming Hospital reached out to Laridae’s experts to guide its board through the process.

After conducting qualitative research through stakeholder engagement, combined with in-depth discussions with leadership members, the organization was able to develop a plan that encapsulates its mission, vision, and values and defines four strategic directions to prioritize in the next few years. Additionally, it includes a dedicated page sharing stakeholder engagement activities that took place, thanking participants for their involvement.

This is a screenshot of Temiskaming Hospital’s strategic plan, which is a stellar nonprofit strategic planning example.

6. Hospice Quinte

As a nonprofit,  Hospice Quinte  provides support to people who are terminally ill, along with their families. To produce a comprehensive three-year strategic plan, the organization partnered with Laridae to guide its board of directors through the entire process. Together, we examined Hospice Quinte’s current situation, opportunities, and goals to formulate five strategic directions to focus on.

The process included conducting online surveys, focus groups, and interviews to collect stakeholder feedback on areas to focus on, which are all included in the strategic plan. At the end of the plan, Hospice Quinte outlined clear, tangible steps it will focus on moving forward.

This is a screenshot of Hospice Quinte’s strategic plan after they completed their nonprofit strategic planning journey with Laridae’s support.

7. Brock Community Health Centre

Brock Community Health Centre (CHC)  is one of many nonprofits that provide primary care and health services for people living in their community. Brock CHC is another one of Laridae’s clients in the healthcare sector that needed to develop a new strategic plan following changes in the landscape following the pandemic.

The nonprofit created two versions of its strategic plan for its leadership, staff, and community members to reference. One is an infographic summary, highlighting its four strategic directions for the next three years, while the other is the full plan, going into more detail about the planning process and goals.

This screenshot of Brock CHC’s strategic plan summary is another excellent example of a productive nonprofit strategic planning process.

Embarking on Your Nonprofit Strategic Planning Journey

Ultimately, strategic planning provides an opportunity for your nonprofit to reflect on its past impact, reinspire everyone involved in its mission, and lay the groundwork for meaningful growth and long-term success.

At Laridae, we have over a decade of experience supporting nonprofits on their strategic planning journeys. Our commitment to working with purpose-driven organizations means that we’re able to approach every partnership with an in-depth understanding of your goals, values, and mission. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed or would like to learn more about how our expert nonprofit consultants can  boost your strategic planning efforts , please feel free to reach out!

For a deeper dive into strategic planning for nonprofit organizations, check out our additional resources:

  • Developing a Strategic Plan During a Leadership Transition .  Is your nonprofit experiencing a shift in its leadership? Explore how you can approach strategic planning under these circumstances.
  • How to Create a Strategic Plan That Inspires Hope .  While strategic planning involves some tough questions and considerations, at its core, the process is all about preparing for a hopeful future. Keep these tips in mind as you craft your next strategic plan.
  • How to Get the Most out of your Strategic Planning Process .  In this guide, we’ll discuss four strategic planning steps in more detail and walk through questions to consider along the way.
  • Three Ways To Avoid Strategic Planning Missteps .  Set your nonprofit’s strategic planning up for success by learning how to avoid common missteps during the process.

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The Strategic Planning Manual

The Strategic Planning Manual by Frank Martinelli offers an overview and process for strategic planning.

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  1. Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Your Complete Guide

    Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Your Complete Guide by Funding For Good | Jan 23, 2023 | Strategic Planning Every nonprofit could benefit from a strategic plan. Funders are increasingly asking to see organizations' strategic plans.

  2. Strategic Planning for Nonprofits

    A strategic planning process identifies strategies that will best enable a nonprofit to advance its mission. Ideally, as staff and board engage in the process, they commit to measurable goals, approve priorities for implementation, and also make a plan to revisit the strategy on an ongoing basis as the internal and external environments change.

  3. Crafting an Effective Nonprofit Strategic Plan: A Guide for Success

    1. Vision Clarity and Alignment: A strategic plan helps crystallize the vision and mission of your nonprofit. It enables the executive director and all stakeholders to rally behind a common purpose, fostering alignment and ensuring that every effort supports the overarching goals. 2.

  4. Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Ultimate Guide + 7 Examples

    Nonprofit strategic planning is the process of creating a blueprint that guides an organization for a specified time period and helps accomplish its goals. The strategic planning process involves reflecting on your mission to identify your most important goals and determining the strategies you'll use to reach them.

  5. Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide for

    Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations describes a proven method for creating an effective, organized, actionable strategy, tailored to the unique needs of the nonprofit organization. Now in its third edition, this bestselling manual contains new information about the value of plans, specific guidance toward business planning, and …

  6. Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Key Steps + Top 10 Examples

    A nonprofit strategic plan is a bold plan of action that aligns an organization's goals with its values to provide a dynamic performance map for future endeavors. It is, of course, impossible to anticipate all of the slowdowns or obstacles that might arise throughout a specified time period.

  7. Free Nonprofit Strategic Plan with Examples [2023] • Asana

    Step 1: Assess your current situation Step 2: Develop your strategy Step 3: Build your strategic plan Once you've built your strategic plan, you can set KPIs and schedule the milestones your organization needs to hit in order to be successful. Free strategic plan for nonprofit template

  8. Guide: Strategic Planning Resources for Nonprofits

    June 1, 2023 Guide: Strategic Planning Resources for Nonprofits This collection of nonprofit strategic planning resources can guide you, your board, and your leadership team through the process and help you avoid the potential pitfalls you may face along the way.

  9. Strategic Plan for Nonprofits: A Comprehensive Guide

    The strategic planning process is a structured approach to determine the best direction for an organization. It involves detailed planning, adaptability, and a thorough understanding of the current situation. Here's a step-by-step guide to crafting a robust strategic plan for nonprofits. 1 - Pre-Planning Phase

  10. PDF STRATEGIC PLANNING: A Step-by-Step Guide for your Nonprofit Organization

    Strategic planning is a vital process for any organization that wants to achieve its goals and fulfill its mission. In this pdf, you will find a comprehensive guide to strategic planning, based on the proven methodology of Brighter Strategies, a leading organizational development consulting firm in DC. You will learn how to assess your current situation, define your vision and values, set ...

  11. Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: Templates/Guide

    Definition: A nonprofit strategic plan is a summary of the organization's specific objectives and the methods of their achievement. Such a plan will typically feature research data, people, procedures, schedules, and more.

  12. Useful Tools for Nonprofit Strategic Planning

    Benchmarking. Benchmarking is a tool nonprofits use to determine how well their organizations are performing relative to external peers. It can also be used across sites in a network. The goal is to identify best practices and opportunities and to adapt for improvement. External benchmarking involves identifying a relevant pool of peers and ...

  13. Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide for

    The bestselling guide to nonprofit planning, with proven, practical advice. Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations describes a proven method for creating an effective, organized, actionable strategy, tailored to the unique needs of the nonprofit organization. Now in its third edition, this bestselling manual contains new information about the value of plans, specific guidance toward ...

  14. Strategic Planning 101: A Step-by-Step Guide for Nonprofits

    Strategic Planning 101: A Step-by-Step Guide for Nonprofits Mistake #11: Relying on a Consultant Alone. Identify the resources (financial, human, technological, etc.) required to implement the strategies effectively. Put the strategic plan into action and assign responsibilities to individuals or teams for various tasks and initiatives.

  15. Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide for

    Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations is an excellent source of guidance for managers at nonprofits of every size and budget, helping readers to: Identify the reasons for planning, and gather information from internal and external stakeholders Assess the current situation accurately, and agree on priorities, mission, values, and vision ...

  16. Strategic Planning in Nonprofits

    Strategic Planning in Nonprofits Guide. Start by downloading the Strategic Planning in Nonprofits Guide. As you work through the guide, watch the video for each chapter. Find activities, templates, and other documents to help put what you learned into practice in the document vault. Keep on learning with other resources on nonprofit governance ...

  17. The Importance Of Strategic Planning For Nonprofit Organizations

    Strategic planning is integral to the success of every nonprofit organization. These plans serve as road maps that guide nonprofits, ensuring actions align with an organization's mission and ...

  18. A Comprehensive Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Plan

    1. Standard In the standard strategic plan model, you'll set a goal or set of goals. You'll then outline specific steps to meet those goals, with an ideal timeline. This model is the most popular choice since it fits most scenarios. 2. Organic

  19. Nonprofit Strategic Planning: A Simplified Step-by-Step Guide

    Step 1: Preparation Strategic planning is a process that requires a well-defined scope, timeframe, and participation from stakeholders. It includes clarifying the purpose of planning, identifying who should be involved, and what resources are needed. A planning committee is often formed to oversee the process.

  20. The Essential Components of A Nonprofit Strategic Plan [With Template

    It is common to create a strategic plan that lays out goals for three or five years at a time. By planning a few years at a time, your nonprofit can stay focused on achievable goals while also tying these into a larger picture. 2. Issue-Based Planning: Tackling Internal Challenges.

  21. Nonprofit Strategic Planning Guide w/Examples

    Studies have shown that having a strategic plan has a positive impact on revenue generation through grants, donors, events and other avenues. Whether crafting an emergency plan to react to unexpected external circumstances or creating a strategy for the next two to five years, this guide will help nonprofits get the most out of its strategic ...

  22. Strategic Planning for Nonprofits: A Guide to Future Success

    For nonprofits, strategic planning refers to the process of creating an actionable roadmap that defines how your organization will achieve its long-term goals over a specified period of time.

  23. The Strategic Planning Manual

    The Strategic Planning Manual by Frank Martinelli offers an overview and process for strategic planning. ... Stay up to date on nonprofit news, funding deadlines, job opportunities, and more with the Nonprofit Notes newsletter. Subscribe View the Archive . Help us promote New Hampshire nonprofits and make an even greater impact in our communities.

  24. How to Create an Innovation-Focused Plan for Your Non-Profit

    Learn how to create a strategic plan that fosters innovation in your non-profit. Discover tips to assess, define, develop, implement, and adapt your innovation efforts.

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