Orion Grassroots Network

Resources Blog: Strategic Planning

Best of Board Cafe

posted Aug 31, 2009

Best of the Board Cafe, 2nd Edition is now on sale. First published in 2005, this collection of CompassPoint online newsletter articles became instantly popular with busy board members of nonprofits. Now updated with new essays that are “short enough to read over a cup of coffee,” readers will find essential insights on board responsibilities, executive directors, fundraising, finance, and more.

Read one of the chapters, "What to Do with Board Members Who Don't Do Anything," here.

Order a copy here.

What is Strategic Planning?

posted Jul 1, 2009

Attached is Jude Kaye's backgrounder on strategic planning to help you get started. Also listen in to our conversation with her during a conference call (November 27, 2007) on the topic, here. Jude is the co-author of the nationally acclaimed book, Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations and a certified coach. Before starting her own company, Intention to Action, Jude was -- for 25 years -- the senior consultant with CompassPoint Nonprofit Services. For more information, contact her at judekaye (@) sbcglobal.net, or 415-505-4321.

What is Strategic Planning? file here: strategicplanningintroduction--Orion.doc

An efficiency audit for your organization

posted Jun 2, 2009

Halfway through the 2009 economic crisis, you probably realize that you're going to make it to 2010 thanks to the adjustments you've made to this year's budgets. But next year is going to be another story, one that will require new plans to keep your organization sustainable. In short, it’s time to give your organization an efficiency audit—an in-depth self-examination covering everything from labor costs to liquidity to back-end operations. Consider what Dick Rossman, president of RMR Consulting, suggests:

"What areas are reviewed during the audit process? Everything.

• Programs and their sustainability. Are they all within your mission, really?
• Work environment and infrastructure sustainability. Is your office space used in the most efficient ways
• Your financial opportunities. How can you reduce your labor costs while preserving openness and minimizing stress with your staff?
• Revenue opportunities. Is now the time to spend your reserves? Can donor or grant receivables that can be collected sooner?
• Collaborating and the ‘M’ word. Are there any efficiencies that can be achieved by sharing programs or staff with another organization?
• The role of the board and other volunteers. How could your board members be used most effectively at this time?
• Positioning for recovery. Can you think of this time as an opportunity to strengthen your organization, so you can be operating more efficiently and effectively when times improve?"

Full article here.

UPDATE: Dick will be doing a conference call on Efficiency Audits for the Network on July 8, 2009. Look here for audio filed under that date.

Joint Ventures to Try Before Merging

posted Mar 2, 2009

A followup to the post about mergers and the OGN conference call on it, from Massnonprofit: Joint Ventures to Try Before You Even Mention Merging. The first four of the author's recommendations:

Hold joint fundraisers

Join trade associations

Hold visioning roundtables funded by your community foundation

Consolidate “back offices”

Full text at the link above.

Collaborate, consolidate, or merge?

posted Nov 24, 2008

Is your organization struggling to survive? Strategic restructuring is something to consider when all avenues seem to lead to a dead end. It's a structural change that some nonprofits undertake which includes mergers, joint ventures, administrative consolidations, and joint programming — through which nonprofits attempt to anticipate or respond to threats and opportunities. Several member organizations of the Orion Grassroots Network have merged in the past year to good effect.

We had a conference call in late January '09 to discuss this, with Jo DeBolt, a Senior Associate with La Piana Associates, a consulting firm that has great expertise on the topic. Besides listening to the call audio at the link above, you might also look at the helpful strategic restructuring resources posted on their site to learn more.

Picking a consultant

posted Oct 27, 2008

Choosing a consultant to help you with strategic planning, fundraising, and the like often boils down to personal recommendations - someone recommended by a friend or allied organization. But if you're not finding options you like in your immediate area, you can cast your net much wider by visiting Idealist's consultant directory. Over 1,200 to choose from, by category and location, here.

idealist.org’s Nonprofit FAQ

posted Jul 30, 2008

The Nonprofit FAQ lists questions and answers about nonprofit organization, regulation, development, management, and resources. More expansive than one might think. Click here to check it out.

National Council of Nonprofit Associations

posted Jul 30, 2008

National Council of Nonprofit Associations provides a variety of programs and services to assist the leadership and partnership of non profit organizations. With the help of NCNA, organizations should be able to further discuss public policy and positively influence local and national communities. "National voice, state focus, and local impact" is their tagline and it sounds good to me! They offer technical assistance, e-newsletters, policy updates, research analysis, networking events, and case stories on relevant information to their members.

The Nonprofit Good Practice Guide

posted Jul 22, 2008

The Nonprofit Good Practice Guide is specifically designed to inform and update nonprofit employees about a range of issues relating to nonprofit management. http://www.npgoodpractice.org

Free Management Library

posted Jul 21, 2008

This site serves as a guide book, a therapist, and a know-it-all. It has the answers to questions pertaining a variety of issues. From suggesting icebreakers to reporting information about getting tax-exempt status, this site is worth a click. http://www.managementhelp.org

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