OVERVIEW

Strategic

Planning
Services

Explore the Planning Pathways we recommend for organizations at each stage of the Non-Profit Lifecycle below.

Ulrich Consulting’s planning services focus on crafting the following types of strategic plans:

A Renewal Strategy is a forward-looking plan designed to revitalize and reinvigorate your organization or community, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth. At Ulrich Consulting, we integrate three powerful system change frameworks—the Social Museum, Transformative Placemaking, and Eventful City—into our Renewal Strategies. These frameworks guide our approach to creating vibrant, inclusive environments that not only preserve cultural identity but also foster social connections, economic vitality, and dynamic community engagement, unlocking new potential for future success.
A strategic plan is a comprehensive outline of an organization's goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals, and the resources required to carry them out over a defined period of time.
The annual business plan is a formal written document that outlines how the strategic plan will be implemented over the course of a fiscal year with clearly defined goals, and the resources required to achieve them.
A brand story strategy is a carefully crafted narrative that communicates the values, mission, and unique offerings of an organization, aiming to establish an emotional connection with its audience.
A fund development plan is a comprehensive strategy that aims at securing and increasing financial resources to support the organization's mission and vision within a given time period.
A feasibility study is a crucial first step to evaluate if a business idea or program is practical and likely to succeed. It helps determine if the idea is viable and worth pursuing before investing a lot of resources.

The Non-Profit
Lifecycle

A MODEL FOR SMART PLANNING

Nonprofit organizations naturally progress through various stages, each with unique opportunities and challenges. Each stage requires different types of planning.

Understanding your organization’s life stage helps guide decision-making, capacity-building, and strategic planning. If you’re experiencing chaos or challenges, consider where you are in this lifecycle—it will provide clarity and a path forward for the type of planning you require.

What stage of the
non-profit lifecycle

do you think your

organization is at?

Start Up

Marked by high energy, limited funding, and newly acquired non-profit status, start ups are focused on proving their business case through experimental program design.

This is the place for a business plan, with annual implementation plans, and a strong fundraising plan focused on implementation. A great place to start is with an Organizational Assessment.

OUR RECOMMENDED PLANNING PATHWAY

Offers an in-depth baseline analysis of the organization's operations, programs, services, collections (where applicable), and governance. We will also explore the organization's engagement with its audience, members, donors, and key stakeholders.
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Transition

Transitioning out of the Start-Up Stage into the Growth Stage phase requires a strategic plan to address how the organization will grow.

A brand strategy and a new formal visual identity to clearly communicate its vision and the impacts it will make to the community, stakeholders and funders is recommended. The brand story will inform the case for support and the fund development strategy that will then need to be developed if the organization is to have the resources it needs to progress through the Growth Stage.

OUR RECOMMENDED PLANNING PATHWAY

A Renewal Strategy is a forward-looking plan designed to revitalize and reinvigorate your organization or community, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth. At Ulrich Consulting, we integrate three powerful system change frameworks— the Social Museum, Transformative Placemaking, and the Eventful City—into our Renewal Strategies. These frameworks guide our approach to creating vibrant, inclusive environments that not only preserve cultural identity but also foster social connections, economic vitality, and dynamic community engagement, unlocking new potential for future success.
A brand story strategy is a carefully crafted narrative that communicates the values, mission, and unique offerings of an organization, aiming to establish an emotional connection with its audience.
A fund development plan is a comprehensive strategy that aims at securing and increasing financial resources to support the organization's mission and vision within a given time period.

As the organization hits its stride and enters the growth stage, it focuses on standardizing and deepening programs to meet constituent needs, while formalizing its structure and processes to ensure vitality.

This stage requires a strategic plan keeps a firm focus focus on building organizational reputation and financial and operatioonal capacity, and both growing its audience through consistent communication and meeting demontrated audience needs.

Growth

OUR RECOMMENDED PLANNING PATHWAY

A strategic plan is a comprehensive outline of an organization's goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals, and the resources required to carry them out over a defined period of time.

Maturity

Mature organizations have strong reputation, formal structures, outcomes-based programs, diversified funding, and a CEO active in community relations and fundraising.

Early in this stage, mature groups need a strategic plan for organizational development and program enhancement. Later, they should focus on evolving programs and integrating people, initiatives, and funding through a digital strategy.

OUR RECOMMENDED PLANNING PATHWAY

Offers an in-depth baseline analysis of the organization's operations, programs, services, collections (where applicable), and governance. We will also explore the organization's engagement with its audience, members, donors, and key stakeholders.
A strategic plan is a comprehensive outline of an organization's goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals, and the resources required to carry them out over a defined period of time.
Our consultants work closely with cultural organizations to develop comprehensive digital strategies aligned with their mission, goals, and audience needs. This involves assessing current digital capabilities, identifying opportunities for improvement, and outlining a roadmap for implementation.

Decline

Organizations in decline often settle into a prescribed way of operating, gradually losing touch with clients and resisting necessary adaptations to meet changing community needs. The formal systems and budgets that once spurred growth now hinder evolution.

This stage necessitates an organizational assessment and the development of a Change Strategy, potentially including recommendations for changes in leadership, board composition, and programs.

OUR RECOMMENDED PLANNING PATHWAY

Offers an in-depth baseline analysis of the organization's operations, programs, services, collections (where applicable), and governance. We will also explore the organization's engagement with its audience, members, donors, and key stakeholders.
A Renewal Strategy is a forward-looking plan designed to revitalize and reinvigorate your organization or community, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth. At Ulrich Consulting, we integrate three powerful system change frameworks— the Social Museum, Transformative Placemaking, and the Eventful City—into our Renewal Strategies. These frameworks guide our approach to creating vibrant, inclusive environments that not only preserve cultural identity but also foster social connections, economic vitality, and dynamic community engagement, unlocking new potential for future success.

Renewal

In this pivotal stage, organizations work to regain their market position. Strong leadership and a committed board drive the restoration, focusing on redesigning programs to meet community and constituent needs, cutting budgets to address cash flow demands, and simplifying formal processes to enable transformation.

This stage necessitates an organizational assessment and the development of a Change Strategy, potentially including recommendations for changes in leadership, board composition, and programs.

OUR RECOMMENDED PLANNING PATHWAY

Offers an in-depth baseline analysis of the organization's operations, programs, services, collections (where applicable), and governance. We will also explore the organization's engagement with its audience, members, donors, and key stakeholders.
A Renewal Strategy is a forward-looking plan designed to revitalize and reinvigorate your organization or community, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth. At Ulrich Consulting, we integrate three powerful system change frameworks— the Social Museum, Transformative Placemaking, and the Eventful City—into our Renewal Strategies. These frameworks guide our approach to creating vibrant, inclusive environments that not only preserve cultural identity but also foster social connections, economic vitality, and dynamic community engagement, unlocking new potential for future success.

Organizational Assessment

Ulrich Consulting performs a thorough audit to evaluate existing practices, pinpoint deficiencies, and grasp the organizational culture.
This phase offers an in-depth baseline analysis of the organization's operations, programs, services, collections (where applicable), and governance. We will also explore the organization's engagement with its audience, members, donors, and key stakeholders. Our goal is to grasp what the community appreciates about your organization and what truly defines the brand of the organization.
Planning and Development

Ulrich Consulting collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders, including community members, donors, and partners, to develop strategic plans that embody community values and diverse narratives.
We invite active participation to co-create an organization that stays relevant and engaged with its community. Through comprehensive community research and collaboration with local leaders, we align our strategies with sector trends, government and funder priorities, and the cultural rights of local Indigenous Peoples.
Implementation and Mentorship

Ulrich Consulting supports the execution of strategic plans through hands-on implementation, tailored training programs, and ongoing mentorship.
This phase ensures staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to sustain inclusive practices and drive meaningful change.
Monitor and Evaluate

Ulrich Consulting works with our clients through the first-year cycle of continuous monitoring, evaluation and reporting to track progress, measures impact, and identify areas for improvement. This ensures that the strategic plan remains effective, sustainable, and aligned with organizational goals.
We also can assist with the preparation of public-facing report documents, such as Annual Reports and presentations.