Steps in Planning

1 Develop the process (Chair, Executive Director, Consultant)

ª Hire a consultant

ª Appoint a Planning Committee, or assign the planning task to an existing committee

ª Establish a timeline for planning

ª Set the date for a full Board retreat

ª Determine the scope (time and subject matter) of the plan

2 Inform the key players (Chair)

3 Do a pre-planning assessment (Consultant)

ª External environment: political climate; changes in federal, state, local laws and policy; economic trends; status of competitors; technological issues; other hot issues

ª Internal environment: the status of the organizations' programs, finances, governance, administration

ª Written report to Board

4 Conduct a full-day Board retreat (Consultant, Chair, Executive Director)

ª Discussion of the organizational assessment

ª Identify the critical issues facing the organization and the strategic directions the organization will take in response to those issues

ª Develop/refine the mission statement

ª Identify the broad organizational goals to guide the organization for the next three to five years

5 Develop objectives for each goal, i.e., quantifiable accomplishments that establish progress on the goal (Staff, consultant, Planning Committee)

6 Develop implementation plans for each objective (Staff, Chair, committee chairs, consultant)

7 Develop staffing plan (Executive Director)

8 Develop three-to-five year financial projections (Executive Director, consultant, Treasurer)

9 Create first draft of plan for review by Planning Committee (Executive Director)

10. Plan review by relevant Board committees (staff, committee chairs)

11. Second draft of plan (Executive Director)

12. Plan to Board for approval (Chair)