Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide for Dynamic Times, 3rd Edition

About the Third Edition

In the 18 years since we wrote the first edition of this book, the two of us have been astounded and delighted by the reception it has received. We have heard from people all over the country and from abroad, who have let us know that the book was helpful to them in various ways—leading their own organizations through planning, as consultants to nonprofit organizations, and as university instructors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Strategic planning continues to be the most common organization development activity undertaken in the nonprofit and private sectors. This is because it works and is necessary for organizations to succeed. Strategic planning is alive and well, and the practice continues to evolve. Hence a third edition!

In the past two decades, the nonprofit sector has grown enormously in scale and in sophistication. Expectations of nonprofits have grown for better measures of impact, financial transparency and integrity, and increased collaboration. Social media, economic recessions, globalization, and income inequality all can make the seas that nonprofits navigate choppy. In these dynamic times, having a clear strategy helps nonprofits keep their eyes on the horizon and successfully adapt their plans to stay focused on accomplishing their mission.

In this new edition, we have provided additional guidance on the specific steps in strategic analysis and priority setting, and we have included more discussion about how to use your ...