Making Vital Choices: 
Strategic Planning and Program Development

Thursday, October 28, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

This workshop is now full. If you are interested in registering, please email trainings@tsne.org to be placed on the waiting list.

This workshop is full-day, and lunch (at 12:15 p.m.) is included.

Workshop Presenters: Deborah Linnell, Director of Programs, and Bob Greene, Senior Consultant, Third Sector New England

Cost: $99

Workshop Description:

Strategic Planning

All too many strategic plans sit on a shelf and gather dust. Other nonprofits use their strategic plan all-year round as a vital decision-making tool.

This interactive workshop will guide you past the “Dilbert” jokes and laundry lists of nice ideas so that your organization’s strategic plan will be indispensable. You will learn about:

  • Mission statements that drive decision making;
  • Developing criteria to choose between options;
  • Strategic thinking even when time is short;
  • Engaging the team in planning;
  • Hearing from stakeholders;
  • Identifying community involvement and impact; and
  • The link between planning and fundraising.

There will be opportunities throughout to apply the concepts to your organization.

Program Development

Next, Deborah Linnell will focus on the work horses of organizational strategy: its programs.

Many groups make false starts in developing programs or do not know how to renew or retire old ones. In this hands-on workshop, participants will develop their own new program through real-life case studies. Case studies will focus on testing and sharing vision for new programs, research with stakeholders, and design of program elements. Participants will also be introduced to how to develop staffing patterns, budget, evaluate and fundraise for new programs.

Presenter Bios: Deborah Linnell has over 27 years of experience in the non-profit sector as consultant to philanthropic institutions, evaluator, non-profit executive director and board member. She has provided training for international, national and regional non-profit audiences on subjects including fund, board and program development; strategic planning; evaluation; and succession planning. Deborah is the lead author of the Executive Directors Guide, The Guide for Successful Nonprofit Management and Evaluation of Capacity Building: Reflections from the Field, and the just-released Leadership Guide to Building Comprehensive Solutions to Domestic Violence. She is a frequent contributor to the Nonprofit Quarterly.

Bob Greene, senior consultant at TSNE, brings wide-ranging skills and experience to his work with a diverse group of clients. Working as an organizational development consultant for over 14 years, he brings together a broad knowledge of theory with strong practical skills. Areas of proven expertise include leading organizational change, incorporating diversity, coaching leaders and teams, and strategic planning. Bob has authored several articles and was an adjunct faculty at Montgomery College (Maryland).

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