Out and About

I emphasize the critical role of strategic planning in achieving organizational goals and advocate for setting clear, actionable objectives and involving the entire team in the planning process to ensure alignment and commitment. The piece also highlights the importance of flexibility, suggesting that plans should be adaptable to changing circumstances to prevent them from becoming sources of stress. Regular reviews and updates are recommended to keep the strategy relevant and effective.

Additionally, the article underscores the need for efficient communication and collaboration during strategic planning. By fostering an environment where team members can contribute ideas and feedback, organizations can create more robust and comprehensive plans. The article concludes that when executed thoughtfully, strategic planning serves as a powerful tool to guide teams toward success, rather than a burdensome task.

I share strategies to ensure your library’s strategic plan is a dynamic, actionable tool that drives real impact. We’ll explore practices for achieving your goals, utilizing the plan to support fundraising activities, and attracting talented staff and trustees. You’ll also learn how to use the strategic plan as a framework to manage and focus your trustees and guide succession planning.

This podcast episode from Nonprofit SnapCast features a discussion on the critical steps nonprofits should take to move from the strategic planning phase to effective execution. It covers common barriers organizations face during this transition and offers practical advice on maintaining momentum, ensuring stakeholder engagement, and measuring progress to achieve strategic goals.

Jami and I talk about implementation planning. We discuss discusses how Causey helps mission-driven organizations keep strategic plans active rather than letting them sit unused. He highlights common implementation mistakes, such as lack of team engagement, overcomplicated plans, and failure to track progress. Ricky emphasizes the importance of champions within an organization, regular review and measurement, and celebrating success to maintain momentum. He also shares how organizations can engage their teams more effectively and invites viewers to connect with him for a Causey demo or further discussion.

I explore how strategic planning can transform communities by helping them align efforts toward clear goals and maximize impact. I emphasize the power of transparent strategy-sharing and collaboration, introducing “co-strategic planning” as a way for stakeholders to co-create and implement initiatives that tackle systemic challenges together.

I highlight real-world examples like the New Leaf Justice Enterprise, which addresses generational poverty, and the Athens County Foundation’s Project Co-Create, which fosters collaborative planning. Ultimately, I encourage communities to embrace strategic thinking, openness, and teamwork to drive meaningful change.

I introduce the CAPE Cycle, a four-step strategic planning approach comprising Champion, Assess, Plan, and Execute. The article outlines how nonprofits can implement this cycle to develop and execute effective strategies, emphasizing the importance of leadership and continuous evaluation.

This article delves into various forms of nonprofit partnerships, including strategic collaborations, corporate-nonprofit synergies, and government-nonprofit alliances. It provides insights into how these collaborations can enhance resource utilization and amplify impact within communities.

This session, presented by Ricky Chilcott at the OSAP Annual Conference, addresses common obstacles nonprofits encounter in strategic planning. It offers practical solutions to enhance plan creation and execution, focusing on leadership engagement, simplifying planning processes, and viewing planning as an ongoing cycle.

Rachel Luther interviews me, co-founder of Mission Met to discuss the challenges nonprofits face in strategic planning and how Mission Met’s services and software solutions assist organizations in overcoming these hurdles to achieve their missions effectively.

This article explores how Eric Ryan and Ricky Chilcott, co-founders of Mission Met, developed the Mission Met Center software to provide nonprofits with a practical tool for strategic planning. It discusses the features of the software, such as goal setting, progress tracking, and team collaboration functionalities, designed to simplify the strategic planning process for nonprofit organizations.

This article discusses how Mission Met assists nonprofit organizations in overcoming challenges such as lack of infrastructure, strategic planning, and leadership development. It highlights Mission Met’s offerings, including consultation services and the Mission Met Center software, which aids nonprofits in building, tracking, and executing their strategic plans. The piece emphasizes Mission Met’s focus on helping small to mid-sized nonprofits achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.

In this conversation on the Nonprofit SnapCast, Eric Ryan and Ricky Chilcott discuss the importance of aligning strategic planning with an organization’s mission to achieve long-term success. It emphasizes that a well-crafted strategic plan serves as a roadmap, guiding nonprofits toward fulfilling their mission by setting clear goals, objectives, and actionable steps. The article highlights the necessity of involving stakeholders in the planning process to ensure diverse perspectives and buy-in, which can lead to more effective implementation and outcomes.

We underscore the need for flexibility within strategic plans, allowing organizations to adapt to changing circumstances and remain responsive to external factors. Regularly reviewing and updating the strategic plan is recommended to keep it relevant and aligned with the organization’s evolving mission and environment. The piece concludes by stressing that strategic planning is not a one-time event but an ongoing process integral to a nonprofit’s ability to meet its mission and achieve sustainable impact.