Introduction to Charity Strategy

In simple terms a strategy is a plan of what you need to do, to get from where you are now to where you want to go. When looking to tackle creating a strategy plan for the first time it can be overwhelming. Between competitor analysis, SWOTS and PESTS, it can almost sound like another language. Although these are some key elements, you don’t need to overcomplicate things.

So, we’d like to share a few tips we have learned along the way, to consider when producing your strategic plan.

Strategy Breakdown

Vision:

Understanding what your organisation is all about, is the first step to success. Take the time to discuss and evaluate what you want to achieve throughout your work. Set goals to where you want to see yourself in the future horizon. By setting yourself a 5 to 10-year timeframe, allows you to manage goals in a feasible manner. Stretching out your goals, allows you to create a bigger picture. Knowing you have something to work for increase drive and improves productivity.

Values:

In the voluntary sector, this is a given and you live by your values every day. But it when asked to put them down on paper, you may feel like you draw a blank. Take yourself out of the situation. If you were to employee a new member to your team, what type of values would you want them to add to your organisation. Whilst in turn think if you were to explain your organisation, what values best sum up the work you do. e.g. Innovative, Compassionate, Driven.

Strategic goals

Now you have your vision, it’s time to think about what you need to do in order to deliver. This is where we need to start getting a bit more specific.

1. You need to think about timeframe. How long are willing to spend on a particular element of your vision.
2. How will you measure your success? It’s all well and good setting goals but you need to take the time to evaluate if and how you achieved these goals.
3. Set yourself targets and numbers alongside each goal, to measure and keep track of your success. This keeps tings achievable whilst projecting ahead.

Focussed activities

This is where it starts to get specific. What do you need to do day-to-day to deliver each one of your strategic objectives? Is, there events you can take part in, groups you can join? The best piece of advice is to be as proactive as possible.

So, if you work through these four key elements, you will have a strategic plan. And it will be a strategic plan suited to the purpose and needs of your organisation. Giving your organization a direction and an understanding of how it will get there.