Nonprofit Strategy and Evaluation: Why You Need Both to Grow
Ah, the excitement of launching your own nonprofit! Picking a name, designing a logo, assembling your board, launching your social media—it’s exhilarating… if not exactly glamorous (unless you’re bedazzling team jackets for your board, in which case, please send pics).
But once the launch buzz wears off, many organizations find themselves asking the same question:
“Now what?”
Here’s the answer: strategic planning and evaluation.
Yes, we know—it doesn’t sound nearly as fun as logo design. But if you want to grow your impact, apply for funding, and make a lasting difference, you’ll need more than passion. You’ll need a clear, measurable roadmap.
Why Strategic Planning Comes First
A strong strategic plan defines your mission, clarifies your goals, and gives your team a common direction. It's the foundation for everything that comes next—including your evaluation and fundraising efforts.
Think of your strategic plan as the blueprint for your nonprofit's growth. It doesn’t need to be 50 pages long, but it should include:
Your mission and vision
Your short- and long-term goals
A realistic timeline for what you hope to achieve
The audience you serve and the change you want to see
Avoid setting goals so big they feel unreachable—or so small they sell your mission short. Instead, ground your strategy in ambitious but realistic expectations that reflect both your values and your capacity.
And while it’s tempting to focus only on numbers, don’t underestimate the value of behavioral and attitudinal goals. Especially early on, qualitative change (like improved community engagement or increased awareness) is just as important as quantitative outcomes.
Evaluation Starts with Strategy
Once your strategic plan is in place, it’s time to move into evaluation—the part that helps you understand what’s working and how to grow.
Start by identifying clear, measurable outcomes based on your strategic goals:
Who are you serving?
What programs or services are you offering?
What changes do you want to see?
How will you know you’ve succeeded?
If your organization supports early literacy, don’t promise high school graduation rates. Focus on what’s measurable in the short term—like how reading scores improve by the end of the year or how student confidence increases.
Great evaluation begins with great questions:
WHO are you serving?
WHERE and WHEN are services delivered?
WHAT are you doing?
HOW are you doing it?
WHY does it matter?
Need Help Getting Started?
We get it—building a strategic plan or evaluation framework from scratch can feel overwhelming. At Mockingbird Analytics, we help nonprofits at every stage create actionable strategies and thoughtful evaluation plans that set them up for growth and funding.
Whether you’re looking for one-time support or a long-term partner, our team can help you clarify your goals, build internal systems, and prepare for sustainable impact.
And while we don’t have glittery board jackets (yet), we do bring decades of nonprofit expertise and a whole lot of heart.