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A FREE Nonprofit Webinar: Getting your Organization on the Strategic Path to Success!

What is your organization going to accomplish this year?
How will your organization grow?
What are the steps needed to propel your agency to another level?
Is everyone in your organization on the same page?

The answers to these questions and more can be found in a strategic plan!

Strategic planning is the framework that determines where an organization is going over the next year or more; how it’s going to get there; and how it will know if it got there or not. It increases effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and accountability.

We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and take a look at the steps to developing a clear strategic plan that will lead your organization on the path to success.

Topics of Interest: 
•Why Strategic Planning? 
•Contents of a Killer Strategic Plan 
•Strategic Planning Approaches 
•Keeping the Organization on the Right Track

Join us for a FREE nonprofit webinar August 19, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST) & Push yourself and your team to focus on the future and the commitment that it will take to better serve the community and make your organization a success!

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What is your organization going to accomplish this year?
How will your organization grow?
What are the steps needed to propel your agency to another level?
Is everyone in your organization on the same page?

The answers to these questions and more can be found in a strategic plan!

Strategic planning is the framework that determines where an organization is going over the next year or more; how it’s going to get there; and how it will know if it got there or not. It increases effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and accountability.

We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and take a look at the steps to developing a clear strategic plan that will lead your organization on the path to success.

Topics of Interest:

• Why Strategic Planning?
• Contents of a Killer Strategic Plan
• Strategic Planning Approaches
• Keeping the Organization on the Right Track

Push yourself and your team to focus on the future and the commitment that it will take to better serve the community and make your organization a success!

RSVP Today at:  http://bit.ly/cuMf9w

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Although the United States Economy has been going through an economic crisis and many nonprofit organizations had projected decreased donations, research has shown that there is actually good news for the nonprofit organizations. According to research, last year’s nonprofit organizations were not down as much as they had originally projected and they are projecting increased donations into the future.

The research indicates that fundraising in 2008 trended higher than in 2000. The majority of organizations across the board predict a recovery time of two years or less. For many groups, the economic downturn is an opportunity to focus on strategic priorities, reconnect with their mission, build relationships, collaborate with new partners, and get creative. Many have seen an increase in the use of their services and/or plan to expand programs/services in 2009.

Organizations that are doing well are not necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the ones that had the best fundraising year in 2008.

Trends of these organizations include:

• Diversified revenue streams and a variety of ways to give
• Engaged leadership (executive, development/fundraising, and board) that is prepared to address the changes in the coming year
• More effort expended into donor outreach and cultivating relationships
• Investment in development staff, resources, and/or activities
• Proactive planning. They are looking to do more, not less

Many organizations that saw a decline in fundraising attributed it to the economy in some fashion; few were contributing organizational factors. A significant number of groups started the year with only short-term solutions planned, such as cost containment, reducing staff/programs, or dipping into reserves or credit lines as a first-line strategy. For those that predict a longer recovery time, there are two common elements: organizational issues, including leadership problems; and insufficient effort/focus/staff for development and fundraising.

Organizations that are not doing very well are not necessarily the ones with the smallest budgets or number of staff. “Worst” fundraising year in 2008, or the longest predicted economic recovery time.

Trends of these organizations include:

• Leadership, board, or organizational problems (lack of engagement, turnover, communication, unity of vision)
• Lack of planning or proactive strategies to address changes in the future; strategies are often reactive and focused on cost containment
• Lack of donor stewardship
• Reliance on fundraising sources not particularly fruitful in the past
• Lack of effort/staff in development/fundraising

2009 Plans:

• Organizational missions will not change (75%) or will expand (17%)
• Programs and services are set to either increase (38%) or not change (36%); only a small number will decrease them (13%)
• Communication with donors will increase (81%) or not change (15%)
• Many respondents (71%) expect to partner or collaborate with other agencies
• Morale is reported to be good. So far, current circumstances have either had no effect (37%) or increased unity (33%);
• While most respondents (70%) are not worried about losing their job in the next year, it is a concern for the remainder

The good news is that while the economy has not recovered completely, it is recovering faster than originally projected. The nonprofit sector has fared better than expected and the downturn actually strengthened many organizations.  The projections for the future include a positive trend.

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Dictionary.com defines Success as the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors. To become successful in life, one must have a plan of action. In order for a nonprofit to be successful, the organization must also have a plan. Most commonly, nonprofits refer to what is called Strategic Planning.

A Strategic Plan is a management tool that is used to guide a nonprofit organization to its goal. An effective strategic plan will include specific goals and format a plan including; the steps, actions, resources, and funding you will need to achieve those goals. Most of the time, the strategic plan’s focus will be on the organization as whole, rather than a specific product or service, as with a Business Plan.

Strategic Planning serves several purposes to operating a successful nonprofit. The strategic plan will place focus on the more important issues and goals of the organization, it will help ensure proper use of resources (time management, financial resources, individuals’ talents), will highlight the company’s strengths and weaknesses and show where improvement may be needed. A strategic plan will also give a sense of security and structure to show where the organization currently is and that there is a plan in place to get the organization where it needs to be. As times, needs, and some goals may change, so should your strategic plan in order to keep up-to-date with the latest and most accurate information pertaining to your organization’s mission and goal.

So when is it time to start preparing a strategic plan? There are several times when it is appropriate to construct a Strategic Plan or revise your initial/current plan. It is never too late to implement a plan for your nonprofit. Initially, strategic planning should be done when an organization is just getting started. As a new organization, you will need to outline your plan of action to success. Your plan should be revised every 2-4 years in order to keep it accurate.

While there are times when strategic planning is appropriate, there are also times strategic planning should be avoided, or perhaps postponed. While it is always beneficial to have a strategic plan in place, there are valid circumstances where the draft of a plan should be cancelled or postponed. Any kind of “trauma” within your nonprofit would be a legitimate reason to postpone this process. “Trauma” may include the loss of an executive or influential board member or worsening financial difficulties. You shouldn’t begin preparing a strategic plan if there is no chance or possibility of the plan being executed, or “put to work”.  If your key people are unwilling to commit time and effort to achieving your nonprofit’s goals, then a strategic plan would be pointless.

However, if you are like many, you have a strong Board of Directors, or team of people behind you and who are on board with your operations and are willing to provide the support and effort necessary to accomplish the goals outlined in your Strategic Plan.

Don’t get confused…Strategic Planning is NOT a plan devised to make future decisions. Strategic planning may anticipate future circumstances but the final decisions are to be made when and if the occasion actually arises. Your nonprofit organization should continuously remain “open-minded” to new situations, circumstances, and occurrences. Some of these new uprisings will benefit your organization. Change is not always a bad thing. Keep an open mind with the purpose of making the best possible decision to further benefit and grow your organization. Strategic planning is not a substitute for leadership.

Has your organization prepared a strategic plan for success? How has your nonprofit benefited?

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It’s a new year and new start for nonprofit entrepreneurs and leaders!  If you already have an established organization you probably have made the resolution to implement new strategies, to finally launch your nonprofit website or to engage in additional marketing initiatives to bring record-setting awareness of your mission! If you haven’t yet started your nonprofit organization, there is no better time than now to jump into the nonprofit startup process by getting yourself organized and a clear mission established.  Which ever category you fall into, there are a few important things to remember: The best fundraisers, events and donor campaigns will only be achieved through effectively PLANNING and PREPARING for all of your anticipated initiatives.

Nonprofit organizations and leaders across the U.S. share the same goal: to effectively spread their mission and build awareness for their worthy cause!  Those who achieve thier goal have most likely taken the critical steps in properly planning and preparing for their new initiatives or resolutions.  Those nonprofit organizations who have failed, ask themselves: “where did I go wrong?” or “it was a great event, why didn’t I get donations?” The problem here is that they skipped those critical planning and preparation steps that take care of every aspect of their initiative. 

While there are many things you should be thinking about, we have compiled a list of the Top 5 Things You Should Be Doing to start PLANNING  and PREPARING your nonprofit organization for success in 2010!

The Top 5 Things Your Nonprofit Should Be Doing!

1. Creating or Re-evaluating you Strategic Plan - A nonprofit strategic plan is the “game plan” for how the organization will reach its goals.  It is the framework that determines where an organization is going over the next year or more; how it’s going to get there; and how it will know if it got there or not!  Strategic planning steers an organization on the path to success.
2. Start Preparing for Nonprofit Tax Season -A 501(c)(3) organization’s annually mandated filing with the IRS is the form 990. All organizations are now required to file, regardless of revenue; however the version of the form will differ based upon the year’s receipts.  Now is the time to get a professional CPA or Bookkeeper to avoid errors in your filings, heavy fines, and a set-back to your goals.
3. Create a Quarterly/Monthly Marketing Plan – Many nonprofit organizations make the resolution to implement new “cost-effective” marketing strategies that will boost donations and build a wider awareness of their organization .  While this goal is more than possible, it can go extremely wrong and waste a lot of time and energy if a PLANNED nonprofit marketing strategy is not put in place.
4. Put 2009 in the Past - Make sure all the loose ends tied up from 2009, including: donor comittments, holiday event wrap-ups, reporting, financials and anything else that may insufficiently occupy time in the new year.
5. Always Make a Compelling Story- Nonprofit organizations must have a strong case for support, a compelling story about what the organization does.  They need to be able to tell that story in different ways to different audiences at all times and at all events. Donors must know where their dollars go and that they have positive impact.

I’m not saying that planning and preparation will eliviate every possible problem that may come in the way of your events, inititiatives and fundraisers.  It will tho, significantly add to the effectiveness of each new initiative or goal your nonprofit organization takes on this year.

Are you a nonprofit entrepreneur or leader who has experienced failure due to a lack of planning and prepartion?  If so, tell us your story and share a few tips for other nonprofit organizations!