1. Welcome! • Intentions • Humbly share what we’ve learned from our experiences both in the MNM program and within our organizations • Engage in dialogue with and learn from each one of you

2. Introductions • Name & Background • Organization & Role • Mission of Org • History of Org • # of staff

3. Strategy + Plan = Impact Jamie Wienk - Special Events and Membership Director, Women’s Resource Center (Durango, CO) Ara Cruz – Co-Founder and Executive Director, Café Cultura (Denver, CO) JolynnCrownover – Development Director, Environmental Learning for Kids (Denver, CO) Regis University MNM students

4. How does strategic planning differ from strategic thinking?

5. Life Cycle “the challenge at each lifecycle is to achieve complete balance and alignment among a nonprofit’s programs, management, governance, resources, and systems” (Stevens, 2001, p. 52).

6. Components of an effective strategic plan (3 yrs or 5 yrs?) • Mission Statement • Vision Statement • Values • SWOT • Goals • Objectives • Activities • Implementation

8. Vision Statement: Desired future state • Internal: Where do we want to be? • External: What is the impact of our work?

9. What do we believe in?

12. Activities

13. Ten Keys to Successful Strategic Planning • Clear and comprehensive grasp of external opportunities and challenges • Realistic and systematic assessment of the organization’s strength and limitations • An inclusive approach • An empowered planning committee • Involvement of senior leadership From http://www.tccgrp.com/pdfs/index.php?pub=per_brief_tenkeys.pdf

14. Ten Keys to Successful Strategic Planning • Sharing of responsibility by board and staff members • Learning from best practices • Clear priorities and a plan for implementation • Patience • Commitment to change From http://www.tccgrp.com/pdfs/index.php?pub=per_brief_tenkeys.pdf

15. Consultant as facilitator? • Benefits: • Allows for participation from everyone in organization • “Objective” and able to view org from the outside • Can dedicate time to creating a guiding document • Factors: • Familiarity with the organization? • Understanding of structures that could influence its success? • Cultural “competency”? • Cost?

20. Implementation & Follow-up What good is a strategic plan if it collects dust on the shelf? • Translate Goals • Create a Blueprint • Mobilize the Team (roles & responsibilities) • Align Finances • Monitor Progress • Revisit and Repeat Adapted from http://www.bridgespan.org/Publications-and-Tools/Strategy-Development/Living-Into-Your-Strategic-Plan.aspx

21. References Stevens, S. (2001). Nonprofit lifecycles: Stage based wisdom for nonprofit capacity. Minneapolis, MN: StagewiseEnterprises, Inc. TCC Group. Ten keys to successful strategic planning for nonprofit and foundation leaders. Retrieved from http://www.tccgrp.com/pdfs/index.php?pub=per_brief_tenkeys.pdf The Bridgespan Group (2014). Living into your strategic plan: A guide to implementation that get results. Retrieved from http://www.bridgespan.org/Publications-and-Tools/Strategy-Development/Living-Into-Your-Strategic-Plan.aspx

22. Questions?

23. For discussion • Current lifecycle and experience with strategic thinking/planning • Successes with the process • Challenges