Organizations at the brink of new program development, growth or community partnerships often need assistance planning and executing on those activities. They need someone with the expertise to assess current strengths, vulnerabilities and opportunities – within and external to the organization. They need someone to engage the staff, board and community in a different way to establish viability and then lead the effort to design the path ahead. They need someone that can set vision, see the big picture and also grasp the intricacies and details of the project plan. And finally, organizations need someone – an experienced external professional – to help them look at planning and operations from a point of strategic agility.
What do we mean by strategic agility? This term refers to the ability of an organization to be mission focused, results-oriented, responsive and entrepreneurial – all at the same time. It requires deep commitment to core values and mission, but not necessarily tied to doing things the same way, year after year. It is a process that compels cultural shifts, empowerment of staff and an unerring dedication to the process by senior leadership – including the governing body. The most successful nonprofits and educational institutions today demonstrate strategic agility.
Sharon offers exceptional insight and leadership in these areas. She has broad knowledge of the nonprofit, philanthropic and educational landscapes – and is skilled at strategy development and execution. She is proficient at working with boards and staff to strategize, innovate and build bridges across departments, organizations or communities to further their goals.
Specific projects Sharon can provide assistance with related to planning include, but are not limited to:
- Complete assessment with staff, board and the community to identify strengths, challenges, competition and opportunity for growth.
- Execute process to clarify mission, vision and core values.
- Develop a process for planning that is inclusive of all stakeholders, thorough and tailored to the time/resource parameters for the organization.
- Coordinate data collection, impact studies, and collateral to provide the board with succinct information helpful for the planning process, such as: recognized program strengths; programmatic or human resource strengths/challenges; financial implications of current or intended programs/services; current service gaps; emerging options for service delivery; operational, physical plant or technology needs; innovative funding streams; social impact or shifts in community/government resources.
- Facilitate the planning process with the board, staff and sub-committees as determined necessary.
- Work with the team to develop a strategy, inclusive of measurable objectives, timelines for achievement, responsible parties and implementation process.
Contact Sharon Knight for more information about how she can provide you with services to smoothly and effectively engage stakeholders, identify strategy, define measurable outcomes and execute projects to allow you to achieve mission.
Sharon Knight Consulting 