1. Try sprint planning instead of a long-term plan
Traditional 3 or 5-year strategic plans can feel overwhelming, especially when the world keeps shifting. Sprint planning offers a lighter, more flexible way to stay focused and move forward.
If you're not familiar, a sprint is a short, time-bound planning cycle (usually 1–3 months) where your team sets specific goals, takes action, and checks in to reflect and adjust. I've personally done variations of this with my team, and love it.
- Choose your focus: pick one area to improve, like volunteer retention, donor engagement, or community program results.
- Set a short-term goal: what do you want to accomplish in the next 6–8 weeks?
- Assign roles and tasks: keep it simple and ask questions like who’s doing what, and by when?
- Schedule a check-in: At the end of the sprint, take 30–60 minutes to ask: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?
You can still keep long-term goals in mind, but sprint planning helps you stay responsive and build momentum without needing a full retreat.
💡 Tip: For a helpful breakdown of sprint planning basics, Adobe has this guide. (heads up; Adobe talks about sprints from a software development perspective on their site, but their tips can still apply!)
2. Use a mini "SWOT" to unlock your next step
If your team feels stuck or unsure about what to prioritize next, try a mini strategic session using a simple SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).
This isn’t a full-day retreat, but can be just 60–90 minutes with a few team members and a shared doc or whiteboard.
Here’s how to run a quick SWOT session:
- Pick one priority topic: maybe it’s your volunteer engagement, outreach strategy, or donor pipeline.
- Jot down your S, W, O, and T: what’s working (strengths)? What’s challenging (weaknesses)? What opportunities or risks are on the horizon?
- Spot one small action: based on your conversation, what’s one doable next step you can take this month?
Use cases! You might use a SWOT sprint to:
- Rethink how you’re recruiting volunteers
- Prepare for an upcoming grant deadline
- Explore a new partnership idea
💡 Tip: Focus on just one area of your work to keep the session tight and actionable. If you’re new to SWOT, no worries!
3. Do a round of community feedback, then adjust your approach
The strongest plans aren’t built for your community, they’re built with your community.
Whether you’re working on a big-picture strategy or short-term planning, involving board members, staff, volunteers, and the people you serve can lead to smarter, more grounded decisions. Plus, it builds trust and ownership.
You don’t need to overcomplicate it. Try:
- Hosting a casual listening session or feedback lunch
- Sending a quick 2-question survey to your stakeholders
- Asking program participants what’s working (and what’s not)
When people feel included in your strategy, they’re more likely to support it and help bring it to life.
💡 Tip: Not sure where to start? One stakeholder survey my org sent out once simply asked: “What’s one thing we should keep doing and one thing we should rethink?”
You’d be surprised at how well this simple prompt can spark honest, actionable insights.
Try It This Week! 🚀
Strategic planning doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Pick one action this week to kickstart momentum. Pick one small action this week to get the wheels turning:
- Block 30 minutes to reflect on what’s worked so far this year
- Start a shared doc for your team to drop 2026 ideas
- Invite one partner or program participant to share feedback on your direction
Every small step moves you closer to a plan that actually works, not just on paper, but in practice.
I’d love to hear from you. How are you approaching your 2026 planning process? Whether you’re trying something new or simplifying what you already do, hit reply and tell me about it. I’d love to learn from your ideas!
