[NPFX Ep. 60] Strategic Planning: Why Some Plans Succeed and Others Fail (with Barbara Wood, Laura Rosi, and Nate Rhoton)
Welcome to The Nonprofit Fundraising Exchange, a podcast from IPM Advancement. Our mission is to empower nonprofits to succeed so they can make the world a better place.
Today’s topic: Strategic Planning — Why Some Plans Succeed and Others Fail (with Barbara Wood, Laura Rosi, and Nate Rhoton)
Strategic planning done poorly can be time-consuming and yield little practical benefit. Strategic planning done well provides clear direction, aligns resources with mission-critical goals, and enhances organizational effectiveness. In today’s episode, we'll explore why investing in a well-crafted strategic plan is worth your time and how it can propel your nonprofit towards greater impact and success.
Time-Stamped Episode Shortcuts
- Topic and guest introductions [0:50]
- Examples of good and bad strategic planning experiences [3:51]
- The importance of involving leadership and department heads [12:58]
- Beyond accountability — using strategic planning to recognize excellence [15:48]
- Making your plan agile and adaptable [17:27]
- How to define metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress [21:44]
- What to look for in a strategic planning facilitator/consultant [33:41]
- How do you know if it's the WRONG time to do strategic planning? [39:01]
- Using your strategic plan as a tool for board recruitment and alignment [41:08]
- What it might mean if you're resisting strategic planning [45:12]
Special Offer: Free 30-minute consultation for NPFX listeners
Additional Resources
Subscribe to NPFX
Guests
Barbara Wood, Vice President of Development and Communications/PR at Beatitudes Campus Foundation, has served more than 25 years in fund development management and development communications. She joined the Beatitudes Campus in 2012 and feels called to serve older adults and the residents who call the campus home. She is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic plans to advance and raise funds for the campus’ strategic initiatives. She oversees and manages fundraising efforts, builds strong and successful relationships and maintains communications with donors. Previously she served at Arizona State University Foundation and A.T. Still University managing presidential and development communications and fundraising. Barbara also served as managing editor of a major Arizona business magazine and was marketing manager and financial writer for the world headquarters of a financial services institution. Barbara has won numerous national and professional awards for writing and communications excellence and has published more than 50 articles.
Laura Rosi, Esq. is the Chief Executive Officer at Housing Families. She is known for collaborating with government and community stakeholders to foster solutions to complex problems. Laura has worked on affordable housing and homelessness issues for more than fifteen years at Housing Families. Using this expertise, she has successfully expanded the reach of housing and mental health services for unhoused individuals and families in Malden, Medford, Everett, Chelsea, Revere, and beyond. Her passions include creating community connections, and building bridges amongst medical and healthcare providers through events like Housing Families’ Annual Legislative Breakfast. Laura is a graduate of American University of Rome and received her law degree from Suffolk University Law School. She is a board member of Metro North Housing Corporation and is a member of Urban Land Institute’s Policy Committee, and Committee on Housing and Economic Development.
Hosts
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.