An Introduction to Strategic Planning

'Failing to prepare is preparing to fail'
(John Wooden, American basketball coach)

No matter what their size, all organisations need to plan. Doing so will highlight both the opportunities and challenges it faces. This will not only strengthen the organisation, but will also enable it to deliver more effectively to meet the needs of its beneficiaries.

Planning can be simple and straightforward. It can be a creative process that brings demonstrable benefits. There is a direct link between effective planning and long-term sustainability. As such, it is the first step towards sustainable funding.

Planning in six stages

Tools for Tomorrow is a planning toolkit. It divides the planning process into six key stages that organisations can work through one step at a time.

Explore our guides which summarise each stage:

• Stage 1 - getting the direction right
• Stage 2 - environmental analysis
• Stage 3 - options and choice
• Stage 4 – writing the plan
• Stage 5 - implementation
• Stage 6 - evaluation

Planning Toolkit

Tools for tomorrow - A practical guide to strategic planning for voluntary organisations is a comprehensive and easy-to-use toolkit. It includes 23 tried and tested ideas and case studies demonstrating successful use of the tools provided. Worksheets are included to help staff and trustees navigate their way through the planning cycle. It is adaptable for creating strategic plans for one, five or even ten years.

Tools for Tomorrow was developed through collaboration between the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Cass Business School, City University and NCVO's Third Sector Foresight Programme. 

Related information

To plan effectively an organisation also needs to understand its cost base and be able to assess and measure the impact of its work.

You may also be interested in our sections on:

• Full Cost Recovery: Understanding and costing the full overhead costs of activities and services provided, such as: the cost of management and leadership; research, development and innovation; and support functions - the price of premises, financial and personnel management, is essential to the ongoing sustainability of organisations.
• Outcome funding: Focusing on outcomes is a way of focusing not so much on what we do as what we achieve. Outcome funding refers to the process whereby funders fund for the change brought about (the 'outcomes') by particular activities (the 'outputs'), not simply the delivery of outputs themselves.

Download the free Introductory Guide to Sustainable Funding

• The Guide to Sustainable Funding is the first in the six-part Introductory Pack to Funding and Finance, produced by the Sustainable Funding Project for the Finance Hub. It includes sections on effective planning and managment and tools to help you plan. 

Download the Guide to Sustainable Funding (PDF 632KB).