Getting Ready to Bid 2020 Adieu!
As 2020 starts to wind to a close (yeah!), the time has come to start thinking about and planning for 2021 so you can jump in, ready to go after the holidays.
You may think, “no way can I plan anything with all the uncertainty in the world,” but that becomes THE REASON to plan. If you start with nothing, you have no north star to ground or guide you. At least with a plan, you have something from which to deviate should the uncertainty of 2020 continue into the new year or 2021 have new surprises in store for us! It also lets you take some time during the relative calm that hopefully will continue through the next few months to evaluate what has worked in 2020 and what you want to continue (or not) into 2021 and beyond.
So, what kind of planning should you undertake? I recommend you start with four types of plans.
1. Strategic Planning: If you don’t have a strategic plan, I highly recommend that you consider creating one to guide your organization through the next 3-5 years. A strategic plan helps you evaluate your environment and determine where you want your organization to fit within the broader community context. More than anything else, it provides the compass to help you navigate calm and less-than-calm waters. If I know my end goal, at least I know what types of detours will still let me achieve that goal, even if 2021 continues to throw up roadblocks and surprises. And if you have a strategic plan, I strongly advise you revisit it since your world has likely changed markedly since you created the plan.
2. Crisis Planning: If 2020 taught us anything, it taught us the value of crisis planning! A formal debrief process with staff, clients, board members and any other key stakeholders will let you evaluate what you did well in handling 2020’s seemingly unending crises and what you could do differently or better next time. Be sure to consider communication – internal and external, technology, programming, and financial aspects of the organization when evaluating and creating your crisis plan. Then take the time to write a formal plan that you can dust off –hopefully many, many years from now – when the next crisis hits.
3. Financial Planning: 2020 also taught us the value of financial reserves. How did you fare financially in 2020? Did you have to rely on federal or state funds to bail you out or did you have enough in reserves? Did you have the networks and data to learn about and receive government assistance? Did your donors come to your rescue or did your traditional funding sources dry up? Looking at your financial resources – earned and raised – and how you can diversify these income streams and create some reserves for the next crisis will leave you better prepared and hopefully having fewer sleepless nights.
4. Operational Planning outlines the day-to-day (or week by week or month by month) needs of the organization. Think programming, fundraising, and special initiatives. How will you launch and manage operations throughout the year? Creating a calendar will help assure that you have the resources you need to initiate each program when you desire and that you don’t overwhelm yourself or your staff. It also helps you plan funding, whether from grant sources, major donors, or broader appeals. Just write your plan in pencil so you can adjust as needed!
Taking the time now to plan out these critically important aspects of your organization will leave you feeling better prepared to face 2021, whether we have a “boring” year (yes, please!) or things continue to evolve as they have this year.
