Nonprofit Strategy: Goals

Does your #nonprofit have a set of #smartgoals that support your #strategicplan?

SMART #goals (that is, goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) are the meat and potatoes, so to speak, of a strategic plan. Goals make strategy come alive. Goals define what the organization should be spending time and resources on. Goals align activities with fulfilling your mission. Goals should be developed in collaboration between the #boardofdirectors and #leadership of the organization.

If you think of #objectives as categories of goals, then the goals themselves are the activities and projects that support and grow your #mission. SMART goals are concrete, unambiguous targets with a timeframe. A SMART goal increases the odds of success by ensuring the goal is relevant, achievable and measurable.

Let’s develop an example goal. This example assumes your trade association’s mission includes an educational component for your members, and you currently provide education sessions at your annual conference.

Objective: “We will provide our services to our stakeholders for a reasonable cost.”

This high-level objective supports your mission, but does not describe how. How will you provide your services to your stakeholders for a reasonable cost? The how is a SMART goal that supports this objective.

Goal: “By 4Q2021, we will develop an online version of our [education program name].”

This goal is:

• Specific. The goal is to “develop an online version of one of your educational programs”.
• Measurable. Was it complete by the end of 4Q2021? This is a yes or no question.
• Attainable. Do you have the expertise and resources to build an online program? Does the goal give the organization enough time to complete?
• Realistic. Does this goal support your mission? 
• Timely. Every goal should have a completion date, and the date should support the mission’s timeframes.

This example goal supports the objective of providing services to stakeholders at a reasonable cost. Once developed, providing this program online to the membership is less costly than an in-person delivery of the same program.

Does your #nonprofit or #tradeassociation have a set of #smart #goals in your #strategicplan? If not, let’s talk. I can help. [email protected] or www.calendly.com/danlucarelli.