Articles
Strategy
August 22, 2024
Building Strategy from the Inside Out: The Organizational Core
The most daunting task in the development of nonprofit strategy is deciding where to begin. Traditionally, strategy development begins with a scan of internal and external conditions. The purpose of the “SWOT” analysis is to provide an inventory of internal capabilities and liabilities so that the nonprofit can deploy the former and improve the latter […]
January 04, 2024
For Nonprofits, Being Self-Aware is More Important than Being Different
A staple of traditional strategic planning is the notion of differentiation. In order to be successful, the thinking goes, you must emphasize those aspects of your mission and work that separate you from others doing similar work. Not only that, those differences must be distinctive to your organization. That is, true differentiation requires that your […]
September 23, 2023
From A to Z: Finding Your Place on the Impact Continuum
Life unfolds along one cosmic continuum, spanning birth (point A) and death (point Z). Of course, no two people will experience this continuum in exactly the same way. Some will find it relatively easy to live a fulfilling and meaningful life while others will face barriers that may dim not just their aspirations, but the […]
August 02, 2023
What Are You Talking About? Strategy in 30 Words
Consider this counsel from Allen Proctor, author of the book, More Than Just Money: “If you can’t summarize your organization’s strategy in 30 words or less, then it probably isn’t a strategy.” If it’s not strategy that you are describing, then what is it? Chances are, it is one of the following: Let’s start with […]
January 16, 2023
Why Staying ON Mission May Not Keep You IN Your Lane
One of the challenges in strategy development is that there are no fixed definitions of the fundamental concepts of strategy. Consequently, key terms are used interchangeably (or worse, randomly), thereby draining them of their value in shaping strategic thinking. For the purposes of this article, let’s agree on a vocabulary for the fundamental elements of […]
November 29, 2022
“You Are Here…For Now”: The Changing Focus of Nonprofit Strategy
Michael E. Stone, Ph.D., Stone Consulting (This article is based on the author’s latest book, “Nonprofit Strategy: A Phase-Based Approach to Relevance, Impact, and Sustainability”). There is one lesson about nonprofit strategy that stands above all others: there is no there. That is, there is not a point at which a nonprofit can say, “we […]
November 14, 2022
A Better Mousetrap? How About Better Strategy!
Build a better mousetrap, the saying goes, and the world will beat a path to your door. Perhaps, if what the world needs is to catch mice. But the best mousetrap in the world is of no value if what the world needs is a better way to trap bears. We have a mousetrap problem […]
July 13, 2022
Are We as SMART as We Think We Are?
Who doesn’t like a pithy mnemonic to help remember important concepts? The kiss principle reminds us that simple is always better than complicated, while the fictitious Roy G. Biv helps us remember the colors of the light spectrum. One enduring mnemonic in my domain as a nonprofit strategist is the SMART goal. Although there is […]
February 20, 2022
Let’s Get Philosophical…About Strategy
If the title of this article took you back to Olivia Newton John getting physical in her leggings and head band…well, that is on you. What I am offering is something a little deeper for you to consider. To paraphrase the philosopher-theologian Soren Kierkegaard, life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards. […]
January 11, 2022
Stating the Obvious is Not Strategic
Recently, I read a strategic plan from a nonprofit that was built around the following four strategic imperatives: Increase awareness of your organization through a comprehensive marketing plan. Ensure fiscal sustainability by diversifying revenue sources. Strengthen community and partner relationships. Enhance impact by expanding the range of services offered. My question to the nonprofit – […]
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