No One Knows About Your Strategic Plan
When your organization’s board approves the latest strategic plan, there’s probably going to be a flurry of communications that includes some or all of the following:
a news story on the main website
an article in your print newsletter or magazine
an email blast
social media posts
a microsite
a nicely designed PDF/print brochure
a video with your chief executive talking about the exciting future ahead
And then, that’s it. There’s nothing more. You’re done!
Except, you’re not.
A comprehensive strategic plan communications strategy acknowledges that announcing the approval of the plan should really just be the beginning.
When you produce regular, ongoing communications over time about the strategic plan and progress toward goals, lots of good things happen:
Promote something once and it’s often missed and/or forgotten. Multiple communications leave multiple impressions and weave a story together that leaves readers looking forward to the next chapter.
You build trust by demonstrating that your organization is actually able to execute on its promises.
It allows you to talk about campaign priorities before you’re ready to actually talk about the next campaign.
When you do start fundraising for programs or buildings down the road, more prospective donors will already be well versed in the needs they can help meet and anticipated outcomes they can help bring to life.