Strategic planning is one of the most valuable investments a nonprofit can make, but timing is everything. Jumping into the process too early can leave leaders feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. Waiting too long can mean missed opportunities, strained relationships, or dwindling resources.
At coLAB, when we partner with organizations, we begin by helping them assess their readiness for strategic planning. Here are some of the signals we look for to determine if it’s the right moment to embark on the journey. In each of these phases, we make pointed recommendations to ensure your team is set up for a successful strategic planning process, one that results in a meaningful and well-crafted plan you can act on with confidence.
Board Curiosity?
Do board members express confusion about where the organization is headed? Do conversations keep circling back to questions like: What’s our long-term direction? How do we prioritize among so many competing needs?
How coLAB helps: We listen for these pain points in board conversations and use facilitated dialogue to clarify where the uncertainty lies. Our team then designs a readiness framework that pinpoints whether the board needs deeper alignment before entering into full strategic planning.
Can You Show Impact?
Funders and donors increasingly want to see measurable outcomes, not just compelling stories. If your organization struggles to show how programs create real impact or if your team lacks the tools to track it, fundraising and credibility may be at risk.
How coLAB helps: We begin by assessing your current data systems, reporting practices, and evaluation culture. From there, we recommend tools and approaches to strengthen outcome tracking, ensuring you’re ready to link strategy to measurable impact.
Is Leadership Aligned on the Path Forward?
When executive teams aren’t aligned on the future, energy gets scattered. Some leaders may pursue funding opportunities that don’t quite fit. Others may push initiatives that compete for limited resources. A strategic plan creates shared clarity, ensuring everyone is pulling in the same direction.
How coLAB helps: We use structured interviews and alignment sessions to uncover where leadership perspectives converge, and where they diverge. This assessment allows us to build a roadmap that creates consensus, so planning starts from a place of unity.
Do Staff Have the Capacity to Succeed?
Does your board ask staff to deliver on new priorities without the time, people, or resources to succeed? Do your staff feel like they’re constantly reacting instead of proactively shaping their work? Strategic planning can bridge these gaps, aligning ambitions with capacity.
How coLAB helps: We engage staff at all levels to understand real capacity constraints and resource challenges. This input ensures the planning process is grounded in reality and positions the organization to set achievable goals.
Are Your Community’s Needs Outpacing the Resources You Have?
Sometimes the community’s needs don’t match what the organization currently has to offer. Other times, an organization simply doesn’t have a clear picture of the community’s most urgent priorities. In both cases, strategic planning provides the space to step back, gather input, and chart a sustainable path forward.
How coLAB helps: We conduct stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and community assessments to provide a clearer picture of needs. This gives leaders the confidence that their strategy is not only aspirational but also responsive to the community they serve.
Is Your Executive Director or CEO Prepared to Lead This Strategic Change?
Finally, much depends on the executive leader. If the Executive Director or CEO is open to reflection, committed to honest conversations, and eager to build alignment, strategic planning can become a transformative process, not just for them, but for the entire organization.
How coLAB helps: We work closely with the executive leader as a thought partner, providing coaching and guidance through the readiness phase. This ensures the leader is equipped to champion the process and sustain momentum once the plan is in motion.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Strategic planning is more than a retreat or a document, it’s a chance to create clarity, strengthen alignment, and unlock your nonprofit’s potential. If any of these signals sound familiar, it may be the right time to begin.
At coLAB, we specialize in helping nonprofits assess their readiness and guide them through people-centered, data-informed planning processes that set them up for long-term impact.