It has been said that if you don’t know where you’re going, you’re never going to get there.  This adage offers a concise insight into why vision and planning are so important for nonprofit agencies.  The vision statement of an organization should be a clear, concise and compelling statement of where the organization wants to be at a specific point in the future.  Once an organization’s stakeholders are captured by a strong vision, they are energized to bring it to fruition. 

Vision statements are essential to great strategic planning:  once the vision is articulated, all organization resources can be directed to effectively achieve it.  A successful strategic plan will address both long-range and day-to-day activities, moving the organization from a reactive mode to a proactive mode.  The goals identified in the planning process should uphold the overall vision of the organization.  And the strategies and tactics defined to achieve those goals will profoundly impact daily operations.  Therefore, rather than taking care of “what comes up,” staff and volunteers engage in tasks that are clearly connected to accomplishing the goals and attaining the vision of the organization. 

Appreciative Inquiry-based planning takes the process one step higher by identifying the strengths within an organization and using these as the building blocks for the future.  Most planning processes begin by identifying what’s wrong in an organization.  Paradigm Shift Studio uses the AI approach, starting with the conviction that an organization’s strengths are the building blocks for future success.  Paradigm Shift Studio engages employees, board members and volunteers in a process that builds ownership and creates clear, attainable strategies to reach the organization’s goals.   Paradigm Shift Studio helps organizations define where they’re going, and how they’re going to get there.

The Council for Extended Care

A Case Study in Strategic Planning

Paradigm Shift Studio recently led a visioning and strategic planning process for the Council for Extended Care.  For the first time in the organization’s history, board members gathered with staff to envision the best possible future for the organization and to identify the steps needed to strategically reach this vision.  The gathering produced  a “blueprint for the future,” according to Executive Director Vicky Presnell, and built important relationships between board members and staff personnel.

The process provided a wonderful opportunity for key stakeholders in CEC’s mission to be together, identify goals and dialogue on strategies to achieve them.  Vicky heard great ideas surface from both board members and staff.  Through the interaction, participants realized they’re “all on the same page” in their shared commitment to the CEC mission, according to Vicky.  One part of the process she found particularly helpful was the group icebreaker.

The SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations (Visioning) and Results) Strategic Planning session began with pairs of colleagues talking together in an “appreciative interview.”  The questions focus on identifying instances when the organization operates at its very best, and on learning more about the interview partner.  Pairs then reported findings to the larger group.  These interviews surfaced many strengths, as well as areas for growth in the future.  From there, the group participated in the Fundraising 101 module led by Ashley Gray, a member of the Paradigm Leadership Team. 

From the process, CEC’s board members and staff identified goals related to: greater community recognition and networking; building strategic partnerships for fundraising efforts; and completing a detailed plan and timeline for accomplishing their goals.  CEC’s board and staff are energized by the results of the process, and are working to put the next steps in place.

The Council for Extended Care (CEC) is a non-profit organization that gives hope to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families by offering a variety of services that provide support, independence and respite.  Founded in 1977 by a group of family members whose children attended St. Mary’s Special School in St. Louis, the CEC now supports 200 individuals in residential programs and 470 adults and children in recreational programs in the St. Louis area.

From supported living services to recreational programs (including Sunnyhill Adventures www.sunnyhilladventures.org) , the goal for the CEC is to help individuals with developmental disabilities take pride in their achievements, make choices that lead them to the greatest independence and live lives of quality and dignity.

CEC is changing the world for hundreds of children and adults in the St. Louis area by offering hope, companionship and support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.  For more information, visit their website: www.cecstl.org.

Partner Spotlight:  NFP Consultants, Inc.
Helping You Help Your Community

NFP is an authorized business partner for Sage Software’s nonprofit division and a partner offering special discounts to Paradigm Shift Studio, llc clients.  NFP provides Fundraising, Fund Accounting, and Human Resources software to nonprofit organizations.  Andy Harleman, Account Manager, joined NFP Consultants in January 2006 after service as the Administrative Director for a local Supported Living agency and in Small Business Advocacy.  He is focused on helping nonprofits increase efficiencies and therefore be freer to focus on the organization’s mission.

Sage Software’s nonprofit division is committed to providing nonprofits and government agencies with integrated, scalable solutions that adapt to their needs.  Sage Software works through a network of local nonprofit specialists, so their customers have local relationships, and local support and services.  As a St. Louis-based company founded by a former Budget Director of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, NFP Consultants began providing software solutions to local nonprofits in 1990.  By the time Sage Software purchased MIP Fund Accounting Software in 2001, NFP Consultants was the number one provider of the product nationwide, so the decision to ask NFP to enter into a partnership was an easy one.

The team at NFP is a big proponent of the elimination of spreadsheets.  Too often, nonprofit finance or development staffs are trying to track complex transactions or databases on Excel spreadsheets.  This is a major “symptom” that the organization is operating well below optimal efficiency and usually means that administrative staff is bogged down with the minutiae of data entry or retrieval and are not able to focus their energy on the mission of the organization.  The folks at NFP don’t think an Executive Director should have to spend hours trying to get a simple update on the performance of a campaign or the expenses of a department.  They are committed to providing solutions which free the administrators of nonprofits from these kinds of unnecessary distractions.

As a service to Paradigm Shift Studio clients, NFP Consultants offers an exclusive 10% discount on software products.  

 “Our constituents really appreciate us demonstrating good stewardship of our funds.  Sage Fundraising 50 is a big help in this regard, and encourages higher levels of giving.  I’d estimate that the software has increased solicitation revenue by at least 25 percent.”

--Pauline McTernan

St. Joseph’s High School, Kenosha, Wisconsin

For More Information Contact:

Andy Harleman

NFP Consultants, Inc.

314-894-1644 St. Louis

800-632-6372 toll free

andyh@nfpconsultants.com

Funder Spotlight:  Missouri Foundation for Health

Established in 2000, the Missouri Federation for Health (MFH) is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in Missouri. MFH is in its sixth year of grantmaking, having issued more than $215 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured, underinsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis.  The MFH is committed to funding not only special projects and initiatives, but also to award grants for capacity-building in eligible nonprofit organizations.  Their funding programs include:

2007 Basic Support Program

Organizations in the Missouri Foundation for Health's (MFH) service region provide a variety of preventive and direct health service programs for the uninsured, underinsured and underserved. MFH recognizes that these organizations have funding needs to support ongoing activities that meet an identified community need and have a track record of success.Through this program, MFH considers proposals from eligible organizations to fund ongoing costs that are central to the achievement of an organization's mission. These funds can only be used for existing salaries and benefits, equipment and supplies.

Primary Care Access

Developed in 2006, this initiative has multiple phases and is designed to help to strengthen the health care safety net and improve access to care outside the St. Louis area.

Healthy and Active Communities Initiative

MFH has committed $9 million to support nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies in a wide range of programs that addresses obesity prevention.

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

The MFH Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative is a nine-year, multi-phase program that is taking a comprehensive approach to tobacco use in order to assure integration of all aspects of prevention and cessation.

Priority Area Grants

As a way of developing more focused and responsive grantmaking, MFH will award Priority Area Grants (PAGs) in four separate health-related areas in 2007. Those areas are: Dental Sealants for Children; Missouri Health Literacy Enhancement; Co-Occurring Disorders; Better Self Management of Diabetes

Grants for Assessment and Planning

The majority of activity supported by MFH in any subject area is programmatic (i.e., supporting delivery of services paid for in whole or in part by MFH funds). There are other types of activities carried out by organizations that can have a positive impact on the health of a community and its residents independent of whether MFH is the source of funding. Grants for Assessment and Planning (GAP) are designed to support efforts by eligible organizations to assess needs and plan for initiation or expansion of services to the uninsured, underinsured and underserved residents of the service region. Priority will be given to assessment and planning efforts that focus on MFH's grantmaking areas listed above, although consideration will be given to similar efforts that fall within the broad definition of health used by MFH.   

For more information on the Missouri Foundation for Health, visit:  www.mffh.org.

Celebrating our 5th Anniversary with a Special Discount For You!

For five years, the Paradigm Shift Studio team has engaged and empowered non-profits and funders to increase their impact for those they serve.  Together we have been able to identify an organization’s strengths and make them the building blocks for future success.  We want to thank our clients for trusting us with this important work.

To celebrate this milestone we are offering a special 5% discount on our Snapshot for Success Assessment Program (for contracts executed by September 30, 2007.)  The Snapshot for Success Assessment Program is a results-oriented, step-by-step program that assesses organizational strengths and opportunities, engages donors, and provides your organization with a customized “next steps” strategy report.  Here’s what some of our Snapshot clients are saying:

"You took our ideas and turned them into reality based facts."

"You provided lots of feedback and an analysis of our needs and objectives."

"You facilitated the 'actions' necessary for growth."

The Snapshot for Success Program is ideal for organizations of all sizes and ages.  Our team will tailor the program to suit your needs and give you fresh ideas and strategies to move ahead.  Take advantage of this “5th Anniversary” offer right away by calling 314-317-2284.