So You’re Ready to Grow: A Strategic Planning Primer for Small Nonprofits

Growth is exciting. It’s also… a little scary.

You’ve gotten this far by doing a lot with a little—scrappy, resourceful, mission-driven. But now your programs are expanding, your community’s needs are growing, and your team might be maxed out. It’s time to take a step back and plan with purpose.

Here’s the good news: strategic planning doesn’t have to be a months-long, jargon-filled process that ends with a 50-page document no one reads. For small nonprofits, it can be a clarifying, energizing opportunity to reconnect with your mission, engage your team, and make decisions rooted in your values and capacity.

Here’s how to start…