Setting up your nonprofit can feel like a Sisyphean task – one thing after another, with always more to do. The good news is that many of the materials you create in the early days of building your organization can be reused and will serve as a solid base for years to come.
To build a nonprofit business plan, you’ll need a few things:
- A solid mission and vision statement. These statements are crucial to helping the public (meaning donors, too!) understand why you do what you do. We have a handy worksheet to help you write these core statements!
- An up-to-date listing of people in your org. You’ll need your board members, your key staff, and any volunteers who have a daily role in managing your organization. Creating a nonprofit organizational chart is also handy at this stage. It will both help everyone understand their roles internally, while showing how your organization runs to external viewers.
- Download this Nonprofit Business Plan Outline. This helpful resource is great to have on hand to ensure you leave nothing out. If you’re not sure how to structure your business plan or what all needs to be included, be sure to download this outline for guidance.
- Get a handle on your programming. You’ll need to be able to succinctly and effectively describe your programming, so you should know what it will look like and how it will help. The more details you know, the stronger your plan will feel to outside readers.
- Gather any strategic plans. You’ll need to include this plan (or an idea of what the plan’s goals might be) in your business plan. Use our strategic plan template if you need any help!
Most importantly, remember to take your time crafting such an important document. This will be a great guidepost as your organization continues to change and grow, so be sure to create something you’ll want to revisit often
