How can you create growth and impact by leveraging your program's strengths?

1 Assess your program's strengths

The first step is to identify and evaluate your program's strengths. What are the unique features, benefits, and outcomes of your program that make it stand out from others? What are the core competencies and skills of your staff and volunteers? What are the assets and resources that you have access to? You can use tools such as SWOT analysis, logic models, or theory of change to help you answer these questions. By assessing your program's strengths, you can gain a clear understanding of what makes your program valuable and successful.

2 Align your program's strengths with your vision and goals

The next step is to align your program's strengths with your vision and goals. What is the ultimate impact that you want to create with your program? What are the specific and measurable objectives that you want to achieve in the short and long term? How do your program's strengths help you fulfill your vision and goals? You can use tools such as SMART goals, logic frameworks, or impact maps to help you answer these questions. By aligning your program's strengths with your vision and goals, you can ensure that your program is relevant and focused.

3 Communicate your program's strengths to your stakeholders

The third step is to communicate your program's strengths to your stakeholders. Who are the people and groups that are interested in or affected by your program? How can you reach out to them and inform them about your program's strengths and impact? What are the best channels and methods to communicate with them? You can use tools such as stakeholder analysis, storytelling, or marketing mix to help you answer these questions. By communicating your program's strengths to your stakeholders, you can build trust, awareness, and support for your program.

4 Leverage your program's strengths to create opportunities

The fourth step is to leverage your program's strengths to create opportunities. How can you use your program's strengths to expand your reach, increase your funding, or improve your quality? What are the gaps, needs, or challenges that your program can address or solve? What are the potential partners, donors, or beneficiaries that you can collaborate with or serve? You can use tools such as opportunity analysis, fundraising plan, or partnership agreement to help you answer these questions. By leveraging your program's strengths to create opportunities, you can grow your program and its impact.

6 Celebrate and share your program's strengths and achievements

The final step is to celebrate and share your program's strengths and achievements. How can you recognize and reward the efforts and contributions of your staff, volunteers, and partners? How can you showcase and share the stories and successes of your program and its beneficiaries? How can you inspire and motivate others to join or support your program? You can use tools such as events, awards, or newsletters to help you answer these questions. By celebrating and sharing your program's strengths and achievements, you can create a positive and lasting impact.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?