Strategic planning is one of the most powerful tools a nonprofit can use to shape its future. It’s always been my favorite activity as a nonprofit leader. I love guiding teams through a collaborative process that not only creates a vision for the future but also builds a roadmap to achieve it.
A good strategic plan expresses the hopes of the association. It tells a story about where the nonprofit is, where it wants to go, and how it will get there.
In the 1990s, I was the executive director of a regional nonprofit association that served other nonprofit organizations. It was a great gig because it felt like I was helping to make a difference in the lives of youth throughout the Pacific Northwest. It also meant traveling through the beautiful country in which we live.
About once a quarter I would fly to Alaska to help the member organizations there. One of the nonprofits in Anchorage asked me to guide them through a strategic planning process. We built a plan that included a 5-year vision, strategic goals to guide them there, and quarterly implementation plans. Then they had me up once a quarter to refresh that plan.
I loved watching that organization grow and change. Of course, I was just the facilitator, they did the hard work. And I was grateful to play my part.
That experience reinforced for me that a strong vision is the foundation of any strategic plan. Without a compelling vision, an organization lacks direction and motivation. It’s what keeps teams moving forward, even when obstacles arise.
This month we have been looking at the vision statement of a strategic plan. A vision statement embodies the hopes and dreams of the organization’s leaders and stakeholders. It says, “We want to be better and this is how that will look.”
Part of the magic of effective strategic planning is that an organization constantly strives toward that vision but does not reach it. A great vision statement is aspirational—it challenges the organization to grow. But as circumstances change, so must the vision. This is why strategic plans should be revisited every 1-3 years, ensuring they reflect both progress made and new challenges ahead.
Does your organization have a clear vision to guide its journey? Is your team aligned and making steady progress toward that future? If not, I can help. Let’s work together to build a strategic plan that turns hope into action.