Say No to Boring Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Create a Strategy That Energizes
New clients tell me they are frustrated and, frankly, bored with strategy work. The recommendations are generic. And, they finished the tasks within a year. What’s more, they don’t move the needle. They don’t, like proper sleep or vacation, rejuvenate you.
You hesitate to go thru the process again to end at the same. Yawn, grab a pillow.
How can you end where you want, with clear direction, alignment in your rank, and fresh enthusiasm? That is, a strategy you can’t wait to share because it will inspire viral interest?
Watch the video, then explore the transcript below for quick takeaways.
Transcript: How to Make Strategic Planning Less Boring
(edited for easy reading)
Is this how you feel about strategic planning?
You’d rather not. You’d rather sleep through it.
You’ve done it before, and the results just haven’t been worth the effort.
Let’s wake up.
Let’s imagine something different.
You walk into your office, head to a community meeting, or talk to a funder—and there’s a buzz around what your nonprofit is doing.
Not only do you have a strategy—people know about it and are excited.
That’s the kind of planning you want. That’s what strategy should do.
Why Most Nonprofit Strategic Plans Fall Flat
My clients tell me:
“We’ve done this before. The results were vague, uninspiring, and didn’t lead anywhere new.”
Often, the recommendations are generic—any nonprofit could have used them.
The excitement fades fast. Nothing really changes. (Watch Strategic Planning for Strategic Planning Haters for more.)
That’s not what strategic planning should be.
What Good Strategic Planning Feels Like
You should walk away from planning with:
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Greater clarity
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Fresh enthusiasm
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Alignment across your board, staff, and funders
You should feel energized, not drained.
How to Get There: Start with Vision
If you want a plan that motivates, you have to start with your vision.
That’s where the energy is.
Ask yourself:
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Why did we start this work?
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What have we learned since our last plan?
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Where are we seeing real traction?
As you get closer to your vision, your focus sharpens. That clarity fuels strategy.
Choose Strategy Tools That Actually Work
Too many leaders dust off an old SWOT model—a 60-year-old tool that’s often misused and uninspiring.
Instead, explore questions like:
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What are our best opportunities right now?
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Where do we shine?
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How can we build on our momentum?
Look for routes forward that are uniquely yours.
Find Your Custom Path
Once you’ve named your best options, it’s time to analyze.
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Which ideas are truly “us”?
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Which move us closer to our vision?
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Can we combine options to create something even better?
This is the magic moment: when your team lands on a path that feels clear and energizing.
It creates alignment and momentum.
Strategy Should Never Bore You
Your plan should wake you up on Monday and leave you feeling satisfied on Friday—because you’re making real progress.
Ready for Strategy That Moves You Forward?
Don’t settle for the same old plan that collects dust.
Reimagine your nonprofit’s strategy. Make it energizing. Make it yours.
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