Topic 1B: Strategic Planning Practice Exercise

Assignment:

Conduct a SWOT analysis for a sample nonprofit organization
Identify 3-5 strategic priorities based on the analysis
Develop one SMART goal with supporting KPIs
Create a simple 1-year action plan

SWOT Analysis Framework

SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps organizations understand their internal and external environment. SWOT stands for:

Strengths: Internal positive factors that give your organization an advantage
Weaknesses: Internal negative factors that may hinder your organization
Opportunities: External positive factors that could benefit your organization
Threats: External negative factors that could challenge your organization

How to Conduct a SWOT Analysis:

List all internal strengths (experienced staff, strong reputation, financial reserves)
Identify internal weaknesses (limited resources, skill gaps, outdated systems)
Identify external opportunities (new funding sources, policy changes, market demand)
List external threats (economic downturn, competing organizations, regulatory changes)

Example for a Nonprofit: A youth mentoring organization might identify:

Strengths: Dedicated volunteers, established community partnerships
Weaknesses: Limited marketing budget, small office space
Opportunities: Government grants for youth development, corporate sponsorships
Threats: Declining youth enrollment, economic recession affecting donations

SMART Goals Framework

SMART goals help organizations set measurable, achievable objectives. SMART stands for:

Specific: Clear and well-defined goals (not vague)
Measurable: Goals with quantifiable metrics
Achievable: Realistic and possible to accomplish
Relevant: Aligned with organizational mission
Time-bound: Goals with specific deadlines

How to Develop SMART Goals:

Start with your vision (e.g., “Improve youth literacy”)
Make it Specific: “Increase reading proficiency among disadvantaged youth”
Add Measurement: “Achieve 80% reading proficiency rate”
Ensure Achievability: “With our resources and partnerships”
Verify Relevance: “Matches our mission to serve underserved youth”
Set a Timeline: “Within 12 months”

Complete Goal Example: “Increase reading proficiency to 80% among 500 disadvantaged youth in our after-school program within 12 months, using evidence-based reading interventions and volunteer tutoring.”

Benefits of SMART Goals:

Provides clear direction for staff and volunteers
Enables tracking of progress and impact
Facilitates fundraising by showing measurable outcomes
Improves accountability to stakeholders and donors