Nathan Garber & Associates
Governance & Planning Support for the Not-for-Profit Sector

Get Ready For Strategic Planning: A Help Sheet

by Nathan Garber

 In a rapidly changing world, it is important to have clear goals for our organizations and to regularly review our progress. The steps in strategic planning provide a framework for the board to clarify organizational goals and evaluate different strategies for achieving those goals. It helps us to make sure that our budget, our services, and our personnel are focused on our mission and in conformance with our values.  This Help-Sheet lists the major steps in strategic planning, focusing on the role of the Board of Directors. Regardless of what planning model you use, the steps are similar. 

1.       Board of Directors decides to engage in strategic planning to enable organization:

• to adapt to uncertain environment;

•  to respond to changing community needs;

•  to establish clear, measurable program outcomes;

•  to set priorities for board and staff activities;

•  to ensure services and organizational practices align with vision and values.

 2.       Board of Directors selects a group of  3-5 people to form a Strategic Planning Committee. The role of the committee is:

•  to set a realistic time-frame for the planning process;

• to select the people to be involved;

• to engage and advise a consultant or facilitator.

 3.       Strategic Planning Committee finds and recommends consultant.

• Board of Directors engages consultant.

4.       Consultant and Strategic Planning Committee agree on strategic planning process.

• Planning horizon (How far ahead can you plan?);

• Completion date;

• Who should be involved? What stakeholders should participate? What are the roles of the board and staff in the planning process?

•  What and how information will be collected. (interviews, focus groups, questionnaires);

•  Dates for board planning sessions.

5.       Consultant and/or Strategic Planning Committee and/or staff gather information.

• interviews, focus groups, surveys, or other research.

6.       Consultant facilitates planning session(s) with Board, Executive Director and invited stakeholders (optional). Participants

• review your organizational mission, vision and values;

• identify key issues arising from your organization’s strengths and weaknesses;

• identify key issues arising from the environment in which you operate;

• select broad strategies to manage these issues;

• set goals and priorities for reasonable planning period (often 3-5 years).

• assign responsibilities;

• set criteria for measuring progress.

7.       Consultant (with Strategic Planning Committee) drafts plan and presents to Board

8.       Board of Directors reviews, revises, approves draft plan

9.       Staff develops annual operational/action plans.  Board and staff implement strategic plan.

10.   Board monitors progress, modifies programs and/or plan as required.

If you need help in strengthening your governance capacity, preparing for planning or developing a strategic plan that won’t sit on a shelf, contact Nathan Garber & Associates.

Nathan Garber & Associates
Training and Consulting for the Nonprofit Sector
1071 Richmond Street, London, Ontario, Canada  N6A 3K1
tel: (519) 439-3008  fax: (519) 439-3008
Nathan@GarberConsulting.com