Time for Change
Last week we conducted a strategic planning board retreat for a United Way in Illinois. Over the course of the board retreat, one thing became very clear – it was time for change. As their board discussed the challenges they were facing and the opportunities they had, they realized that change was necessary for their United Way to continue growing and succeeding. They realized that this change also included changing their mission to reflect how their work in the community has evolved over time.
Two Types of Change
The changes required for a United Way to be sustainable, impactful, and relevant in today’s world are not easy. Broadly, they fall into two categories – changing what you do and changing how you do it. For example, with the decline of the workplace campaign, it will be necessary to change what you do to raise money. Your United Way may need to look at adopting new strategies for diversifying revenue beyond the workplace campaign. Similarly, with the impact of COVID-19, it will be necessary to change how you operate your workplace campaigns. Virtual campaigns are now a necessity and they require a different approach to sharing your message and asking people to give.
Making changes like these during a pandemic might be difficult. A lot of United Ways are standing still during the pandemic, overwhelmed by operating COVID-19 relief funds or providing needed services in their community due to the current crisis. But, responding to COVID-19 is something that is happening in this moment – it is not what your United Way was doing a year ago and hopefully it is not what your United Way will be doing a year from now.
I commend the United Way we worked with last week for their commitment to proceed with their strategic planning board retreat even in this time of COVID-19. They have recognized the need for change and have started the process of developing a strategic plan to provide direction for the future of their United Way.
Strategic Planning for Change
At Perspectives, we have more than 30 years of experience helping United Ways create strategic plans that clearly identify what needs to change and include step-by-step plans for implementing strategies necessary for transforming their work. Our strategic planning process recognizes the unique challenges and opportunities that need to be considered when a United Way is developing a strategic plan. We will share our comprehensive playbook of strategies that your United Way can implement to address your challenges and seize your opportunities.
To learn more about our strategic planning services, visit our strategic planning webpage or contact us to schedule a free consultation at info@perspectives4uw.com.
And if you are interested in learning how to create messages that will get your donors to KEEP giving, even after they’ve given to your COVID-19 fund, consider signing up for our September 29th webinar How To Craft Messages that Engage Your Donors During a Crisis.
The time for change is now. Recognizing how your United Way must change to adapt to the challenges and opportunities you are facing is the first step to ensuring your United Way will be sustainable, impactful, and relevant for years to come.