Successful Strategic Planning For Nonprofit And Foundation Leaders

Steps in Strategic Planning: It is clear that when creating a successful strategic plan, organizations need to implement steps in order for an organization to be successful. In an article written by Richard A. Mittenhal called “ Ten Keys to a Successful Strategic Planning for Nonprofit and Foundation Leaders.” Mittenhal discusses the different approach and steps required in strategic planning. The first step Mittenthal states is creating “a clear and comprehensive grasp of external opportunities and challenges” (Mittenthal, 2016). Mittenthal states that even with changes in a social, political, economic and technological change, organizations need to generate new expectations to meet the demands of the community and demographic changes

Another key thing to remember is that “whatever the goals and methods are, organization must find ways of remaining relevant, meet the needs of a changing client population and make the best use of funds in the organization” (Mittenhal, 2016). This type of step also includes creating a comprehensive plan of a survey of comparable organizations’ experiences by conducting research of interviews, creating a database and review of literature such as journal articles, and position paper by doing this, this allow the organization to have a successful strategic plan for their not for profit organization. The eighth step is a “clear priorities and an implementation plan.” Even though missions and visions are essential to an organization growth, creating a workable strategic plan essentially demonstrates dissecting the organizations’ objectives and strategies and determining which takes priority (Mittenhal, 2016). Even though creating a first step is essential, creating priorities on what will be important for an organization is very important for a not- for –profit sector to succeed. The ninth step is patience, especially when many not for profit sector organizations are small or mid-size, strategic

Many strategists use the “the big five” which is creating a mission that addresses why the organization exist and the reason for being an organization (Van Buren, n.d.). The second is a vision. The vision addresses how the organizations will be changed and ways of making the organization better (Van Buren, n.d.). The third part is values and beliefs, which discusses the core principles that will guide the organization in the present and into the future (Van Buren, n.d.) The fourth key component is goals which is creating an outcome statement of the organization and what the organization is trying to accomplish. The last big five is strategy. The strategy is a component that discusses on how the organization is meeting the goals and what the organizations will be doing to meet those goals. These ten steps of strategic planning in not-for-profit sector and “the big five” plays a significant role in ensuring that not for profit sectors plays a significant role in ensuring the organizations are successful. Without strategic planning organizations will not be able to succeed and it is clear that strategic planning does not have a controversial topic as the steps provide is a blueprint on how the organization should continue to succeed, however with recent technology many strategists need to implement ways of