Project · Strategic Planning

Strategic plan for nonprofits

Part of our strategic planning support. Work on it with a coach, practitioner or cohort — and keep the result.

Start this project Ask your funder to sponsor it

No credit card required · you own & control your data

You’ll walk away with

Mission, vision and values refresh
3-year strategic plan
One-page summary
Implementation roadmap with owners

Typical length: 3–6 months
Who’s involved: executive director (ED), board chair and a small planning group of board and staff; about 2–4 hours a week for the ED, less for others

A strategic plan sets out what your nonprofit will focus on for the next three years, and what it will stop doing to make room. When it’s done, your board and staff work from the same short list of priorities, each with an owner and a way to track progress. When a funder asks where you’re headed, you have a clear answer.

Steps

How does a strategic plan project usually run?

01
Listen first
Gather views from staff, board, clients and partners through short surveys or conversations.
02
Take stock
Review finances, programs and outside trends so choices rest on facts, not memory.
03
Choose priorities
Hold two or three working sessions where board and staff agree on three to five goals.
04
Turn it into action
Write the plan, a one-page summary and a first-year roadmap with owners and dates.

Signs you need this

When does a nonprofit need a strategic plan project?

The most common sign a nonprofit needs a strategic plan project is “Your plan expired or lives in a binder.” — here are the others to look for.

Your plan expired or lives in a binder.
Board and staff disagree on priorities.
A funder asked for your plan.

Delivery

How does Resilia deliver a strategic plan project?

Practitioner-led: a practitioner facilitates the planning sessions with your board and staff, and a coach can support the first year of putting the plan to work.

Practitioner time is scoped with you. Coaching through the first year, often 4–6 sessions, is about $800–$3,000 — or free to you if your funder sponsors it.

Example

What does a finished strategic plan look like?

For example, a $900K community health nonprofit might finish with three goals for the next three years, a one-page summary for funders, and a first-year roadmap that names who leads each step. Its board would then review five indicators at each quarterly meeting.

Pitfalls

What are common mistakes to avoid?

Listing every program as a priority, which means nothing is a priority.
Writing the plan without a budget, so the goals have no money behind them.
Approving the plan and never bringing it back to board meetings.

Do you have a nonprofit strategic plan template?

A free strategic plan template is part of our upcoming templates and toolkits. In the meantime, a practitioner can work through the plan with your board and staff.

How long does a strategic plan project take?

Typically 3–6 months. ED, board chair and a small planning group of board and staff; about 2–4 hours a week for the ED, less for others.

How much does a strategic plan project cost?

Practitioner time is scoped with you. Coaching through the first year, often 4–6 sessions, is about $800–$3,000 — or free to you if your funder sponsors it.

Who does the work on a strategic plan project?

A practitioner leads planning sessions with your board and staff; AI drafts sections from your living record; a coach supports implementation.

Can we start a strategic plan project for free?

Yes. Start self-service for free in your workspace, then add a coach, practitioner or cohort when you’re ready — or ask your funder to sponsor it.

Can our funder pay for this?

Often, yes. Here’s how to ask.