By: Shuchi Kalra- June 21, 2022
“Those who fail to plan, plan to fail!”. There are numerous quotes and case studies that focus on the importance of planning for an individual and more so for an organization. It becomes even more crucial when the organization is tied to the future and the betterment of people and the world in general. The strategic plans are ones that best enable a non profit to advance its mission and vision.
Be it an annual plan for the organization or an emergency plan that needs to be devised, what are the things that one must follow when planning? Here are some key inputs by Angelica Gonzalez, the Operations Director at PVBLIC Foundation on the strategic planning for NGOs.
The importance of Strategic Planning for NGOs
Planning is a fundamental aspect of any organization whether it is a profit or non-profit organization. A strategic planning exercise allows every organization to:
Have clarity of who they are as an organization and what are the long and short term goals
Know which programs/projects/activities belong to the organization and which do not
Have consistency in the value proposition and thus, positioning the organization
Have clarity on how to make the organization financially sustainable
Be clear about the role of each person in the organization
Foremost, strategic planning allows organizations to be aligned and grow.
Recommendations for creating a clear and effective strategy for NGOs
A strategy must integrate the mission, vision, objectives, lines of action, and the initiatives that the entire organization must carry out. To be effectively implemented it must be actionable; contemplating a thorough timeline, achievable milestones, responsible as well as an outlined self-reflection assessment process.
Useful tools for Strategic Planning
Strategic planning sessions are one of the most useful tools. However, to make the most of it, it’s crucial to have an action plan, prepare each session in advance and integrate the views of all team members (including the board of directors). The sessions must finalize with a straightforward strategy that paves the way for the organization. A strategy that sets the goals the organization wants to achieve, integrating some flexibility to adjust quickly to the constantly changing environment. A strategic plan acts as a blueprint for the organization and helps increase the likelihood of achieving goals and objectives and the above mentioned points set an excellent template for one to plan no matter the goals of your organization.
When working with partners in the public, private and non-profit sectors to better achieve their sustainability objectives, strategic planning is always at the forefront. If you want to know more about our work and create public-private partnerships, do not hesitate to contact us at: press@pvblic.org
