Because we cannot forecast the future, effective planning reduces uncertainty and helps manage risk and change.

The process of strategic planning is as important as the resulting written document. Working together, staff and volunteers learn more about their organization and constituents, and build understanding, cohesion, and commitment. Good planning helps your organization learn, respond to change, and remain relevant.

Basic elements of planning are the same

Organizations may plan for varying lengths of time. They gather planning information in different ways. But the planning elements are, essentially, the same.

Planning creates your vision and translates that vision into action. Usually the planning process tests the quality and viability of your mission. Through planning, you set goals and outline strategies to achieve these goals. You establish time frames and identify resources to carry out the plan. You establish measures of success and outline how you will monitor progress and handle contingencies.Information shapes your planning         Planning decisions should be based on research and experience, not opinion or influence. The organization does not merely conduct an internal dialogue about desired direction. You also look outside, examining trends and community perspectives. Only within the context of community input can you make decisions which justify your existence and future progress.

Internally, you examine how you work. Close inspection identifies both strengths and weaknesses. Also you identify the external factors which could affect your ability to act.

The written plan

The planning process also produces a written document - which anyone ought to be able to read and understand! The plan is used by staff and volunteers to direct and evaluate their activities.

Developing an annual plan

Annual priority-setting can produce an action plan which integrates the activities of board, senior management, program, and support staff. The annual plan can move from the big picture of organizational priorities down to the performance objectives and appraisal parameters of individual staff. Through this process, you can dramatically improve staff ownership and organization productivity and success.


Services

• Annual planning and performance objectives
• Long-range strategic planning
• Market research (community needs assessment, customer satisfaction)

Representative Clients

• Alpha Phi International Fraternity
• Arts & Business Council of Chicago
• Amos House
• Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northern New England and Rhode Island Chapters
• Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket
• Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts
• Community Visiting Nurse Agency of Attleboro
• Connecticut Housing Coalition
• Dorcas Place Literacy Center
• Everett Dance Theatre
• Fund for Community Progress
• Hartford Children's Theatre
• Homecare Association of New Hampshire
• Illinois Arts Alliance
• Insurance Education Foundation
• International Life Sciences Institute
• International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Junior Engineering Technical Society, Washington D.C. (in association with Coviello & Associates)
• Kappa Alpha Theta International Women's Fraternity
• Kent County YMCA
• La Salle Academy
• Leukemia Society of America, RI
• Lucy Robbins Welles Library
• New Hope
• Norman Bird Sanctuary
• Paterson (NJ) Education Fund
• Phi Kappa Theta Foundation
• Providence Preservation Society
• Rhode Island CAP Association
• Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless
• Rhode Island Community Food Bank
• Rhode Island Zoological Society
• Roger Williams Park Zoo
• Sandra Gamm-Feinstein Theatre
• Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center of RI
• St. Mary Academy - Bay View
• St. Philomena School
• State Arts Advocacy League of America
• Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
• Sunrise Rotary Club of Westport
• Tennesseans for the Arts
• Volunteers in Action
• Waterford Public Library
• Westport Public Library
• Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona
• Woonsocket Community Action Program
• YMCA of Greater Providence
• Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity