During the Prepare stage, determining who decides and how decisions are made is an essential step. There are a variety of decision-making models that may meet your needs. Identify an approach that works best for your nonprofit and strategic planning process. Be explicit about decision-making and set clear expectations upfront with staff, board, volunteers, and any other potential participants. Building an inclusive process will ensure buy-in of the final strategic plan, so be transparent about who participates and what these individuals and groups can influence.
When it comes to your decision-making approach, think about the following questions:
- To whom is your nonprofit accountable?
- How are you sharing, yielding, or building power together through your decision-making?
- Who are the people and groups most affected by decisions made during and/or as a result of your strategic planning process?
- Who has expertise and knowledge about the decision being made?