Nonprofit Strategic Plan Development and Implementation
A well-developed and actively monitored strategic plan focuses resources, aligns board and staff, and communicates organizational direction to funders and partners. This checklist guides both plan development and annual implementation review.
- Industry: Nonprofit
- Frequency: Annual review; 3-5 year development cycle
- Estimated Time: 4-6 hours for annual review
- Role: Executive Director / Board Chair
- Total Items: 28
Plan Currency and Relevance
Assess plan currency and relevance.
- Current board-approved strategic plan exists?
- Plan developed or comprehensively updated within last 3 years?
- Significant environmental changes since plan adoption assessed for impact on strategy?
- Plan goals and priorities still relevant to current needs and opportunities?
- Strategic plan actually used to guide major decisions?
Goal Progress Assessment
Assess progress on strategic goals.
- Strategic goals have measurable outcomes or milestones?
- Progress toward each goal tracked with data?
- Goals explicitly assessed as on-track, off-track, or completed?
- Off-track goals analyzed for root cause and response options?
- Completed strategic goals celebrated with board and staff?
Resource Alignment
Verify resources aligned with strategy.
- Annual budget reflects strategic priorities?
- Staffing structure and roles aligned with strategic direction?
- Fundraising plan aligned with resource needs of strategic plan?
- Grant seeking strategy aligned with strategic priorities?
Stakeholder Engagement in Planning
Verify stakeholder engagement.
- Beneficiary or community voice included in strategic planning?
- Staff engaged in strategic planning process?
- Board led or actively participated in strategic plan development?
- Key partners and stakeholders consulted in environmental scan?
- Major donors informed of strategic direction?
Board Strategic Oversight
Verify board strategic oversight.
- Board receives quarterly strategic plan progress reports?
- Annual board retreat or extended strategic discussion scheduled?
- Board prepared to adjust strategy when circumstances change?
- Board focused on strategy and policy, not day-to-day operations?
Next Planning Cycle
Prepare for next planning cycle.
- Timeline for developing next strategic plan established?
- Lessons from current plan documented for input into next planning process?
- External facilitator or consultant considered for next planning process?
- Data collection needs for environmental scan identified?
- Board prepared for their role in leading the next strategic planning cycle?
Related Nonprofit Checklists
- Nonprofit Board Member Recruitment and Onboarding Checklist
- Nonprofit Organizational Capacity Building and Strategic Planning
- Nonprofit Executive Director Annual Performance Evaluation
- Nonprofit Board Meeting Preparation Checklist
- Nonprofit Investment and Endowment Management Review
- Nonprofit Accounts Payable and Disbursement Controls
- Nonprofit Payroll Processing and Compliance Review
- Nonprofit Restricted Fund Management and Release
Related Governance Compliance Checklists
- Nonprofit Board Meeting Preparation Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Bylaws Annual Review and Compliance Audit - FREE Download
- IRS Form 990 Annual Filing Preparation Checklist - FREE Download
- State Charitable Registration and Renewal Compliance Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Executive Director Annual Performance Review - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure Process - FREE Download
- New Nonprofit Board Member Orientation Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Board Governance Self-Assessment - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Whistleblower Policy Compliance and Implementation Review - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Annual Reporting and Compliance Calendar Audit - FREE Download
Why Use This Nonprofit Strategic Plan Development and Implementation?
This nonprofit strategic plan development and implementation helps nonprofit teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for executive director / board chair professionals, this checklist covers 28 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: annual review; 3-5 year development cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Nonprofit Strategic Plan Development and Implementation cover?
This checklist covers 28 inspection items across 6 sections: Plan Currency and Relevance, Goal Progress Assessment, Resource Alignment, Stakeholder Engagement in Planning, Board Strategic Oversight, Next Planning Cycle. It is designed for nonprofit operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed annual review; 3-5 year development cycle. Each completion takes approximately 4-6 hours for annual review.
Who should use this Nonprofit Strategic Plan Development and Implementation?
This checklist is designed for Executive Director / Board Chair professionals in the nonprofit industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.