Strategic Planning Books Worth Reading

Yesterday (August 9th) was National Book Lover’s Day! While my preference is fiction, I do love books on organizational development and nonprofit leadership. And there’s no shortage of options.

Our theme this month is strategic planning. Now’s the time to be thinking about goals and objectives for 2024! With this in mind, we want to share a few of our favorite books with you regarding strategic planning. 

The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution by David La Piana - I first came across this book in 2010 when I was preparing to launch a brand new nonprofit. It was a pivotal guide during a time when I was establishing infrastructure and business planning. The book and accompanying facilitator guide provide agendas and materials for creating a “real-time” strategic plan, roadmap, and strategy screen. These tools were so helpful to me years ago, and they still influence the approach we use with clients today! 

Another text which is in its third edition, Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide for Dynamic Times, by Michael Allison and Jude Kaye, offers a more traditional approach. The text walks readers through a “typical” process based on the impact desired - whether it be process, design, or strategic improvement. The theory behind the approach used in this text aligns well with TNSG’s philosophy. We believe that strategic planning should begin with establishing alignment and commitment to core values, as well as the organization's mission and vision. This text also includes access to tools and worksheets for facilitation.

If you are just starting out or even if you are a seasoned nonprofit leader, both of these books are worth owning and referencing. The tools included can be used outside of the planning process. Even if you do hire a consultant like TNSG to facilitate a process, and we of course recommend that you do, it’s important to understand the process so that you can carry forward the goals/objectives after the process ends! 

We hope you enjoyed some extra reading time on National Book Lovers Day!