Strategic Planning Action Guide

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Nov. 2u1S Shiivei SP Inc. STEP Pie-Stiategic Plan

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Table of Contents
History and Accomplishments- 1 SWOT Analysis - 6
Need, Mission and Values- 2 Strategic Issues -7
Theory of Change, Social Impact Logic Model - 3 Pre-Strategic Plan, Budget - 8
Program Templates - 4 Vision for the Future - 11

Supporting Transformative Educational Projects: S.T.E.P.
STEP is a social enterprise founded in 2010 to address the needs of professionals in human service fields to gain a better
understanding of intercultural communication. STEP was founded by two graduates of the School for International Training (SIT),
Adam Goldberg and Ashley Townes, in order to: cultivate intercultural communicative leaders, and foster the creation of
innovative models and programming to world problems through education and social science research
(http://stepin2theworld.org/about-us.html). Our programs are open to educators, researchers, and practitioners from a variety of
backgrounds and fields, who will be extremely beneficial to those studying to work in professions that require them to be leaders
in intercultural situations. STEP Into The World strives to address the importance of effective cross-cultural communication in
today's diverse society. Our projects and programs inspire and empower participants to become global facilitators, strong project
designers, and researchers through our short-term structured international professional development programs.

STEP offers unique short-term professional development programs abroad, and provides instructional guides, training, and reports for
working professionals, organizations, and the public to utilize in various settings and contexts. These products and services work towards
bridging the communication gap between human service professionals and local community members to encourage the practice
of transparent collaborative learning and problem solving, and to increase intercultural competency. These 3-4 weeks excursions
include a home stay, in-field research and service, workshops and the opportunity to work with similar client
populations. Participants will have the opportunity to:
Explore new countries and sociocultural contexts.
Learn practical intercultural communication strategies & methods
Research at in-field stations abroad and domestic professional organizations
Develop new relationships and cultural insight
Generate stimulating reports, lesson plans, social educational media platforms, instructional guides to utilize as effective
products and tools, to share with organizations/schools and in social groups to enlighten and bring about social progress.

Need for Pre-Strategic Planning
STEP is in a transformational stage as an organization. Initial research and partnership building was conducted from 2011-2012.
In 2011 and 2012 the founders of STEP conducted research in Malawi, Bangladesh and Ecuador to establish the particular needs
for intercultural training for those who are in development and human service fields domestically. These initial outreach
initiatives built relationships within these countries as partners and potential hosts for STEP participants. In 2013, STEP founder,

2
Ashley Townes, established a new mission statement and acronym to encompass a wider range of project areas, diverse
populations and professional fields. STEP is simultaneously working towards obtaining an initial cohort of participants for the
summer of 2014 and will be conducting outreach domestically.

The Strategic Planning process for STEP in this phase center around three key goals. The first is to clarify and solidify leadership
and staff, the second is to create a recruitment and outreach plan and the last is to establish multiple methods of obtaining
financial resources. Each major goal helps STEP to progress towards readiness of a full round of program implementation.
STEPs pre-strategic plan will focus on placing all current activities within the context of a logical progression. The STEP pre-
strategic plan will focus on the internal SWOT analysis and will provide suggestions for implementing a full strategic planning
process after addressing internal challenges.
Mission and Values

Nission
" to cultivate
inteicultuial
communicative leaueis,
anu fostei the cieation
of innovative mouels
anu piogiamming to
solve woilu pioblems
thiough euucation anu
social science action
ieseaich."
Founueu in 2u1u by Auam
uolubeig anu Ashley
Townes, giauuates of the
School foi Inteinational
Tiaining
All STEP piogiams weie
cieateu thiough
extensive paitneiships
built by the founueis.
"We believe oui team of
0S-baseu staff anu in-
countiy paitneis aie
oui stiongest assets."

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Social Impact Logic Model? E#$('$0 78 @A;,$8 =>B-$A (-0 @0(G .>,07$#)C 1233

Inputs Activities Outputs Initial Outcomes Interim Outcomes Long-term Outcomes

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Increased
intercultural
sensitivity
Broaden world
view
Initiatives and
active
engagements in
schools and
local
communities
Participant
and team
member
evaluations
Pre- program
Preparation
before
participation in a
S.T.E.P
professional
development
program
Developing a
S.T.E.P. team
who support,
educate, and
work towards
social change
and effective
project planning
Providing
international
education
training
programs
Open minded
professionals
who want to
improve the
education,
teacher training,
and research
fields
Having more
cultural events
in schools and
communities

Active
alumni
network
Co-working
across borders
and cultures
to abate
global issues
in a
professional
and
competitive
fashion

Creating solid
relationships
abroad
Increased
publications of
intercultural
communication
in education
Becoming more
acquainted with
different
cultures
Cultural
awareness
Bosting
cultuial
events
nationally anu
locally
Open forums
for global
issues to be
heard and
discussed

4

Key Tenants to Programs, Curricula and Research
Each STEP program has been collaboratively cultivated with in country partners.
Collaboration between host countries, visiting professionals and researchers is foundational. Both Local and visiting
instructors work together to lead and teach each component of the program.
All programs have been created by in country professionals to address a need in their own community and STEP has been
brought in as a partner.
Participants are viewed as professional learners instead of as volunteers, service providers or experts.
Each program has an experiential itinerary that includes a research/interest theme that is unique to the local context and
the opportunity to build new curricula and research with local professionals.
Programs

Sample (Malawi Program): Excursion Overview: Malawi, created 2011
Part I: Lilongwe-Arrival Orientation, June 23-26
The orientation will be co-facilitated by STEP Program Facilitators and Kumbalis in-country staff, and serves to
introduce participants to one another, the leadership team, and the main themes of the program. It will also prepare participants
to maximize their intercultural learning over the course of the rest of the program as it introduces them to theoretical concepts
and provides cultural context.
Part II: Various locations around Malawi-The Heart of the Experience, June 27-July 16
The second part of the program will present participants with an authentic cultural experience that challenges them to
reflect on who they are while creating the space for them to learn from the people they meet. To get the most out of the
Ecuauoi, Enviionmential Bevelopment & Euucation: 2u12-1S
Focus(es): Ethnobotany anu Foiest conseivation
Banglauesh, Enviionmental Science: 2u12
Focus(es): Sustainable Builuing anu Climate Change (*mouifieu)
Nalawi, Inteicultuial Euucation: 2u11
Focus(es): Peimacultuie anu Inteicultuial Euucation (*mouifieu)

S
experience and deepen their learning participants will meet regularly for group dialogue and reflection, which will often include
Malawians.
Part III: Lilongwe-Re-Entry Workshop, July 17
The last part of the program will bring everyone together for a full day re-entry workshop. Participants will reflect upon
the experience and discuss ways in which they can bring their experience home and apply their learnings to both their
professional and personal lives.

Sample (Ecuador Program): Culturally-relevant mathematical problems: Theme: Environment, Created 2013
Key Concepts Objectives
Basic economics
Finance
Percentages
Interest
Language Comprehension
1. Work flexibly with fractions
and percent
2. Understand how interest
accrued over time impacts
overall costs
3. Evaluate financial choices of
individuals

(For Instructors): Give some examples to the class about cultural differences between Americans and Ecuadorians by discussing
norms, language, customs, etc.; also, going over the stereotypes in the countries. This should be done before the start of the math
problem exercise. In the following text, please translate the Spanish word in green by providing the correct English word in the
underlined blank space. *EW=English Words

Scenario 1: Maria works as a manager at a lavanderia (EW):_________ in the Napo Province of Ecuador, has a side trabaja
((EW):_________ selling pan (bread (EW):_________, and teaches Kichwa at a local escuala (EW):_________ . Together, she
makes $10.00 an hour as a manager and at her side job as a baker. And she usually charges $3.00 an hour teaching language
lessons.
A. Maria wants to send her hijo (EW):_________ to a better school that is located in Quito, Ecuador next year. The yearly
tuition is 300 dollars plus the government tax of 9% that goes towards school supplies and uniforms. How much does
tuition cost altogether, including tax?
B. Maria has $109 in a saving account. What fraction of the tuition could her saving pay for?
C. Even though Maria cant pay for the tuition in full right now, she wants to pay for it now so her son will have a definite
spot in the school next year because spots fill up fast. She convinces her family that the best possible solution is to take
out a loan, which would charge 18% interest. She has calculated that she will be able to pay back $25.00 each month. By

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paying back $365.65 each month, she will end of paying $367.65 for tuition. How much more will Maria pay for tuition
by taking out a loan then she would have paid if she bought it with the money she had saved up?
D. Approximately how many additional hours of teaching Kichwa will Maria need to do to pay for tuition if she takes the
loan?
E. If she pays $25.00 each month to the bank, how many months will it take her to pay the entire $367.65?
F. Do you think Maria has done a good job of budgeting to pay for her sons tuition? Why or why not? And, what do you
think about Marias wage at her three jobs?
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats, Updated from STEP Business Plan, 2012
Internal
S
Strong professional relationships with in-country partners and
focus on collaboration
The S.T.E.P team has visited all locations included in the first
program and has created up to date marketing materials
Combined the S.T.E.P. team has prestigious professional
backgrounds in the field of international education
W
Pitfalls of entrepreneurship
Shortage of staff to fill all desired roles
Lack of concrete domestic connections to build a reputation
and capital
O
Offers a new model for international work focusing on cross
cultural learning, communication and ambassadorship
Our organization understands the limited amount of time
teachers have off during the year and accommodates to their
schedule by offering programs during the summer and winter
breaks
T
Ability to implement STEP programs with fidelity by all
founders and stakeholders

External
S
S.T.E.P offers quality programming for educators and
researchers from diverse backgrounds
S.T.E.P team has a extensive network in the teacher education
& international education fields in the United States as well as
strong partnerships abroad.
S.T.E.P curriculum has been approved by a university
S.T.E.P. has been featured in a respectable publication
W
Lack of start up capital limits S.T.E.P.s marketing and
expansion capacity
Lack of accreditation takes away extra incentive that most
study abroad providers offer
O T

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S.T.E.P will facilitate lasting professional partnerships between
program participants and the host communities,
S.T.E.P. will positively effect all participants home
communities by valuing the learning of all participants
The field of international education is expanding and
opportunities are opening up for the development of niche
markets
The lack of emphasis on multiculturalism within the field of
American teacher education
The impact of foreign exchange rates hitting S.T.E.Ps
American based organization

Strategic Issues based on Internal SWOT Analysis

Domestic Leadership:
STEP began in 2010 with strong co-leadership from both Ashley Townes and Adam Goldberg. STEPs greatest internal weakness
is similar to many new organizations. STEP faces challenges in moving forward due to geographic proximity (Ashley is in
Pwnnsylvania, Adam is in California), personal expectations, work commitments and individual monetary constraints.
If one co-founder does not want to pursue implementing STEP, can it be done alone? If not, should STEP be seeking
additional leadership?
Leaueiship
0utieach
Funuing anu
Suppoit
- Befining Roles anu Tasks
- Communication
- Setting anu following ueaulines
- Lack of uomestic client base
- Lack of uomestic paitneis
- Neeu foi connection to 'peei
oiganizations'
- Lack of a Boaiu
- Neeu foi paiu piofessional staff who
aie expeits in theii fielu
- Neeu foi giantphilanthiopic funus
to supplement piogiam fees

8
What is your vision for the future? What would you like to see happen in the world due to STEP programming?

Summary of Initial Outreach and Grant Application Efforts: 2011-2012
Initial outreach efforts to gain support for STEP did not result in financial investment but aided in defining the goals and
challenges. STEP co-founders were able to determine the wide range of platforms that are available for fundraising (grants, crowd
funding, cultivating donors) and now better understand their strengths and weaknesses. For example, STEP co-founders have had
more success in building relationships at conferences and program/curriculum fairs than on crowd funding and grant applications.

Grant/Conference Time Location Purpose
Regional CIES Conference Fall 2013 Amherst, MA Presenting STEPs research and lesson plans
Echoing Green Fellowship Winter 2012 NY, NY New Social Enterprise /Org hybrid Competition for start-up capital
Impact National Conference Spring 2012 Denton, FL STEP outreach and student engagement to intercultural issues/the
need for intercultural programs and projects
U.S. Dept. of Education Summer
2012
D.C Funding support of intercultural programs abroad in
Bangladesh/Collaborative effort with Maitri School
Mycelium School, NC Spring 2011 Brooklyn,
NY
Recruitment for interns/Networking Opportunities
Education for Liberation
curriculum fair
Spring 2011 Phila, PA Promoting STEP locally (Malawi program) /Networking
opportunity
Indigogo application Summer
2011
Worldwide Fundraising social platform initiative for Malawi program
NAFSA Region VIII Conference Fall 2011 Phila, PA Exhibitor for SIT Graduate Institute/Promoting STEP

Are the topics/themes accessible to K-12 teachers?
Is there an easy translation of themes and knowledge gained to an American educational/work context?
Is it easy for participants to understand the general skills gained and potential for conducting intercultural research?

Funding and Support
This area is one that has a lot of potential. The STEP co-founders have a robust network and excellent abilities to build partners and
spark interest. The internal challenge to funding and building support is bringing in partners who may change the STEP program.

9
As co-founder Ashley Townes notes, Every organization has a unique flair, partnering can be hard because that unique mission
can unintentionally get manipulated. But it is necessary and important to partner in order to share knowledge, resources and
experiences to the other. A major goal of the pre-strategic plan is to reach out to potential funders and refine networking strategies.
Why were applications for indigogo and Echoing Green unsuccessful?
How can STEP co-founders go after big philanthropic funders? Relationships with big funders is a strength but what
needs to be in place to ensure STEP could quickly get up and running if funding came through?

Pre-Strategic Planning Goals for 2013-2016 and Beyond
STEP has had to extend its original timeline for implementation. In order to get back on track, three major goals need to be met.
The primary goal relates to internal structural issues. Without first resolving these issues, STEP will not be able to progress to the
next phase of operationalizing the program. The second and third goals, conducting outreach and securing funding will easily
follow once internal issues are resolved. These goals are predominantly short term and would aid STEP in getting off the ground.
Goals and Activities

Leaueiship
Befine cuiient cofounuei ioles:
Nouify business plan, tuin in to
Auam foi ieview
Befine in-countiy paitnei ioles
anu goals: Neet with in-countiy
paitneis about ioles anu goals
ovei the next two yeais
Iuentify potential boaiu membeis
anu iueal qualities
Cieate staff job uesciiptions foi:
inteins, piogiam cooiuinatois
0utieach
Tiacking of potential clients:
Iuentify at least S potential clients
to conuuct a focus gioup
Incoipoiate consultation of peei
oiganizations:
Iuentify at least S oiganizations
to consult about the fielu
Contact oigs that uo piofessional
uevelopment foi teacheis
Iuentify, consult anu tiack
potential uomestic paitneis:
Scheuule meetings with at least S
potential uomestic paitneis who
woulu be a souice of clients.
Funuing
Incoipoiate auvice fiom
expeits in the fielu: financial
planning anu stiuctuie:
Neet with expeits in the fielu
about financial iesouices
Iuentify new giants foi
application: Seaich
uepaitmeint of euucation
website, small founuations etc.

1u

STEP Projected Budget for 2014-2018
Annual Revenues 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Tuition -- $16,500 $33,000 $66,000 $132,000
Grants $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000
Philanthropy $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000
Training/Consultation Contracts $2,500 2,500 $5,000 $7,000 $9,000
In-Kind Donations $2,000 $2,000 $3,000 $4,000 $5,000
Fundraising Events $- $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000
Total Revenues $29,500 $56,000 $88,500 $132,000 $214,500

Annual Expenses
Staffing $10,560 $20,000 $40,000 $80,000 $140,000
General Expenses $3,700 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000
Program Development $7,500 $7,500 $10,000 $12,500 $15,000
Prior Deficit $- $- $- $- $-
Total Expenses $21,760 $37,500 $65,000 $112,500 $180,000

Gross Profit $10,240 $21,000 $23,500 $22,500 $34,500

Budget for STEP Pre-Strategic Planning Process: 2013-2015

Budget Notes:
Cost: $3,300/per person
Projected number of participants: 5(ppl) x $3,300(cost) => (*flight included)
Total revenue= $16,500 for year 2014
In the first two years of operating, STEP will attempt to double its participants. By year 2017, STEP will slow down its recruitment
of participants. The goal is to increase its competitive edge (the demand) in the global market and reach stabilization. In order to
achieve this goal, STEP will add 4 additional participants to its roster for 2 years.


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Visions for the Future 2015-2020

For STEP programs we want to ensure there is explicit equality in all aspects of planning and implementation with our
international partners. A program coordinator carries the same weight whether they are from the United States or Malawi.
Ashley Townes

Category Description Expense
A. Travel to-from Networking events This will be local for both co-founders, each is expected to attend a
minimum of one networking opportunity per month for 10 months in 2014
and 2015 at $30 per session in gas, food and registration fees
$1,200.00
B. Conference fees Attend at least 4 national conferences to promote STEP, one has already
been done in 2013. Varied, est. $800.00 per conference
$3,200.00
C. Refreshments for meetings and
focus groups
Minimum of 15 meetings/focus groups with 2-5 participants each,
estimated at $10.00 a person
$750.00-$1,000.00
D. Time of co-founders in planning,
attending meetings etc.
Valued at $22/hr, 6 hrs a week , 20 weeks per year from Dec. 2013-Dec.
2015
$10,560.00
E. Creation of new STEP materials,
website design, film etc.
As needed $1,000.00
Subtotal, 2013-2015 $16,710.00-19,960.00

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Current STEP-In Country Partner Structure Desired In country Partner Structure

Strategic Planner
Liz Shriver MSW Candidate, 2014

Statement
Though this initial document was created predominantly with the input of co-founder, Ashley Townes, this plan will not be
auopteu without the ieview of STEP co-founuei Auam uolubeig anu all majoi in-countiy paitneis.

1S

"#$%&'#('$)*+ ",(--*-) E>GG*''$$
Ashley Townes - STEP Co-Founuei
Auam uolubeig - STEP Co-Founuei

Auam uolubeig, STEP; Sam Baluti, Kumbali Louge, Faith & Piivate Seconuaiy School, Nonkey Bay, Nangochi Nalawi;
Ashley Townes, STEP


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stepin2thewoilu.oig
www.facebook.compagesSTEP-Into-The-Woilu

Paitnei 0iganizations
Buasquila Refoiestation Piogiam: https:www.facebook.compagesBuasquila-Refoiestation-Piogiam,
http:www.huasquila.com
Kumbali Louge: http:www.kumbalilouge.comactivitiesmalawi-cultuial-village
The Naitii School

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