What is strategic planning? Where can I learn more about it?
According to the TCC Group, strategic planning is:
"a tool for transforming and revitalizing corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations....A successful strategic planning process will examine and make informed projections about environmental realities to help an organization anticipate and respond to change by clarifying its mission and goals; targeting spending; and reshaping its programs, fundraising and other aspects of operations."
Carter MacNamara further states that strategic planning can use a variety of perspectives, models, and approaches. A strategic plan also can vary in duration (e.g., one, five, or ten years); depth, and length (i.e., number of pages). How it develops will depend on the organization's leadership, culture, size, complexity of its environment, the planners' expertise, among other factors.
See also our related Knowledge Base articles:
- Where can I learn more about disaster planning for my nonprofit?
- What's the difference between contingency and scenario planning? Where can I learn more about these topics?
- How much should my nonprofit have in its operating reserve?
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Staff-recommended websites
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Bridgespan: Knowledge/Articles/Going to Scale
With few exceptions, most nonprofits in the United States operate in a single neighborhood, town, or city. Instead of replicating proven programs, society pours time, funds, and imagination into new programs that may only reinvent the wheel.
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Free Management Library
Overview of Various Strategic Planning Models
There is no one perfect strategic planning model for each organization. Each organization ends up developing its own nature and model of strategic planning, often by selecting a model and modifying it as they go along in developing their own planning process.
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Nonprofit Works Inc.
Resources
Contains downloadable templates and sample documents for planning, budgets, fund development, communications, and board training.
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Free Management Library
Strategic Planning
Simply put, strategic planning determines where an organization is going over the next year or more, how it's going to get there and how it'll know if it got there or not.
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National Council of Nonprofits
Strategic Planning for Nonprofits
Offers a variety of tools and resources to prepare a strategic plan.
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Ten Keys to Successful Strategic Planning [PDF]
This article focuses on strategic planning advice for nonprofits and foundations.
Staff-recommended books
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Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide for Dynamic Times
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Creating Your Strategic Plan: A Workbook for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
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Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement
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The Manual of Strategic Planning for Cultural Organizations: A Guide for Museums, Performing Arts, Science Centers, Public Gardens, Heritage Sites, Libraries, Archives and Zoos
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