Why Strategic Planning is Priority #1

When’s the last time you went on a road trip? 

Remember the feeling of plugging the destination in your navigation system and knowing you had a whole path laid out ahead of you? 

Even if you had to take a detour, you knew where you were going, what stops you’d make along the way, and what the trip would entail. You knew what snacks you had in back, who was going to DJ, and approximately how long until you were ready to switch drivers.

It’s probably safe to say that the road trip your nonprofit has taken this year has included a number of detours. 

While our “Google Maps for Nonprofits” is still in the works, an updated strategic plan can help you create a clear path forward.

A strategic plan is your best option  for moving forward smoothly and with limited detours from here on out. Your existing plan might need a refresh, or maybe it’s time to embark on the process for the first time. Either way, both the process and the result can help clarify what it is your organization hopes to achieve and how it will get there.

Destination, meet roadmap. Here’s why a strategic plan is the best path forward… 

1. It starts with a vision - The truth is that without vision, organizations are cruising down side streets hoping they reach a destination they don’t know exists. In order to draft your plan, you must know where you want to go. Strategic planning begins with a vision, an essential tool to regain control, realign stakeholders, and reenergize your organization. 
2. It puts steps in place to work toward that vision - The vision is the end goal but the strategic planning process clearly outline which goals, strategies and tactics you’ll employ to get you there. 
3. It holds you accountable - After spending time, and often, money, on a strategic planning process, the goal is to get the plan off the shelf and into the hands of the committees who put them into action. A strategic plan includes clear benchmarks for success and an implementation timeline to hold you accountable along the way. 

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If your organization is having trouble articulating your destination, let’s start by examining your mission. In today’s freebie, we’re sharing a worksheet to help you think about your mission statement.