Last week, I shared an interview Maria Lees, our team writing lead was fortunate to have with Sue Meuschke, the long time executive director of the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCEDSV). In our interview, Sue outlined the approach she and her team have taken to incorporate strategic planning into the work of their organization. The details of this interview can be found in this blog post./
If you read that interview and found yourself thinking, “Wow, Sarah! I want MORE real-life examples!”
You’re in luck!
Because I believe in the power of strategic planning and the importance of having real-life examples to learn from, I figured, “Why share one example when I can offer TWO?!”
This second installment of our Strategic Planning Spotlights comes from a conversation Maria had with Megan Meadors, program director of The Mom & Dad Project.
Located in Big Bear, California, The Mom & Dad Project is a parenting education and resource center aimed at providing parents and caregivers with educational resources and classes covering a wide variety of childcare topics. This nonprofit is one of the only “one-stop shop” parent-focused organizations offering resources for local individuals at every step of the parenting journey (birth-18 years old.)
Their classes cover everything from childbirth and infant care to effective discipline practices and early literacy strategies.
As the program director, Megan plays an integral role in leading her team through the strategic planning process. Over the last several years, they have developed practices and routines that have made their strategic planning, and consequently, the work of The Mom & Dad Project more effective.
Here are the details:
WHO: Megan’s strategic planning team involves each of the eight full-time employees working for The Mom & Dad Project. Additionally, valuable feedback is gathered from volunteers that support the work of their programs and the clients and program participants. This feedback helps to guide the conversations that take place within the strategic planning meetings.
Megan and her team make a point to bring in outside consultants and strategic planning experts to serve as mediators and guides leading the planning process. (I was fortunate enough to be one of the consultants working with this incredible organization.)
Megan shared that having an outside planning expert come in helped to keep their group on track and focused on the right things throughout the process.
WHEN: Over the years, they’ve tried a variety of formats for strategic planning including 1-year plans, 3-year plans, and 5-year plans. Megan shared that taking time each year to create an annual plan seems to have been the most fruitful.
Throughout the year, her team meets once a month to check-in and review the strategic plan. They review their goals and targets and assess whether or not they are on track and identify any changes that need to be made. These conversations are recorded in a “living document” shared amongst the team members.
WHAT: Throughout the planning process, the team meets to identify targets and goals for the work they hope to accomplish in the coming year. This includes discussing their educational program (both current programs and ideas for future endeavors), funding opportunities, and board engagement.
As with everything in the past year, The Mom & Dad Project has had to make adjustments to their original plans to accommodate for new social distancing mandates and requirements brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to prior strategic planning, Megan and her team had previously determined that building a platform for online courses would be beneficial in serving their community’s needs long term. When the pandemic hit and the world went online, The Mom & Dad Project was ready and prepared for a seamless transition to virtual parenting classes.
To learn more about the incredible work of The Mom & Dad Project, visit their website or connect with them on social media.
If you enjoyed this real-life spotlight and would like to hear more stories and examples of how organizations are putting impactful strategies into practice, click here to subscribe to my mailing list. This way, you’ll be up to date on the latest blog posts, podcast episodes, and future spotlights!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
