Been There, Planned That: Practical Advice from a Transformation Challenge Winner
Happy Hollow Children’s Camp emerged as the winner of Mapt’s inaugural Transformation Challenge in 2023. Since then, the organization has made incredible strides in reimagining their future, capitalizing on new opportunities and amplifying their impact. Read more about Happy Hollow’s story.
Executive Director Sara Noyed had a front-row seat for Happy Hollow’s year of transformation. Read on for her valuable advice to other organizations considering a strategic planning journey.
Engage an External Partner for a Fresh Look
Noyed highly recommends enlisting outside support in the strategic planning process. “Partnering with an outside organization helped us to get out of our own way and opened doors to new possibilities,” she said. “We needed to know our limits and put guardrails on what was important to us and could not change.”
Make a Plan for After the Plan
Understanding next steps after the strategic planning process is critical to moving from plan to action. “Having Mapt create a first-year implementation roadmap was a unique aspect and a great finale to the strategic planning process,” Noyed said. She recommends allocating time and funds to ensure implementation of the plan is a priority for the organization.
Keep the End Goal in Mind
The strategic planning process can be challenging, but the results are worth it. “The process can be time intensive, but there are so many benefits that far outweigh the time put into it,” Noyed said. “It brought our board together on what our priorities should be; staff were able to rally around a plan and develop their work based on our goals. We’ve highlighted the plan when talking with funders about our future and have had success with those conversations.”
Make Your Effort Count
Noyed suggests building in mechanisms to review and discuss the strategic plan regularly. “Once you put time into the strategic planning process, be sure you follow through with the plan,” she said. “Otherwise, that is time wasted – and I don’t know many businesses that have time to waste!”
Transparency Can Be More Important Than Agreement
Don’t expect unilateral buy-in on every decision. “Not everyone is going to agree with every part of the strategic plan,” Noyed said, “and that is fine. What is important is to give everyone a voice during the planning process and then be able to explain the importance of where you land.”
Stay Loyal to the Mission
Above all, keep the mission in mind. “With a small organization and limited resources, I need to manage my time, staff time and board time well,” Noyed said. “As the organizational leader, I can’t allow for mediocracy or subpar work, because that will affect our ability to meet our mission. It’s not always easy, but it is very rewarding when seeing the outcomes.”
The Power of a Unified Vision
“More than ever, I’ve realized how much easier it is to lead when we are all focused on the same vision,” Noyed said. “This process has reinforced the importance of listening, collaborating and planning. Working with Mapt helped us to dream big and realize our potential.”