Strategic Planning

Governance and Board Development | Strategic Planning | Organizational Development

Creating a vision for the future, setting priorities and measuring progress 

• Needs assessment
• Process design
• Retreats and work group facilitation
• Plan drafting and editing
• Dashboards and performance measures
• Implementation support

Success Stories:

A national women’s foundations charts a course for the future.The Ms. Foundation for Women, faced with declining support from some of its traditional funders, sought to reposition itself as a dynamic national force for women’s equality and appeal to a broaderer base of supporters. Working with staff and the board of directors over a 12-month period, we facilitated a process that involved mission and vision review, roundtables with experts, interviews with grantees, partners and funders, and intensive departmental work planning.  The resulting plan led to greater programmatic focus and integration, a new advocacy and policy department and investment in a cutting edge social media platform to position the foundation with a new generation of donors, supporters and advocates.

•  An international relief organization sets its strategic vision for the next five years.  The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a major global relief and community building organization, retained us to lead a strategic visioning initiative for its work in Europe, the former Soviet Union and Israel — the  three regions where 90% of its activities occur. The organization sought to balance direct service for the needy with renewing and building communities for the future.   Through an 18-month study involving a high level board committee and senior staff, we explored the options through consultations with experts and visits to the regions.  The resulting plan has helped the organization set priorities and provide greater integration across the regions.  The initiative also resulted in a strong group of lay leaders with deep knowledge about issues the organization would face in the coming years.

• A nationally-renowned museum uses planning to create a culture focused on organizational priorities.  Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center (CAC),  sought to reinvigorate its board and meet the promise of its building, designed by world-renowned architect, Zaha Hadid. We worked with CAC first on board renewal and later on a strategic plan that involved an intensive process of both board and staff.  The board reaffirmed the organization’s mission and created five focus areas around broadening constituency, development and finance, the physical plant, community partnerships and diversity. One of the most important outcomes was a set of performance measures which helped both board and staff monitor progress. The process helped to revitalize a somewhat disengaged board and refocus its energies in a difficult fund-raising climate. The implementation and annual work plans which we developed with senior staff, provided a valuable management tool for the Executive Director in keeping the staff on track in meeting organizational priorities.

Governance and Board Development | Strategic Planning | Organizational Development