Every successful nonprofit has a comprehensive strategic plan guiding it step-by-step to achieve its goals and ultimate mission. It isn’t enough for organizations to only write down a list of objectives about what they want to achieve in the short and long term. Additionally, it is essential for nonprofits to consider all of their staff, volunteers and board members within their strategic plan.
After all, volunteer, staff and board engagement are not isolated components in your organization’s operations. Each factor depends on the other to determine your nonprofit’s future direction. Therefore, it is critical to sit down and brainstorm a strategic plan that will drive your nonprofit forward. So how do you begin strategic planning at your organization? First you need to understand the key elements that make up the entire plan.
1. A mission statement
Every nonprofit needs a clear mission statement. Most likely, your organization already has this displayed on your website and marketing literature. Include this statement within the first stage of your strategic plan as well. This is the foundation upon which you’ll base future ideas. For example, if your nonprofit’s mission is to provide free education for adults in your community, this should be articulately defined within your mission statement.
“Every nonprofit needs a clear mission statement.”
2. A list of goals, activities and objectives
Once you have your mission statement, you need to go a few steps further and create an outline of short and long-term goals, activities and objectives that will keep your nonprofit moving forward. For example, your end mission might be to improve the economic situation of impoverish members of your community. While a meaningful mission, you need to have concrete goals and objectives to make this happen. This may include having so many fundraisers and events a year and volunteer opportunities for interested parties. Essentially, this part of your strategic plan will turn your dreams into a reality.
3. An evaluation of resources
A nonprofit is only as effective as the resources it has at its disposal. You need to honestly evaluate what kind of money, people, skills and experience you have to offer as an organization. While your financial resources are obviously important, many nonprofits forget to consider their volunteer base and board members as assets, as well.
4. A strategic analysis
Your strategic analysis is the culmination of all of the prior components of your strategic plan. This is where you critically analyze both the good and bad of your nonprofit and determine how you can improve any processes to ultimately achieve your mission. Many businesses and nonprofits approach their process with a SWOT analysis.
SWOT analysis
Organizations around the world use the SWOT analysis as an integral element of their strategic-planning process. It is based on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats a person or business faces. Your nonprofit’s strengths and weaknesses are typically internal issues, while opportunities and threats tend to come from external factors. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself about each factor in a SWOT analysis:
- Strengths: What does your nonprofit do best? As in, what can your organization offer the people or causes it serves that no other nonprofit can? Essentially, what should your nonprofit continue to excel in?
- Weakness: Where does your nonprofit fall short of reaching its goals or adhering to its ultimate mission? What steps can you take to eliminate these shortcomings?
- Opportunities: What external factors or trends can you take advantage of in the future? Are their situations or opportunities that your nonprofit could benefit from?
- Threats: Are there obstacles that could keep your nonprofit from reaching its mission or goals? What could you do to protect your nonprofit from these threats?
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