Strategic and Operational Planning for Nonprofits
Learn clear action steps for refining and sustaining your strategic plan and enhancing your planning effectiveness.
Certificates: Nonprofit Executive Leadership,
| Location | Dates | Cost | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online (Asynchronous) | August 04, 2025 - August 31, 2025 | $1,395.00 | Register |
| IU Indianapolis | October 09, 2025 - October 10, 2025 | $1,295.00 | Register |
| IU Indianapolis | April 16, 2026 - April 17, 2026 | $1,295.00 | Registration opening soon |
| IU Indianapolis | September 15, 2026 - September 16, 2026 | $1,295.00 | Registration opening soon |
| Online (Asynchronous) | October 05, 2026 - November 01, 2026 | $1,395.00 | Registration opening soon |
Course Details
Please review the attendance policy and cancellation/transfer policy before registering.
Schedule
Strategic and Operational Planning for Nonprofits is offered 1-2 times a year in-person and online.
In-person
The in-person class is two days in length.
Day 1: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Day 2: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30-10:00 | Introductions and Course Objective Experience with strategic planning (Small Group, Report Out) |
| 10:00-11:30 | Critical Questions to Address before Planning Begins |
| 11:30-12:30 | Lunch on your own; Campus options or bring your own. |
| 12:30-3:30 | Key Components of Effective Strategic Planning Stakeholder Input Pre-Planning Data Collection |
| 3:30-4:30 | Reflection, applying to your organization |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Regroup and Reflections |
| 9:00-10:00 | Relationship between organizational culture and planning |
| 10:00-11:30 | Using Data to Meet Planning Objectives Measures for Success |
| 11:30-12:30 | Lunch on your own; Campus options or bring your own. |
| 12:30-2:30 | Session Design template Creating the Implementation Tools Communication and Monitoring the Plan The Final Report |
| 2:30-3:30 | Capstone Exercise: bringing it all together |
| 3:30-4:30 | Reflection, Evaluation, Wrap Up and Depart |
Online (Asynchronous) Schedule
The asynchronous online course is four weeks in length.
Each week you’ll have a course module to complete. Each module consists of:
- readings (available in PDF format)
- viewing a pre-recorded narrated presentation
- engaging in forum discussions with others
- and submitting assignments.
More details about the online format and requirements may be viewed here.
Week 1: Introductions and Foundations of Planning
Lesson Overview and Readings
Narrated Presentation
Assignment: Background and Scope
Discussion: Experience with the Strategic Planning Process
Week 2: The Strategic Planning Process
Lesson Overview and Readings
Narrated Presentation
Assignment: Setting the Table for Stakeholders through Planning Setup
Discussion: Mission Statement Evaluations
Week 3: Using Data to Meet Objectives
Lesson Overview and Readings
Narrated Presentation
Assignment: Aligning Your Planning Objectives with Data
Discussion: Using Data in Strategic Planning
Week 4: Putting it All Together
Lesson Overview and Readings
Narrated Presentation
Assignment: Capstone Exercise
Discussion: Strategic Communication
Course Evaluation
To successfully complete the course, all coursework must be completed and submitted no later than Sunday of week 4 at 11:59 p.m. ET. This is a firm deadline and late work will not be accepted.
Location
The location next to each course date indicates if the course is being held in-person or online.
The in-person class is held on the IU Indianapolis campus. Please click on the location name for further details and recommended hotel accommodations.
Registrants will receive complete course logistical information upon registration.
CFRE Education Points
Full participation in many of The Fund Raising School’s courses fulfill education point requirements for Category 1.B-Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Strategic and Operational Planning for Nonprofits qualifies for 13.0 CFRE Education Points/Hours.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTE: Tuition payment is due before the class begins and may be paid by credit card or check. All cancellations and transfers are subject to an administrative fee of $275.
The Fund Raising School, an international leader in fundraising training and professional development, and IU Executive Education at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, a nationally ranked leader in nonprofit management education, are pleased to announce this course offering. It is one of four required courses for the Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership.
What this course is about
Strategic planning is essential for the effective leadership and management of nonprofit organizations, particularly in volatile and uncertain operating environments. This course will explore key aspects of building and sustaining a high performance organization through strategic planning. Participants will learn to conduct successful strategic planning. In the process, participants will create improvement plans for revising and updating existing strategic plans. Topics include:
- Leading and managing the process of strategic planning
- Engaging board, staff and other stakeholders
- Leading and measuring implementation of the strategic plan
How will this course help you?
You will leave this seminar with clear action steps for refining and sustaining your strategic plan and enhancing your planning effectiveness. Using an experiential and problem-solving approach, you will be able to answer the following questions:
- How do I improve my strategic plan?
- How do I utilize metrics to achieve desired outcomes?
- How do I effectively engage people to produce results?