Strategic planning helps nonprofits clarify their mission, set priorities, and align people and resources to maximize impact and sustainability.
And yet, research from the Bridgespan Group shows that only about half of nonprofits have a strategic plan in place, leaving many organizations without a crucial roadmap for success.
This LibGuide provides curated resources, research, and practical tools to support your organization throughout the strategic planning process.
The Council of Nonprofits describes strategic planning as a living roadmap that helps nonprofits stay mission-driven, adaptable, and effective. By engaging stakeholders and assessing internal and external factors, strategic planning ensures organizations can set clear priorities, allocate resources wisely, and demonstrate impact.
The board plays a key role in setting organizational direction through strategic planning, working with staff to develop, approve, and support a roadmap that guides progress and accountability. The following resources from BoardSource are designed to help boards improve their performance in the area of strategic planning (additional resources are on the BoardSource website). According to Leading with Intent, strategic planning remains among the top areas in need of board improvement.
