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.

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.

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.

Offers a variety of tools and resources to prepare a strategic plan.

Contains downloadable templates, worksheets, and sample documents for planning, budgets, fund development, communications, and board training.

This article focuses on strategic planning advice for nonprofits and foundations.