CHARTING A NEW PATH FOR THP-PLUS:

HOW TO PLAN STRATEGICALLY FOR AB 12

Oscar Wolters-DuranProject Coordinator

Homeless Youth Capacity Building ProjectJohn Burton Foundation

CHARTING A NEW PATH FOR THP-PLUS:

Springboard: Change is inevitable

Write down three things that have changed in the past two

or three years that have impacted your organization

These can be internal to your organization, or external

Change is inevitable!

The economy changes Funding opportunities change Client needs changeKnowledge and best practices evolvePolicies, rules, and regulations changeStaff changesCompetitors emerge

Hopeful take aways

What is strategic planning and why is it important?

How do we go about strategic planning?

What changes will AB 12 bring, and how can we plan proactively to meet them?

What is strategic planning?

The creation of a coordinated set of actions designed to create and sustain a competitive advantage in achieving a (nonprofit’s) mission.

May include the revision of the organization’s mission, vision, and values.

Strategy is ongoing and not just contained in a static plan!

What are the benefits of planning?

Building upon strengths Increased creative energyIncreased ability to accomplish mission Energized staff and boardA more focused marketing messageAbility to say no to opportunities that

aren’t right!

When should it happen?

When major internal or external changes occur

When staff or board seem disengaged, unmotivated

When facing challenges or opportunities

A new model of planning

StreamlinedOngoing and real-

timeStrengths-based

Real-time strategic planning

Based on La Piana Associates’ Real Time Strategic Planning model.

FImplementation

Plan

EStrategic

Plan

CKey Strategic

Questions

BStrategyScreen

AIdentity

Statement

DStrategy

Brainstorm

Who are we? • Mission• People served• Geographic areas covered• Programs

How do we operate? • Sources and uses of funding• Staffing

What is our market position?• Other players• Unique competitive advantages• Market trends

What are the opportunities and challenges we must respond to?

What criteria should we use to evaluate strategies? Non-negotiables

What potential strategies could we employ to respond to the Big Strategic Questions?

Data Gatherin

g

Data Gatherin

g

What changes does AB 12 bring?

Find a partner (or two) and spend a few minutes discussing these questions:

How will AB 12’s passage impact my organization?

What challenges will it present? What opportunities become available?

AB 12 and the Big Questions

AB 12 is likely to raise some “Big Strategic Questions” for THP Plus organizations.

What big questions do you have in the areas of:Resources (staffing, funding, knowledge)Programs and servicesMessaging (branding, media, mission)

For more about strategic planning

oscar@johnburtonfoundation.org