Understanding Business Planning

Posted by La Salle Nonprofit Center on May 15, 2017

Many nonprofits are unsure about the role of a business plan, how it differs from a strategic plan and why both are needed for a resilient, sustainable organization. Through the business planning process, you answer the essential questions of: where are you going?, what are you trying to achieve?, who is your competition?, what are your core competencies?, and who/what are needed to get you there. Via business planning, you address these questions specifically determining the business and financial model that will enable you to sustain a program. By determining key issues like fee structures, donor appeal, social enterprise possibilities, etc., you can realistically develop the strategies that get you to your objectives.

Your business plan serves as your organization’s action plan, identifying the tasks, milestones, goals, potential for success and possible internal and external risks. Can you expand this program which was identified in our strategic plan as needing to serve additional clients? What do we need to do to make that happen? That’s business planning.

Learn more about how we approach business planning

We see business planning as the essential pathway to organizational decision-making. It’s how you connect the dots between mission and strategic plan and your programs, identifying the specific resources required to deliver and establishing performance measures to determine if the desired results are achieved.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” -Larry Elder

While it’s not strategic planning (and this class will make you understand the essential differences), business planning fosters strategic thinking as you go through the process.

We created this class because business planning is such a vital piece of any organization, serving as a blueprint from which you develop or alter your programs. No organization should consider additions or substantial changes to programs and activities without a sound business plan that aligns organizational strategy with human, financial, marketing and other necessary resources. Our class introduces the process of business analysis and planning, including financial and marketing analysis, defining impact, establishing priorities, projecting required resources and establishing performance measures. Working on an actual case study, you will develop an understanding of the concept of business planning and how it relates to other types of planning. You’ll acquire practical tools for analyzing your current program mix and evaluating the marketing and financial implications for new ventures.

When: June 8, 2017, 9 am to 4 pm, convenient center city location to be announced shortly
Fee: $129 for Members/$159 for Non-Members

Register here >

https://www.lasallenonprofitcenter.org/courses/financial-management/understanding-business-planning/