Mini Strategic Planning

Mini Strategic Planning: for Staff Teams, Working Boards, and Smaller Organizations

What is Mini Strategic Planning?

This is planning for staff teams, working boards, and smaller organizations. Strategic planning can sometimes feel like a daunting undertaking. I want to help groups create plans that help them get good work done and use their time and resources wisely. I use my Technology of Participation training and skills to guide you and your group through a participatory, consensus-based process. Here are the elements of this planning:

  • Design: I meet with a small group to design a planning process, learn how to engage your people, and understand what you want to get out of your planning process

  • Content review: I review organization materials, whatever current plans you may have in place, your website and social media, and whatever else is relevant to review

  • Assessment: I conduct a truncated assessment through a set of phone conversations with 4 or 5 people that can further inform the planning process and agenda for the planning session

  • Planning session: I facilitate a 3-4 hour planning session with your people and you develop a set of high level goals and strategies. The purpose and agenda of this session is unique to you and your team or organization

  • Report: I document the process and the work, complete a report, and submit to you at the close of the project

What is not included in Mini Strategic Planning?

Mini Strategic Planning is just that: mini. This type of planning assumes:

  • You already have established relationships with each other and don’t need to spend a lot of time getting to know each other or developing a shared idea of the purpose or outcome of the planning work.

  • You are not using this planning process to get a detailed plan in place for a specific project, event or campaign. That could be better suited to Action Planning. Look for a future blog post on this.

  • You are not using this process to redefine your mission, vision, or values in addition to developing a plan (this process could be designed to help you do ONE of those things, for example).

  • You are not using this process to substitute for or in place of community engagement.

  • Your planning group is not larger than 10-12 people. Once a group gets larger than that, I work with one of my co-facilitators, which means an additional cost for their time and expertise.

How does it work?

If you are interested in mini strategic planning, contact me and we’ll schedule a phone conversation or short coffee/tea meeting. I complete a form that helps me understand what you and your organization are looking for. I then draft a proposal for your review. If you decide you want to go for it, I write a Letter of Agreement (or use your organization’s contract template).

A mini strategic planning process takes two to three months from start to finish.

How much does it cost?

  • Mini strategic planning processes are usually in the range of $2,500 to $10,000.

  • Additional time for a more comprehensive assessment or for more planning sessions can be added for additional costs, depending on your organization’s needs and resources.

    ***I offer a sliding scale for this type of planning. If you do not have resources for this, I will work with you to figure out a fair cost and payment plan.

How do we get started?

Contact me at amybrugh@gmail.com or 612-741-6733 and we can go from there. I can answer questions you might have via phone, email or a quick cup of coffee/tea.

What if I want the non-mini version? The whole shebang strategic plan. I have the time and resources for a full strategic planning process.

Sure! Let’s discuss! Contact me at amybrugh@gmail.com or 612-741-6733 and we can go from there.