Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook [Paperback]

Michael Allison (Author), Jude Kaye (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471178322 | ISBN-13: 978-0471178323 | Publication Date: July 14, 1997 | Edition: 1

Practical, easy-to-follow planning strategies geared to the special requirements of the nonprofit

This very accessible resource from a team of experts in the nonprofit sector adapts basic business concepts to the unique structure and goals of nonprofit organizations. Breaking the planning process into six steps, the book covers it all--from getting ready and articulating the mission to monitoring and adjusting the finished plan.

* Sample worksheets, checklists, and tables are included in the book--and on a 3-1/2" IBM-compatible disk

JUDE KAYE and MIKE ALLISON (both of San Francisco, California) are executives with The Support Centers for Nonprofit Management.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This comprehensive book/disk set shows you how to create and implement an effective strategic plan using a simple, seven-phase process that covers everything from defining your mission and setting your course to initiating, monitoring, and streamlining your plan. The workbook is designed for nonprofits of all shapes, sizes, and budgets, and can be easily adapted to fit any time frame. The package comes with field-tested worksheets, checklists, and tables in both print and disk formats, plus a sample case study that demonstrates strategic planning in action from start to finish.

From the Back Cover

A complete and flexible guide to strategic planning --specifically designed for nonprofits

Strategic planning is one of the most powerful management tools available to help your organization do a better job --if you know how to use it. This comprehensive book/disk set shows you how to create and implement an effective strategic plan using a simple, seven-phase process that covers everything from defining your mission and setting your course to initiating, monitoring, and streamlining your plan.

The workbook is designed for nonprofits of all shapes, sizes, and budgets, and can be easily adapted to fit any time frame. The package comes with field-tested worksheets, checklists, and tables in both print and disk formats, plus a sample case study that demonstrates strategic planning in action from start to finish. Filled with real-world insights, planning tips, and useful pointers, this accessible guide is a must for every forward-thinking nonprofit professional. Topics covered include:
* How to construct clear mission and vision statements
* How to conduct SWOT analyses and program evaluations
* How to assess client needs and determine stakeholder concerns
* How to set priorities and develop core strategies, goals, and objectives
* How to write and adopt a solid strategic plan
* How to develop a user friendly annual work plan
* How to establish planning cycles, evaluate progress, and update strategies.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471178322
• ISBN-13: 978-0471178323
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,107,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Blueprint for Every Strategic Planning Project, May 17, 2001

By 

Joe Bruce (Somewhere) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook (Paperback)

This book is hands-down the best reference for structuring and executing a strategic planning process. The layout is pleasing to the eye and the content is logical and well thought out with many practical checklists and worksheets (many included on the disk). I use it as a reference in my consulting business and this book can be applied to for-profit companies too. Highly recommended.

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Source Book, March 22, 2005

By 

Paul Mesaglio (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook (Paperback)

To start the process of understanding strategic planning, you need to take some courses, speak to lots of people, try quite a few things out (many of which will be dead ends) and read quite a few books. The books need to be mulled over for quite some time, and from the morass of conflicting information, you pull out something useful.

Now, what books should you read? Clearly, I haven't read, nor am I ever likely to read them all, but, Strategic Planning for Non Profit Organizations is definitely one of them.

It is indeed a practical guide which serves everyone well in nonprofits and is eminently adaptable to Profit and Govenrnmental organisations.

The pages I went back to constantly included that containing the map of the strategic planning process (p11 1997 edition) and The Language of Planning table and explanations (P16-17). They represent an excellent summary after reading the book.

After my third read, when I had a greater appreciation of the context in which planning is done, I thought it might even be THE text that everyone looks for, but, alas, it crashed and burned at one crucial point which is why I only give it 4 stars. As with all books of this type it did the "hand-waving, hey presto trick" in attempting to join two critical components - core strategies and programs. One moment we get to core strategies - no problems (Step 4.3, p116-123). A few sections later we get to writing goals and objectives for programs (Step 4.6 p130-143). There should have been a more explicit section on how the programs relate to the strategies. The reason this can't be done is that any given program relates to more than one strategy and invariably, all books on strategy stick to the hierarchical model (not a network model). The assumption is always one of mutually exclusive categories because that makes things easier.

Now each of these sections, individually, have a wealth of useful information. It's the relationship between them that's the problem. The join was not only not smooth, it was not existent. Not to worry, other books which I have read have solved this problem only to create a different problem elsewhere - which is why you need to read a suite of books to get proper context.

Despite everything I have said, it really is a great book. I will certainly be using it time and time again into the future because of the wealth of insight it contains.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical tool, June 20, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook (Paperback)

The problem with so many books that deal with this subject matter is that they talk a lot of great theory but fall short when it comes to bringing things down to earth. This book, however, succeeds on both accounts. It offers not only a concrete step-by-step format, but solid rationales for the "why" question. Templates for the various forms that can be used with your group are an extra plus. Highly recommended!