A familiar NPO story

A small community-based organisation in Khayelitsha started with huge heart: supporting vulnerable children after school. Over time, opportunities came knocking. Food parcels, holiday programmes, youth skills training and even a donor asking about starting an ECD centre.

Each opportunity was good. Each was needed. But soon the team was exhausted, funding was stretched, and no one could clearly answer the question: What is our main focus right now?

If you lead a NPO, a strategic plan is essential.

What a strategic plan really is.

A strategic plan is a simple, shared roadmap that helps an NPO decide:

• Why we exist
• What we are focusing on over the next 3–5 years
• What success will look like
• What we will not focus on (just as important)

In the South African NPO context where funding is tight, staff often wear many hats, and needs are overwhelming, a strategic plan is not a luxury. It is a leadership tool. If you lead a NPO, a strategic plan is essential.

What a strategic plan is not

Let’s clear up a few myths:

❌ It is not just a donor requirement

❌ It is not a long, complicated document

❌ It is not something only the board or a consultant owns

❌ It is not meant to gather dust on a shelf

A good strategic plan should be used, not admired.

Core building blocks of a strong strategic plan

Most effective NPO strategic plans include these five things:

1. Vision – the change you want to see in the world
2. Mission – what your organisation actually does
3. Values – how you work
4. Strategic priorities – 3 to 5 clear focus areas
5. High-level outcomes – what success will look like

(Tip: Keep it simple. Complexity does not equal impact.)

A practical way to create your strategic plan

You don’t need a massive budget or months of workshops. Here’s a down-to-earth process that works well:

1. Get the right people in the room: Board members, leadership, and key staff (not everyone, but the right mix).
2. Be honest about your reality: What is working? What isn’t? What is draining your team?
3. Clarify your focus: Ask: If we could only do three things well over the next few years, what should they be?
4. Agree on priorities and outcomes: Use clear language that everyone understands.
5. Write it down simply: A 5–10 page document is more than enough.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Trying to do everything
• Using vague language like “empower” without clarity
• Not reviewing the plan again once it’s approved

Why a good strategic plan matters this year

A solid strategic plan helps you move from reacting to leading. And once you have clarity, something powerful happens: you start using your resources better.

Next week in Blog 2: How a clear strategic plan helps your NPO allocate time, money, and energy more effectively.

As always, EM Solutions is available to assist you with putting together your strategic plan and helping facilitate your planning. We believe in you, and in unlocking your NPO’spotential.