A strategic plan is not an annual work-plan, although your work-plan should flow out of the strategic plan. Strategic plans have a longer time horizon, looking out into the future two, three, or even as many as five years to determine where you want to be and what you want to accomplish.

At the end of a successful strategic planning process, all those involved should be able to say: ?We know what we want to accomplish together and how we are going to get there, and we have a framework for making choices.? Along the way you are likely to make some tough decisions about what the organization should and should not be doing. You will also develop multi-year strategies?grounded in reality and responsive to your environment?that are supported by your organization?s resources and unique strengths.

Ultimately, your strategic plan should guide the development of your annual action planning process, including the development of work-plans that include specific and measurable objectives linked to your budget and resources.

A manageable process tailored to your unique needs.
We know your organization is unique, as are the people who care about it. Instead of presenting a ?one-size-fits-all? approach to planning, we spend time getting to know your organization, assessing your needs, and then tailoring a planning process to achieve your desired outcomes and meet your budget. Together we will develop a planning process that meets your timeline, stays reasonable in scope, and delivers effective strategies to guide your organization to future success.

Strategies for engaging stakeholders and creating buy-in.
In developing their planning processes, most organizations recognize the importance of getting buy-in and a shared sense of ownership from key stakeholders?clients, community members, partners, donors, volunteers, and staff. People like to be asked for their opinions, and your strategic planning process can be an ideal time to seek and get stakeholder input from those who can play an essential role in your plan?s success.

We are prepared to explore with you who it is you really need to hear from in your planning process and how best to engage them in a meaningful yet efficient manner.

Our stakeholder outreach often includes one-on-one in-person interviews, multiple discussion groups, staff and board retreats, on-line and paper surveys, and phone interviews. We?ve learned that there is tremendous value, and greater receptivity to sharing, when our consulting team conducts the stakeholder outreach on your behalf as the impartial gatherer of information. You?ll be looking for honest and direct feedback, and we can get that for you.

While short-term action plans can sometimes be created in isolation, plans that are truly strategic are always better when those who care, or should care, about your organization?s future are given a voice.

Strategic Planning