Strategy Secrets: Is Your Nonprofit Missing the Big Picture?

Here are 3 critical questions that often get missed during strategy and planning conversations.

If your executive team and Board haven't tackled these already, add them to an upcoming agenda now.

1) How much is enough?

In the social impact world, it can be easy to say things like "the work never stops until the mission is complete." But that's both unrealistic and irresponsible, because it puts unnecessary, relentless pressure on the people who power our organizations.

Transformational impact takes thoughtful alignment of strategy and resources, but it also takes stamina and time. If you're pushing for maximum (or outlandish) goals every year, then you may be showing that you don't actually know what it takes - how much is enough - to move the needle. And that can lead to decreased investment, impact, and innovation.

2) Are we the right organization to do this work?

Too often, established nonprofits can fall into the trap of trying to be all things to all people/partners. This leads to organizations creating new programs that don't align with their strengths, disappointed funders who move on after a couple of years, and reduced trust within the communities we serve.

Knowing your role in the ecosystem/community/issue area and remaining focused on work that you are best equipped to do is one of the secrets of great social impact strategy.

3) What is our true capacity?

If you're like most organizations in our sector, you likely don't have a full team right now. And you can't bet on having one at all this year - even if you've written those new positions into the budget.

People are leaving the sector for good - either for other sectors or through retirement - and a recent survey by Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE and Evan Wildstein shows that 75% of staff at nonprofits are looking for new jobs this year.

The time to get real about your true capacity is now, before you burn out the staff you currently have, or before you overpromise and underdeliver.

What other questions do you think nonprofit leadership teams may be missing in their strategy and planning conversations? Join the conversation on LinkedIn