Creating and following strategic plans keep your organization on target. Well developed plans enable you to do a better job using your resources, following your mission, and providing high-quality services to those who benefit from your organization’s efforts. JFFixler & Associates will custom design a full-day strategic planning retreat that will:
- clarify your organization’s mission, vision, and values
- identify critical issues
- create achievable goals
- develop measurable objectives
- identify key tasks
- assess staffing and financial impact of your strategic plan
- design an evaluation plan for monitoring your strategic plan
- develop a plan for gaining organizational buy-in
In addition to facilitating the retreat, we will provide coaching throughout the creation and implementation of your strategic plan.
The following case study provides an idea of our approach to strategic planning.
Case Study:
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
of Natrona County, Wyoming
The Challenge
Founded in 2,000, CASA of Natrona County speaks for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the juvenile court system in Casper Wyoming. By 2005, the organization was ready to take on its first strategic plan. CASA had previously engaged two different consultants to assist them with planning, but had experienced two aborted efforts.
CASA anticipated adding additional staff and additional advocate volunteers in 2005. There was concern about the impact of this growth on organizational priorities, their ability to raise the funds needed to accomplish this growth, changes in roles and responsibilities of board and staff, and impact on the clients served.
With assistance from a local foundation, CASA was once again looking for a way to succeed at organizational development, fund development, board development, and strategic planning.
The Solution
JFFixler & Associates provided comprehensive consultation, facilitation, assessment, and coaching services to help them understand their internal and external environment and develop critical issues and strategies to develop their strategic plan. The following components were included in the project:
- Organizational and board assessment.
- Review of all organizational collateral materials including bylaws, policies, website, marketing materials and financial statements.
- Facilitation of a stakeholders' retreat to gain their perspective on how the community viewed the organization.
- Facilitation of a two-day strategic planning board retreat.
- Providing a strategic planning template.
- Coaching members of the strategic planning task force on plan development.
- Coaching the board president, incoming president, and the Executive Director on strategic plan implementation.
The Results
The board and staff endorsed the strategic plan and committed to significant organizational change. Highlights of their strategic plan included:
- A significant overhaul of the organization's mission statement.
- Creation of a vision statement and organizational values.
- A plan to triple the case load by 2009 and add more staff as needed.
- A commitment to extensive board development, including board training, development of a committee structure for board work, expanded and targeted board recruitment, and a pledge to be vigilant in organizational evaluation and board assessment.
- Development of a comprehensive fundraising plan.
- Board commitment to staff development and volunteer retention.
- A smooth transition of board leadership.