Planning for the Future

• The critical issues facing your program are addressed by the plan.
• Your mission statement reflects the main purpose of your organization. (If there are significant changes in the external environment, have you re-examined your mission to see if it still meets the needs that you want to address?
• All levels of the organization or program have had input in the planning process. There is consensus among those who will be implementing the plan on the decisions made during the planning process. (Will some of the decisions cause conflict within the organization? If so, should they be changed? How will you deal with this conflict otherwise?)
• Everyone is satisfied that the package of strategies you have chosen will:
  • Lead to achievement of goals
  • Take advantage of opportunities and address threats in the external environment
  • Take advantage of organizational strengths
  • Help to correct organizational weaknesses
• The strategies contribute to the financial health of your organization or program. The strategies are feasible given the financial needs and capacity of your organization or program.
• The strategies, objectives, activities, and financial plan give clear guidance for the development of the annual work plan and budget.