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The Hidden Benefits of Nonprofit Strategic Planning
By Sarah Sullivan, Vice President, Strategy
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A well-designed strategic plan is more than a blueprint for executing your organization's goals over the next few years. It is a tool that can be used to generate interest and investment in your organization, keep your key funders and stakeholders engaged, and help set your organization apart from the competition.
If They Help Build It, They Own It
The very process of developing a strategic plan can enhance relationships with current board members, can be used to recruit new board members, and can engage current and prospective donors. Seeking these individuals' input regarding the future direction of your organization and making clear the resources needed to attain programmatic goals will increase their personal investment in your organization. When funders and stakeholders are invested at the outset, they are more likely to contribute greater amounts of time and resources to your organization.
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"As a company we value the process of evaluating and learning. As a funder, we want a grantee to inform us of results regularly and acknowledge when something isn't working. It shows transparency and a strong self-awareness."
-Fortune 500 Corporate Funder
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Keeps Your Key Funders and Stakeholders Engaged
Once you have developed your strategic plan, it is important to measure progress toward goals at least annually. Interim progress can be reported quarterly (by using a dashboard, for example) and results can be used to inform the board and funders of impacts, successes, and lessons learned. Using the strategic plan as a centerpiece during board and donor meetings spurs candid dialogue about the progress of your organization as a whole -- both celebrating successes and identifying opportunities to shift program approaches based on what is working, and what is not. This approach ensures that your strategic plan remains a living document, used regularly to track impact and strengthen relationships.
Sets Your Organization Apart from the Competition
There are more than 1.5 million nonprofits registered in the United States. Funders, particularly institutional and major donors, expect you to articulate how you intend to spend their philanthropic dollars, and to describe the benefits. They want to know your organization's long-term plans, your strategies for achieving those goals, your measurements of success, your role vis-à-vis other organizations in the space, and how you are partnering with other organizations to maximize impact. If you explain your goals and if you demonstrate your impact routinely, while continually learning about and implementing best practices, you will enjoy stronger relationships with board members and funders, and you will be better positioned to secure donations that support your mission.
How to Involve Your Key Funders and Stakeholders in the Strategic Planning Process
Nonprofits should involve current and potential board members and funders in the strategic planning process in a number of meaningful ways. Each touchpoint serves as an opportunity to gather valuable feedback and build/strengthen relationships:
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Stakeholder
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Engagement
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Current/Potential Board Member:
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- Serve on the planning committee
- Provide feedback on past performance/programs/operations/governance
- Provide information about trends in the field
- Reach agreement on future priorities and board's role in organization's success
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Current/Prospective Funder:
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- Provide information on trends in funding and in field
- Provide feedback on perceptions of the organization
- Inform the organization about incentives/motivations to give
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With a strong strategic plan, you will provide all key funders and stakeholders with the information and inspiration needed to successfully execute your mission. Without a strong strategic plan, you risk failing your mission and getting lost among the 1.5 million other nonprofits.
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OAI offers clients a range of fundraising and organizational planning services to develop clear, research-based, and actionable strategies to generate revenue and to strengthen an organization's ability to deliver programs effectively and efficiently. For more information about our services, please contact us at [email protected] or (202) 338-6100.
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Client Announcement:
Imagine Schools
Imagine Schools
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a national network of public charter schools, recently transitioned to a nonprofit organization. As a newly established nonprofit, Imagine Schools is now preparing to build a development operation to pursue national and local philanthropic support for its programmatic initiatives.
In March 2016, Imagine Schools engaged OAI to help identify opportunities for philanthropic support and create a two-year fundraising roadmap that defines the steps needed to build a fundraising program. Working in partnership with Imagine Schools, OAI assessed Imagine Schools' assets and conducted an environmental scan, peer-organization research, donor prospect research, and stakeholder interviews to determine opportunities for philanthropic support. Using this information, OAI identified the strategies and resources needed to operationalize a fundraising effort. Understanding that a successful fundraising program relies on the active participation of board members, OAI was also brought on board to assist Imagine Schools in further developing a board that drives both financial and programmatic success.
In May 2016, Imagine Schools engaged OAI in the next steps toward establishing a fundraising operation. OAI and Imagine Schools will continue to work together to put in place the foundation needed for successful fundraising including: a high-level strategic roadmap that illustrates Imagine Schools' programmatic and organizational goals over the next three-years; a compelling Case for Support to share with prospective donors; a qualified list of prospects that are most strongly aligned with Imagine Schools' work; and a detailed Fundraising Strategy and Development Plan.
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Join OAI at Association of Fundraising Professionals'
Fundraising Day in New York
Friday, June 17, 2016
New York Marriott Marquis
Fundraising Day in New York is the premier east coast conference on philanthropy. This one-day event brings together the best and brightest nonprofit professionals from around the world to share their thoughts and advice.
OAI will be exhibiting in the
SolutionsCenter. Stop by to say hello!
For more information, and to register, please click here.
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How Strong is Your Culture of Philanthropy?
Evaluate your organization against each of the four pillars of fundraising:
- A compelling case for support
- Alignment between the board and management on program and funding priorities
- Ongoing dialogue with prospects and donors
- Strong systems and infrastructure
As a result, you will gain clarity on whether your organization performs well against or needs to devote attention to each of the four pillars.
Take the Free 10-Minute Culture of Philanthropy Survey Today!
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| About Orr Associates, Inc. (OAI) Responding to the increasingly complex burdens on nonprofit leaders, OAI has developed a transformational approach to fundraising and strategy consulting. Our teams of experienced professionals seamlessly embed themselves with nonprofits to fundraise, to recruit and improve board leadership, to build consensus and direction through new strategies, and to provide executive, fundraising, and financial leadership. With offices in Washington, DC and New York City, OAI has partnered in our clients' success for 25 years, helping more than 600 nonprofits raise hundreds of millions of dollars for their causes.
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