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When nonprofit strategic planning goes wrong 

Candid

The strategic planning process is a rare chance for a nonprofit’s leaders to step back and look at their organization and its activities as a whole—to understand what success looks like and to allocate time, talent, and dollars to the activities that can help achieve it. Even the most ambitious strategic plan must also be feasible.

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How to Align Your Grant Proposals with Your Organization’s Strategic Goals in 2025

Just Write Grants

Revisit and Refine Your Strategic Plan Your organizations strategic plan serves as a roadmap for its activities and initiatives. Before diving into grant writing, take time to revisit your strategic plan. Set Up Metrics for Success Funders want to know that their money will make an impact.

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Valuing volunteers for in-kind contributions 

Strategic Grants

In fact, it should be part of your strategic planning to keep track of your organisation’s volunteer input. To that end, estimating the dollar value of your volunteer program is an important metric you should consider measuring and tracking.

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In a new era for the nonprofit ecosystem, collaboration is key to survival

Candid

Funders prioritize short-term metrics over long-term systemic change. And overhead costs—things like leadership development, data infrastructure, and strategic planning—are often considered an expense rather than an investment. The current funding system incentivizes competition over collaboration.

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How to Craft a Grant Proposal That Gets Results

Grant Writer Team

Acknowledge that real change takes time and articulate a strategic plan for continued progress. Articulate clear interim and summative metrics to demonstrate the impact of your project. Explain the Long-Term Impact! Outline your projects long-term outcomes to demonstrate sustainability and growth potential.

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Mastering SMART Objectives in Grant Writing Is … Wise

DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services

Use metrics, data, or benchmarks. Whether you are developing a strategic plan, managing a project, or designing a grant proposal, SMART objectives ensure that your efforts are focused and effective. Define the intended results so that they are Measurable: Attach a metric (e.g., “to a 90% average”).

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Helpful Ways to Measure and Optimize Your Nonprofit’s Performance

Blackbaud

If you are not sure which metrics are essential or how to convert your data into something stakeholders can grasp and absorb, start simply by setting clear goals. Learn more: Using Data to Make Annual Giving Work for You Measuring Outcomes Outcome metrics are powerful, necessary tools for demonstrating transparency and accountability.