Strategic planning is a conversation.

More specifically, strategic planning is a focused conversation about program impact, competitors and collaborators, and resources.  Yes, there is a technical side to strategic planning, such as identifying outcome measures and crafting a fundraising strategy.  But before those technical aspects of the plan can be developed, the organization first must engage in deep discussion and build consensus around the core beliefs and assumptions underlying the work of the organization.

The strategic planning model created by Impact Strategies facilitates these discussions and is built upon the following principles:

• Planning is emergent, in that it builds on current organizational strengths and assets. 
   
• Planning is incremental, in that it recognizes that organizational life is usually a matter of “muddling through” rather than radical transformation.

• Planning is integrated, in that it emphasizes the alignment of all organizational activities, internal and external, with the strategic priorities of the organization.

• Planning is action-oriented, in that it leads to the development of operational plans.

The planning process will result in a strategic framework that includes:           1) specific position statements that define the desired future for the organization; 2) a set of strategic priotities that support the position statements, and; 3) steps needed to allocate and align organizational resource in support of those priorities.