What is Strategic Planning? A Guide for Nonprofits

If you're a nonprofit leader, you know how important it is to have a clear plan for achieving your goals. But what exactly is strategic planning, and how can it help your organization succeed?

At its core, strategic planning is the process of setting long-term goals and determining the steps needed to achieve them. This may involve analyzing your organization's current situation, setting priorities, and allocating resources.

It's not uncommon for strategic planning to get a bad rap, with images of long, tedious meetings in conference rooms coming to mind. But when done well, strategic planning can be a fun, creative, and unifying experience. It's an opportunity for your team to come together and shape the direction of your organization, resulting in a plan that outlines clear steps for turning your ideas into action.

At Golden Hour Consulting, we recommend creating three-year plans. This allows for the setting and achieving of ambitious goals, while still being responsive to the ever-changing needs of your organization and stakeholders.

I understand that it can be difficult to think about planning for the future when the world is constantly changing. If this resonates with you, let's work together to develop a set of questions that can help you decide whether a project aligns with your goals and mission, vision, and values.

If you'd like to learn more about strategic planning and how it can benefit your nonprofit, don't hesitate to reach out. We’d be happy to guide your team through the process.

With gratitude,