DECEMBER 2010

FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL

Rob Schlener, Partner Orange County Assurance & Advisory practice.

Though the origin of this proverb is unknown, its meaning could not be more relevant for nonprofit orga-
nizations as we head into 2011.
The planning process is the key to the success of any modern Nonprofit. Planning must become a core
competency of every manager or director within your organization. Things don’t just happen; they hap-
pen because a well thought out, WRITTEN plan has been evaluated, executed and re-evaluated.
Most organizations have a “budget”. In loose terms, the budget is a plan by which the organization ex-
pects to receive money and spend money. A [business] PLAN includes the budget, but more importantly
includes details regarding where the revenue will come from, where the expenditures will go and when.
The business plan is the cornerstone of the Nonprofit. It is the one plan that all the other plans in the
organization support.

The “supporting cast” of plans essential to the success of your organization includes:

FUNDRAISING – This plan should include both a macro and micro view of fundraising, including specific
metrics and how they will be achieved.

CAPITAL – Often a multi-year campaign, a carefully thought out plan, including contingencies, will serve
the organization well.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS – This is an often overlooked aspect of nonprofits. What plan do you have to
ensure your message is being heard as you want it to be, in the communities you serve?
CONTINGENCY – A key to the success of any organization (Nonprofit and For-Profit alike) is their contin-
gency plan. “What if” is a question we often ask our clients, and more often than not, we elicit a casual
response. Contingency planning should be top of mind for all Executive Directors, Finance Directors and
Board Members. Have a thorough written plan in place when an organization falls on unexpected bad
times could be the reason they survive to carry on their mission for another day.

We engage our Nonprofit clients in these discussions throughout the year. Should you want to discuss
your particular concerns, I can be reached at rschlener@singerlewak.com or (949) 261-8600.

Rob Schlener - Orange County Lewis Sharpstone - Los Angeles

RSchlener@singerlewak.com LSharpstone@singerlewak.com

Jeff Holt - Los Angeles Stephen P. Carter - Silicon Valley

JHolt@singerlewak.com SCarter@singerlewak.com