Strategic Planning
Used.
Not just created.
At SRL Solutions, we specialize in crafting strategic plans that are not only visionary but also grounded in the practical realities of the not-for-profit sector.
That’s because our founder, Sara Roach Lewis, spent most of her career working in the sector, sometimes irritated by the unrealistic expectations of strategic plans.
She knows how easy it is for strategic plans to collect digital dust bunnies and be ignored while Executive Directors and Managers are focused on the day-to-day challenges of ambitious goals and never enough resources.
What if your strategic plan actually guides the organization's work and is what the team refers to when answers are unclear?
With this in mind, Sara has developed her process that makes space for the 30,000-foot view and the practical realities of the folks working on the ground. For creating a strategic plan that actually charts the vision and answers the question, “So what do we do tomorrow to make our vision a reality.”
“Regarding strategic planning, there's no one I’d prefer working with than Sara. There's nothing formulaic about the way Sara and her team work. With them, you get a tailor-made solution. ”
Mark Sandiford, Executive Director, CreativePEI
Our Approach
Your strategic plan serves as the board's primary directive to staff, clearly outlining the organization's goals and the path forward as envisioned by its leadership.
We start by getting a good sense of your current standing and your future goals. From there, we do a deep dive into your organization's documentation - doing a thorough review of your website and key documents.
A great board knows they can’t do this alone—that their ED/CEO and staff play an important role in strategic plan development.
As a result, we always include staff in our consultation process. Generally speaking, we like to bring everyone together because a great side-effect of a visioning session is an opportunity for building and enhancing relationships.
Our tailored sessions include an opportunity to map the ecosystem, envision your organization’s future, and examine the issues that might get in the way.
From there, we develop a strategic plan that aligns with your long-term vision, complete with success indicators and evaluation methods. And because SRL Solutions provides a comprehensive training program for new Executive Directors, we have hundreds of resources, tools, and templates. Based on your plan, we always provide extra support to help you implement your strategic plan.
“I’m obsessed with our Strategic Plan. I’ve told so many people about it. All the deliverables were incredible. Everything from a board calendar to various report templates to a list of policies we should consider. It’s been so helpful to check in with our strategic plan throughout the year to see where we are.”
Lindsay Connolly, Executive Director Under the Spire
“Thanks again to the SRL Solutions team for the patience, effort, and expertise you brought to our Strategic Plan. We are really happy with the result and where it will lead us over the next few years.”
Laurie Gillis, Executive Director Atlantic Presenters Association