Strategic Planning in Nonprofits (SPIN) covers six planning elements: preparing, listening, envisioning, planning, executing, and evaluating. It anchors each unit in why it matters and provides helpful tools to help learners act on what they learn so that you can better achieve your mission. Download the SPIN Kit to follow along with these videos.
Introduction
1: Prepare
A key to successful Strategic Planning is “planning to plan”. To achieve a thoughtful plan that is truly strategic, you’ll need an effective process that is inclusive, transparent, and well-informed.
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2: Listen
When an organization’s leadership knows about the people you serve and other relevant data about your program and organization, your strategy improves, and you gain respect among your key audiences. You will be able to tell your story better, and your relationships and community impact will grow. Let’s start with a Nonprofit Health Check-up.
Resources:
- Nonprofit Snapshot
- Resources for Organizational Assessment and Financial Analysis
- Stakeholder Outreach Plan (sample)
- Stakeholder Outreach Plan (blank)
- Stakeholder Engagement Primer
- SWOT Analysis Blank Grid
3: Envision
When your organization invests time to develop or renew a powerful mission and vision, you will be able to answer the questions “Who are we?” and “Why do we exist?”, have a strong connection to your organization’s core purpose, and set the stage for a strong, well-grounded strategy.
Resources:
- Group Exercises to Liven Up Planning
- Mission and Vision Statements Definitions
- Mission and Vision Statements Assessment Tool
- Mission and Vision Statement Worksheet
4: Plan
It is important to clarify what specific areas of focus and strategies you will use to achieve your mission. Planning helps you to chart a course to turn your vision into reality; determine what actions best support your Mission and Vision; ensure that your plan is right-sized and achievable by analyzing resource and capacity issues; inspire others to take action to help your organization to succeed.
Resources:
- Implementation Plan Worksheet
- SMART Objectives Handout
- Sample strategic plan: Ballard Food Bank (used with permission)
- Sample strategic plan: Peace Community Center (used with permission)
5: Execute
We have all heard stories about plans that sit on the shelf and are never referred to again. You have just done a lot of work to set the strategic direction of your organization and get everyone on the same page. Be sure to continue to utilize the plan framework and hold yourselves accountable to reach your goals.
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6: Evaluate
Evaluation will help you learn whether your activities are producing the desired results or change you are seeking to accomplish, gain new insights into how you can improve your programs and increase your impact; demonstrate to funders and donors that your work is making a difference; and give you data that can serve as a foundation for your next strategic plan.
Resources:
- Sample Monitoring Plan
- Sample reporting dashboard: Peace Community Center (used with permission)
Additional Resources
- SPiN Flowchart (see below)
- Leadership Roles for Making Strategic Planning Work
- Strategic Planning Timeline
- Stakeholder Engagement Toolkit
- Compasspoint’s Dual Bottom-Line Matrix
- The SPiN Interactive Graphic
- Bibliography
- Three-part, on-demand online SPiN course (from March 2019)
