Operating a nonprofit is an incredible responsibility and a tremendous amount of work.  Much like making a trip around the world, you wouldn’t set out on that journey without a map or plan as to where you were going, who’s going with you, what you need to take with you and how much it will cost.

Your organization’s journey is very much like that trip.  You need to plan in order to use your resources wisely and to exact a route that will help you realize what you want to see happen.  It’s amazing to me to learn how many organizations have no plan or have a plan they haven’t touched in years.  A good plan has action steps, a time line, a person or department responsible and identifies what specific resources are needed to accomplish it. With the technology available today, your strategic plan should be on your organization’s intranet so that those who have responsibility can interact with the plan on a regular basis- making it possible for leadership (staff and board) to check on the plan’s progress at any point in time.

BoardSource reminds us that strategic planning helps your organization to:

  • Prepare for the future
  • Anticipate and manage change
  • Improve decision-making
  • Promote stewardship
  • Align board and staff
  • Provide an opportunity to recommit to the cause
  • Educates participants in institutional history
  • Identify existing strengths
  • Analyze systems and processes

To create your organization’s map to the future….contact Eisenhart & Associates today!