June 1, 2023 | By David M. Wagner

“We don’t have a strategic plan.”

My reactions cycled from surprise, to understanding, to concern.

The remark came from a nonprofit leader I met recently. I was initially surprised because the organization, which provides health services, seemed to be operating successfully. And most successful organizations I have encountered have a strategic plan.

Then it occurred to me that an organization might not invest in strategic planning precisely because they were successful. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

But our conversation also gave me reason for concern. This leader had navigated the organization through some significant challenges. But several more were just around the corner. And they did not seem to have a plan for those obstacles.

Lulled into Complacency?

Much of the time, when I work with clients on long-term planning, we start with a vision for a new destination for their team or organization.

But what about when that destination is already clear, and your organization has “arrived” and realized its vision?

Do Benjamin Franklin’s words – “By failing to plan, you are preparing to fail” – apply when things are going well?

My answer? Yes. Because even if there are no internal needs forcing a new direction, the world is changing around us. And that’s truer now than ever before.

A World of Change

Like so many organizations, COVID-19 had upended the world of this healthcare nonprofit. Direct care staff, whose jobs never went remote, were exhausted. Turnover was high.

The leader I spoke with had taken progressive steps to reduce employee workloads without reducing pay. Their responsiveness was paying off!

But changes in the workforce are accelerating. Post-COVID, workers have new expectations about when, where, and for how long they work. Moreover, Millennials and Gen-Zers express different needs for meaningful work, equitable workplace policies, and support for their mental health than previous generations.

And it’s not just the workforce that is changing:

• Philanthropic funders are increasingly focused on equity and inclusiveness, and trusting nonprofits to know how best to allocate resources.

• The U.S. population (and, likely, your customer or constituent base) is becoming older, less white, and more likely to be born outside the U.S.

• Commercially-available generative artificial intelligence tools are already disrupting the roles of professionals who work with creative content, such as communications and marketing teams.

Not to mention a changing global climate, increasing political polarization and anti-democratic trends, increasing wealth disparity, and on, and on.

Planning to Adapt

No matter your mission, chances are high that how you deliver that mission will change in the next few years. The needs of your constituents, your team, your funders, and other stakeholders are not static. So your organization cannot afford to be static, either.

When was the last time you assessed the changes in your environment and made plans to adapt to the impact on your mission? If it has been a while, schedule a free consultation to start planning for your future success in a changing world.