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Business planning is a vital component or any nonprot organization. This planning is the blueprint that helpsto establish a oundation upon which the organization can ocus on its vision, tailor its mission and incorporate values it deems essential to the organization’s success. As the nonprot grows, a sound business plan can assist inpromoting a well-developed idea into a rewarding accomplishment. Likewise, a poor or mediocre business plan canimpede the growth o the nonprot and hinder the organization rom achieving desired results.Business planning is the process o gaining
organizational agreement
on long-term and short-term goals, and whenit is properly managed, can take an organization well beyond agreement on overall direction and goals. One o thebest by-products o a business planning process is increased engagement o the organization’s various stakeholders,including board members, sta, committee volunteers, members, donors, those served by the organization,community leaders, unders and others important to the organization. When stakeholders are brought together ina dialogue that produces decisions about organizational priorities, the process can ensure that the organizationwill continue to have (or create) the impact that it desires to have on its community. A high level o stakeholder participation in the process also brings ownership o the nal product, which should be a viable plan that willguide the next several years o an organization’s growth and development.Business planning covers all areas o theorganization, whether the organization is acommunity-based coalition or a non-protcorporation. These areas may include missiondelivery (programs, services, policy change,advocacy), inrastructure development, marketingand communications, and resource acquisition.
Business planning anticipates theinevitability o organizational change,and ocuses on producing a plan that isrealistic, comprehensive and integratedacross organizational unctions – allwhile remaining true to the mission o theorganization.
Wh s Bsss Pg?
Business planning addresses critical questions acingan organization, including:
•Whatisourprimarypurpose?•Wherearewenow?•Wherearewegoingasanorganization–
whatarewetryingtoachieve?a.Howwillwegetthere?•Whoarethekeytargetaudiencesthatweserve?•Whatorganizationsaresimilartoours?a.Whataretheydoingtoaccomplish
theirmission?b.Howaretheyacquiringresources?•Whatareourcorecompetencies?•Whatdowedobest?Whatcouldwedobest?•Howmuchmoneydoweneedtoaccomplish
ourmission?
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