Boards who perform well, use strategic planning to bring into focus their course of actions and priorities over time.  Strategic planning helps to prioritize actions to be taken now in preparation for where you plan to be in the future — usually two or three years from now.

A nonprofit strategic plan creates a summary of the organization’s objectives and the methods of achieving those goals. The process of strategic planning can involve an evaluation of the current state of your programs and services, feature research or survey data, or people with specific expertise, can redefine procedures, and should articulate actions and schedules. Assessments include of how well are you doing in delivering on your mission? Defining what problems or issues are your organization is facing? Assessing what is changing in the profession, the marketplace/economy, or your competition? What new things do you need to do to achieve your vision? What resources will you need to support those actions?

Your strategic plan can be developed by a small sub-group of the board but should eventually be discussed and agreed on by the entire board and can take any number of forms, depending on the best approach to focus your work.  Examples of approach include goals-based strategic planning, issues-based strategic planning, organic (to define vision and mission) strategic planning or can be used for scenario planning.  Your organization’s Vision and Mission can drive the process, and can include tools like a SWOT analysis, receiving important input from key stakeholders, assessing, and determining key fundraising and/or marketing strategies, establishing SMART Objectives, and/or establishing tactics and metrics to assess achievements.  It is highly recommended that strategic planning be facilitated by an outside facilitator.

• Strategic Planning Agenda Sample
• Strategic Planning Report Sample
• Action Plan 1 Sample
• Action Plan 2 Sample

Vision Statement

An essential part of that planning process is developing a Vision Statement. The Vision statement describes the future state of the world regarding the organization’s target community – those who benefit from the activities of the organization.  It should ideally describe the result of the organization’s doing a perfect job as described in their mission statement. The vision is future-oriented (from a few years to an indefinite time), utopian and inspires enthusiasm and commitment.  It could be used to develop a “tagline” or a slogan for a tee-shirt.

Sample Vision Statements

“No child in our city will go to bed hungry.” (Soup kitchen)

“In two decades our services will no longer be needed.” (Illiteracy program)

“. . . I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Noise induced hearing loss will no longer exist. (Hearing Conservation Professional Association)

“The Library is an essential cultural and educational service so vital that all residents of the community use its resources to realize their hopes and to enrich their lives.”

Acupuncturists are valued leaders and partners in the American healthcare system, and patients have equitable access to our care. (National ASA)