The difficulty with a traditional many-pages-long-strategic plan is that most people will not take the time to read it. If it isn’t read, it is unlikely to be understood, and even less likely to be implemented.
Thus, I’ve been moving towards a helping Jewish Camps develop a one-page strategic plan. Here is the
one-page plan from the Cincinnati Zoo that inspired me to move in this direction.
You can think of the one-page plan as a summary of the in-depth thinking that went into defining the top strategic goals of the camp and an outline of the actions required to make meaningful progress.
I like the fact that a one-page strategic plan can be easily included in every Board meeting packet. It becomes a visible reminder of the top strategic goals and the action steps board and senior staff agreed to pursue over the next 3 years. It becomes easier for the Board or Camp Committee to see progress made and areas that are stalled.
Interested in learning more? Join me at the JCamp 180 Annual Conference this year to review how one Jewish Camp Committee and I created a one-page plan, the impact it is having, and how you could implement one for your camp.
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Written by Julia Riseman. Julia is a Mentor with JCamp 180. Julia leads Data2Donors, a program to advance Alumni Outreach, improve camp databases, and raise more major gifts, and Fundraising Fundamentals. Julia has also sparked the creation of many JCamp 180 programs and offerings, including this blog.
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Who we are: JCamp 180 is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF). Our goal is to significantly enhance the long-term effectiveness of nonprofit Jewish camps in North America. To meet this goal, we provide affiliated Jewish camps with consulting services, annual conferences, shared resources, professional development, and matching grant opportunities. Find more at www.jcamp180.org.