First Steps to Planning Anything at a Nonprofit

Strategic planning and the importance of internal assessments in nonprofit organizational strategy. You’ll learn how a balanced approach to assessing both community needs, and internal capabilities can lead to more effective and actionable strategies, with Miriam Dicks, CEO of 180 Management Group, as she discusses key aspects of strategic planning, emphasizing the need for introspection in organizational nonprofit management to better assure your nonprofit’s resources align with your strategic goals.

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Miriam begins by pointing out the critical role of internal assessments in strategic planning. Her approach advocates for a dual focus—not only on the external community needs but significantly on internal capabilities. "We need to know what's in our house because at the end of the day, you can develop a strategy that you can't even pull off because you don't have the resources," Miriam remarks, amplifying on the value of a comprehensive understanding of an organization's current assets and needs before setting strategic goals. 

Continuing, Miriam discusses the value of embedding these assessments into the very fabric of an organization's operational strategies. She points out that many strategic plans fail because they overlook the internal component of strategy formulation. "It's usually external... We're wanting to know what everyone else needs, but we're not looking at ourselves," she notes. This insight calls for a balanced assessment that ensures an organization's strategy is both relevant to community needs and grounded in realistic internal capabilities. 

A significant part of the discussion, cohosted by Wendy Adams and Julia Patrick,  revolves around the practical steps of implementing such strategic insights. Miriam pushes for starting with small, manageable assessments, like employee engagement surveys, to gradually build a comprehensive strategy that is attuned to the real dynamics within an organization, which not only aligns with the nonprofit’s organizational goals but also enhances employee satisfaction and effectiveness. 

You’ll enjoy this fun and learned conversation on the often-overlooked internal aspects of strategy development, as it makes a compelling case for a more introspective approach to organizational management and planning.

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