Nonprofits have big goals for the future. Whether it's to protect endangered species, fight global hunger or increase children’s literacy rates, your organization aims to make the world a better place. However, if you don’t have a clear roadmap for how you’ll achieve this mission, it will be much more difficult to make your nonprofit’s dreams a reality.
A nonprofit strategic plan can help set your nonprofit up for success. This bold plan of action aligns your goals with your nonprofit’s actions, preparing your organization for the future. As a result, your nonprofit can focus on its most important tasks and navigate through any challenges, even in the most turbulent fundraising landscapes.
In this article, we’ll explain how to create a strategic plan tailored to your nonprofit’s unique needs and goals:
By laying out clear goals, you can sync up your nonprofit’s team to tackle challenges and push your nonprofit closer to achieving its mission. Let’s begin.
Take a deep dive into your organization’s operations and focus on places for improvement. For example, your nonprofit might be seeing low email engagement rates, which would point to a need to improve your communication strategy. Or, perhaps your organization isn’t hitting its fundraising goals and needs to plan more effective online campaigns.
Reflecting on your nonprofit’s progress to date isn’t a one-person job. You’ll need all hands on deck to identify gaps in your strategies, so gather insight from various stakeholders. For example, it could be helpful to solicit feedback from the following individuals:
It’s important that your nonprofit takes into account a variety of perspectives, even feedback that isn’t as favorable. This means reaching out to people who’ve expressed discontent with aspects of your nonprofit in the past and have unique ideas on how to improve. Critiques pave the way towards improvement, so use these constructive comments to power change.
Once you’ve identified changes that should be made, your nonprofit’s team needs to work together to establish priorities. Prioritization is important because it allows your nonprofit to accomplish the most pressing tasks first, which will translate into greater nonprofit success and community impact.
Let’s say your organization struggles with low fundraising numbers. A top priority would be to bolster your marketing efforts so you can expand your reach and get people excited to donate to your cause. For example, you could take a multi-channel marketing approach to engage different demographics.
Make sure that your priorities can help you achieve your nonprofit’s unique goals. For instance, if you’re struggling to make ends meet, it wouldn’t be helpful to host a costly fundraising event. Instead, an online campaign can help your organization achieve its fundraising goals without having to break the bank to book a venue, catering and entertainment.
This step is where your plan for the future fully comes together. According to Aly Sterling Philanthropy’s guide to nonprofit strategic planning, your organization should focus on these elements to act on your priorities:
There are a variety of benefits to creating a concrete plan of action. Your nonprofit will be better prepared to make difficult decisions, overcome obstacles and manage time wisely. Plus, your team will all be on the same page and know their specific role in advancing your nonprofit’s mission. This will lead to greater efficiency and motivate everyone to work towards your goals.
To optimize your approach to the planning process, work with an experienced fundraising consultant. A third-party professional can provide you a neutral perspective on your nonprofit’s operations and the areas that need improvements. Then, your consultant can help you create actionable steps guaranteed to boost your nonprofit’s reach and revenue.
A dynamic action plan will give your nonprofit the clarity it needs to achieve its goals. Your organization has likely made great strides in the past, but you can accelerate your growth with a bold plan of action. A roadmap for the future will help your nonprofit delegate tasks, create accountability and rally your team around your guiding principles. As a result, you’ll be in a much better position to drive support for your cause and make an impact in the community.