Strategic Planning

Have you ever been traveling when your GPS stopped working, someone took a detour, or
construction forced you onto an unfamiliar route? Nonprofit leadership experience a similar
unsettled (and somewhat terrifying) feeling when their team is not unified, fundraising goals
aren’t met, or they realize they have strayed from their mission.
Strategic planning is the process of creating a detailed road map for an organization to use for a
specific time period, which helps them accomplish their goals and realize their vision. Every
organization needs a strategic plan to be effective, yet approximately 50% of nonprofits do not
have one. Strategic plans must answer two questions. What does your organization want to
accomplish? And how will you accomplish it? Simply put, you need goals and strategies.
But here’s the rub. We tend to think in terms of lofty, nonspecific goals, like ending hunger or
establishing world peace, which are impossible to meet because they don’t lead to actionable
strategies. Setting measurable, attainable goals is the only way for nonprofits to successfully
realize their vision.
Nonprofit organizations are born from inspirations, not business models. People with a heartfelt
passion to make the world better envision it evolving into the ideal one they desire to see.
Strategic planning is how organizations move from that hope-filled vision to an actualized
version of real change.
At 360 Advisors, we help you create your organization’s road map, a strategic plan which begins
with your destination, by defining your vision for the future. From your vision, we assist you in
developing a clear, actionable mission statement that guides your strategic plan. We also assess
your organization’s current processes to evaluate how effectively they are accomplishing your
mission and yielding measurable outcomes. When outcomes are measurable, donors feel more
confident in supporting your organization. Next, we help you formulate more specific objectives
that will move your organization from where you are now to where you want to be.
Effective organizations have unified teams. Collaborating with your constituents (team,
governing board, donors, etc.) is crucial. Articulating your vision, mission, and strategic plan
clarifies direction and expectations so your team can see where they’re headed. Individuals need
to know how their unique role contributes to the organization’s overall progress. Everyone’s
input should be valued. However, boards and committees should not be expected to establish the
plan that your staff will carry out.
Whether you’re discussing expectations with your team, milestone goals with your board, or
fundraising outcomes with your donors, everyone benefits from a clear strategic plan and
established timeline. Our qualified consultants will guide you through the strategic planning
process, step-by-step, until your roadmap is clear, your vehicle is equipped, and your people are
all along for the ride!