THE NONPROFIT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLBOX

Everything you need to create your own nonprofit strategic plan

Think your organization can’t afford to have an effective, stakeholder-driven strategic plan? Think again.

We’ve taken the same proven tools we use to facilitate Shared Power™ strategic planning with major nonprofits and packaged them into a step-by-step toolbox you can use to lead your own process — for a fraction of the cost of traditional consulting.

The Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox
From the strategic planning team trusted by nonprofits like…
unitedway
bgca_partner_logo_325x215
feedingamerica
umdflogo
Muhammad Ali Center Logo
ltalogo
… and many more.
An illustration of a woman nurturing growth with a flower pot

Strategic planning is essential.

As a nonprofit leader, you already know the value of a clear strategy.

So do we. For more than 12 years, we’ve helped some of the world’s most impactful nonprofits build strategic plans that move their missions forward. We believe deeply in the power of a thoughtful, stakeholder-centered strategic planning process.

An effective strategic plan:

☑️ Engages your stakeholders and grounds your priorities in their needs

☑️ Aligns your board and staff around clear objectives and measurable results

☑️ Turns big ideas into actionable priorities your team can actually execute

☑️ Gives your organization the focus to advance its mission while staying adaptable

But today, the reality for many nonprofits is this: strategic planning is starting to feel out of reach.

Community needs continue to grow.

Federal funding cuts continue to accelerate.

And budgets just continue to shrink.

Your team is stretched so thin, you’re worried they’re going to break. You know you need the focus a strategic plan brings now more than ever, but investing $70,000-$100,000 in a traditional, consultant-led strategic planning process feels impossible.

Instead, you keep trying to do it all, flying by the seat of your pants and putting out fires as they arise.

Your nonprofit deserves a better option.

The Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox

Introducing the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox.

Everything you need to lead an effective, stakeholder-centered strategic planning process yourself, at a fraction of the cost of traditional consultant-led planning.

We’ve taken more than a decade of nonprofit strategy consulting experience, along with many of the same tools we use with our clients, and brought them together to create a first-of-its-kind DIY planning system designed for nonprofit leaders.

Now, you can stop putting off strategic planning, hiring pro bono consultants who lack expertise, or trying to piece a plan together on your own. Instead, you can unlock the Toolbox, follow our proven process to build a stakeholder-driven strategic plan, use our proprietary AI tool Strately™ to accelerate your progress, and achieve measurable results for the people and communities you serve.

What You'll Walk Away With

By the end of this process, you won’t have a strategic plan sitting on a shelf.

You’ll have a clear set of stakeholder-informed priorities and a focused path forward that your staff and board members understand, support, and know how to put into action.

After following our 8-step strategic planning framework and using the tools in the Toolbox, you’ll have:

  • A deep understanding of what your stakeholders need most from your organization

    Everyone on your team will understand the priorities of your donors, partners, and most importantly, the people and communities you serve. These insights will directly inform the decisions in your plan.
  • A clear strategic direction

    Your board and leadership team will align around your mission, vision, values, and a focused set of priorities for the next phase of your organization’s work.
  • Measurable objectives and key results

    You’ll translate big ideas into clear objectives, key results and action plans your team can execute, along with a dashboard that makes progress transparent and visible.
  • Accelerated mission impact

    Your team will start making meaningful progress with less friction and more ease, ultimately doing more to benefit the people and communities you serve.
  • In my 30-year career, I've worked on many strategic plans for nonprofits but I am often confounded by the complexity of the process and the product.  For small nonprofits with small teams, strategic planning can become burdensome.  Prosper really understands that I will help you build a plan that makes sense for your organization.  I am delighted with our end result -- one board member described the process as magical.

    Marilyn Jackson
    Marilyn Jackson President and CEO, Muhammad Ali Center

Get the Toolbox

CORE

MOST AFFORDABLE

$279
  • Complete 8-step strategic planning framework
  • Strategic Planning Guidebook
  • The 10 essential tools and templates you need to develop, document, measure and implement your strategic plan

👉 Best for: Organizations with internal capacity and confidence leading planning processes

PRO

BEST VALUE

$479
  • Everything in CORE
  • additional tools and templates to make your planning process more efficient and effective
  • Access to Strately™, our AI-powered planning assistant

👉 Best for: Leaders who want to save time, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate progress

Payment Methods

Strategic plans built using this system have helped real nonprofits like yours:

  • Reverse a $2.5M budget deficit over the course of 1 year
  • Secure $1M in funding for a capital improvement project
  • Increase participation in a key program by 75% over 3 years
  • Launch a new program in a previously underserved community
  • …and so much more

Your strategic plan should do more than just clarify your direction. It should help you achieve measurable progress toward your mission, without burning yourself or your staff out in the process. 

That’s exactly what you’ll get with the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox.

output-2
Strategic Planning Toolbox

What's Inside the Toolbox?

The Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox includes everything you need to implement the proven eight-step Shared Power™ strategic planning process we’ve perfected over more than a decade of nonprofit strategic planning.

Strategic Planning Guidebook

The Strategic Planning Guidebook

Guiding the entire process is the 72-page Strategic Planning Guidebook, which explains each step in detail, and shows you exactly how to use every tool included in the Toolbox.

17 Proven Tools

Along with the Guidebook, the Toolbox also includes the full set of tools you’ll need to develop and implement your strategic plan, from survey templates, to a retreat deck, editable dashboard, and final plan template.

StratChat Mockup

Strately™, Your AI-Powered Strategic Planning Assistant

For a limited time, the PRO toolbox includes access to Strately™ by Prosper Strategies, an AI-powered companion built on our proprietary approach and Shared Power Strategy™ philosophy, and trained to supercharge the tools in the Strategic Planning Toolbox.

The Toolbox is available in two versions:

🎯 Core includes the 10 essential tools you need to lead the planning process.
⭐️ Pro includes everything in Core, plus 7 additional tools and templates for faster planning (like done-for-you surveys and Canva plan design files), and Strately™ by Prosper Strategies, your AI-powered strategic planning assistant.

Inside, you’ll find the following tools:

MODULE 1: Prepare
📋 Lead Planner Kickoff Questionnaire
☑️ Leadership Team Kickoff Questionnaire
📅 Strategic Planning Timeline Template*

MODULE 2: Engage 
🗣 Stakeholder Engagement Roadmap

MODULE 3: Research

  📊 Survey Templates (2 versions)*
🎤 Interview Guide*
📈 Research Report Template

Module 4: Host Your Retreat
📽 Retreat Slides
🗓 Retreat Agenda*

Module 5: Set Objectives & Key Results
🎯 OKR Workshop Slides
📈 OKR Dashboard

MODULE 6: Test Your Strategy
🦻 Listening Session Template

MODULE 7: Launch Your Plan
📄 Internal Strategic Plan Template
🎨 External Strategic Plan Design Template*

MODULE 8: Implement Your Plan
📆 Quarterly Activity Planning Template
👥 Progress Meeting Agendas*

BONUS: Access to Strately, your AI-powered strategic planning assistant.*

* Indicates tool available in PRO version only

  • Alyssa and Lindsay expertly guided us through the strategic process, collaborating closely with people facing hunger, our CEO and executive team. If your nonprofit is considering making a commitment to developing strategies that center your constituents, there is no one better to guide you than Prosper Strategies.

    Jenny Arnold
    Jenny Arnold Vice President, Feeding America

Get the Toolbox

CORE

MOST AFFORDABLE

$279
  • Complete 8-step strategic planning framework
  • Strategic Planning Guidebook
  • The 10 essential tools and templates you need to develop, document, measure and implement your strategic plan

👉 Best for: Organizations with internal capacity and confidence leading planning processes

PRO

BEST VALUE

$479
  • Everything in CORE
  • additional tools and templates to make your planning process more efficient and effective
  • Access to Strately™, our AI-powered planning assistant

👉 Best for: Leaders who want to save time, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate progress

Payment Methods

Here's a closer look at everything you get inside the Toolbox...

Module 1

Prepare for the Strategic Planning Process

Every successful planning process begins with strong preparation. In this module, you’ll define the scope of your planning effort, determine who should be involved, and gather early input from key leaders.

This preparation ensures your planning process begins with a shared understanding of your organization’s priorities, challenges, and opportunities.

Tools in this step:
☑️  Lead Planner Kickoff Questionnaire
☑️ Leadership Team Kickoff Questionnaire
☑️ Strategic Planning Timeline Template*

Screenshot
Screenshot

Module 2

Engage Your Stakeholders

The best strategic plans are built with input from the people closest to your work. In this step, you’ll identify which stakeholders should be involved and design an engagement strategy that fits your organization.

You’ll plan how to gather meaningful input from program participants, staff, board members, donors, partners, and community members.

Tools in this step:
☑️ Stakeholder Engagement Roadmap

Module 3

Do Your Research

Before setting strategic priorities, everyone involved in strategic planning must align around a shared understanding of your current reality, the ecosystem you operate in, and the needs of your stakeholders.

In this step, you’ll collect and organize insights that will inform your strategy, including stakeholder feedback, internal perspectives, and trends affecting your work.

Tools in this step:
☑️  Strategic Planning Research Report Template
☑️ Stakeholder Survey Templates*
☑️ Strategic Planning Interview Guide*

Screenshot
Screenshot

Module 4

Plan and Host Your Strategic Planning Retreat

Strategic planning retreats are where your team and board begin shaping the future direction of the organization.

In this step, you’ll facilitate conversations that clarify your mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities, which we call Pillars.

Tools in this step:
☑️ Retreat Slides: Mission, Vision, and Values
☑️ Retreat Slides: Strategic Questions and Strategic Pillars
☑️ Strategic Planning Retreat Agenda Template*

Module 5

Set Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)

Objectives and Key Results are where the magic of our strategic planning process really comes to life. They make your priorities clear to everyone on your team and board, make impact measurable, and leave no one guessing what success looks like.

In this step, you’ll set OKRs for each pillar in your strategic plan, assign owners to each OKR, and develop a dashboard that makes progress trackable and transparent.

Tools in this step:
☑️ OKR Workshop Slides
☑️ OKR Dashboard

Screenshot
Screenshot

Module 6

Test Your Strategy with Stakeholders

Before finalizing your plan, you’ll gather feedback from stakeholders to ensure your strategic priorities reflect real needs and perspectives rather than assumptions. This step strengthens your strategy and builds early buy-in for implementation.

Tools in this step:
☑️ Strategic Planning Listening Session Template

Module 7

Finalize and Publish Your Strategic Plan

In this module, you’ll turn your work into clear and usable strategic plan documents.

Your finished plan will document your strategic priorities, objectives, and implementation approach in formats that work for both internal teams and external audiences.

Tools in this step:
☑️  Internal Strategic Plan Document Template
☑️  External Strategic Plan Design Template (Canva)*

Screenshot
Screenshot

Module 8

Implement and Track Progress

Strategic planning only matters if the plan is actually used.

In this final step, you’ll establish systems that help your team track progress, maintain accountability, and adjust your strategy as conditions evolve.

Tools in this step
☑️  OKR Dashboard
☑️ Quarterly Activity Planning Template
☑️ Strategic Plan Progress Meeting Agendas*

* Indicates tool is available for PRO users only.

Meet Strately™

Your AI-Powered Strategic Planning Assistant

Strately™ by Prosper Strategies is a first-of-its-kind AI tool created to make every part of your strategic planning process faster and smarter. Designed based on more than a decade of strategic planning experience, it reflects the same methods, philosophies, questions and frameworks we use to facilitate planning sessions with nonprofit leaders. 

Use it to:

  • Clarify your approach
  • Pressure-test your ideas
  • Strengthen your pillars, objectives, and key results
  • Create draft components of your plan
  • Navigate common challenges like stakeholder engagement and board dynamics

Strately is the next best thing to having us in the room with you during your planning process,  and like us, it won’t make decisions for you, but it will help you make better ones.

How It Works:

As you move through the Guidebook and use the tools in the Toolbox, you can:

  • Ask Strately questions at any step
  • Share draft materials, brainstorms or ideas for feedback
  • Get guidance tailored to your situation

Think of it as a strategic planning partner you can turn to anytime to help you make your strategic planning process faster and easier, and your decisions smarter and more durable.

Strately Header
strately
Lindsay Mullen and Alyssa Conrardy

Built by Nonprofit Strategists Who Do This Work Every Day

Meet Lindsay and Alyssa

The Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox was created by Alyssa Conrardy and Lindsay Mullen, principals of Prosper Strategies.

For more than a decade, we’ve helped nonprofit organizations develop strategic plans, marketing and fundraising strategies and systems that advance their missions. All our work is guided by the Shared Power™ philosophy, which says that to build effective strategies, we must deeply involve a nonprofit’s many diverse stakeholders in every part of the planning process, before, during and after plans are built. This philosophy is also at the heart of the Strategic Planning Toolbox.

Our strategy work has supported many of the largest nonprofits in America, local organizations doing important work in their communities, and many, many organizations in between. The process and tools inside the Toolbox are based on the same strategic planning framework we use in our consulting engagements.

We created this resource because we know many organizations need a strong, stakeholder-driven strategic plan (now more than ever) but don’t have the budget to hire a consulting firm, especially in this climate. The progress of the sector and the future of all those who use nonprofit programs and services depends on it.

So we built the next best thing: a structured system that helps nonprofit leaders like you facilitate an efficient, effective process yourselves, at a fraction of the cost of our typical engagements.

Get the Toolbox and Start Transforming Your Nonprofit Now.

CORE

MOST AFFORDABLE

$279
  • Complete 8-step strategic planning framework
  • Strategic Planning Guidebook
  • The 10 essential tools and templates you need to develop, document, measure and implement your strategic plan

👉 Best for: Organizations with internal capacity and confidence leading planning processes

PRO

BEST VALUE

$479
  • Everything in CORE
  • additional tools and templates to make your planning process more efficient and effective
  • Access to Strately™, our AI-powered planning assistant

👉 Best for: Leaders who want to save time, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate progress

Payment Methods

Are you ready to unlock everything you need to lead a stakeholder-centered strategic planning process your organization can actually implement?

Traditional strategic planning consulting engagements often cost $70,000–$100,000 or more. The Strategic Planning Toolbox gives you the same structured process we use with our consulting clients for a fraction of that cost, and takes the guesswork out of building your own strategic plan.

When you purchase the Strategic Planning Toolbox, you get:

• Our complete, proven 8-step Shared Power™ strategic planning framework
• The 72-page Strategic Planning Guidebook to walk you through every step of the process
• Access to Strately™ by Prosper Strategies, your AI strategic planning assistant that will make every part of the planning process easier
• The same templates and facilitation tools used in our nonprofit consulting engagements
• A system for gathering stakeholder input and aligning your team
• Tools to turn strategy into measurable objectives and results
Implementation systems to help your team follow through and stay accountable

Two ways to build your strategic plan—depending on how much support you need.

CORE = Lead the process yourself using our proven framework

PRO = Move faster with built-in guidance, AI support, and less guesswork

Choose the version that’s right for your organization:

CORE PRO
Best for… Essential planning tools on a tight budget Greater efficiency, AI support and more “done for you” planning tools
Included in Core + Pro
Strategic Planning Guidebook
8-Step Shared Power™ Strategic Planning Framework
Kickoff Questionnaires
Stakeholder Engagement Roadmap
Research Report Template
Retreat Slides
OKR Workshop Slides
OKR Dashboard
Listening Session Template
Internal Strategic Plan Template
Implementation Meeting Agendas
Pro includes everything in Core, plus:
Strately™ Access (AI Strategic Planning Assistant)
Strategic Planning Timeline
Stakeholder Surveys
Stakeholder Interview Guides
Retreat Agenda Template
External Strategic Plan Design Template (Canva)
Quarterly Activity Planning Templates
Bonus: Consulting Support
(1 hour session for early adopters only)
GET CORE GET PRO

How much support do you need?

With CORE:
You’ll guide discussions, interpret input, and build your plan step-by-step using our framework.

With PRO:
You’ll get support along the way—help drafting, synthesizing, and turning ideas into a clear plan faster.

Both paths get you to a completed strategic plan. PRO just gets you there with less friction.

✨ Early Adopter Bonus ✨

The first 5 organizations to purchase the PRO Strategic Planning Toolbox will receive a 1-hour strategic planning consultation with Alyssa Conrardy or Lindsay Mullen, the strategic planning experts who created the Toolbox.

Use this session at any point in your process to:

  • Get feedback on your stakeholder engagement approach
  • Pressure-test your strategic priorities
  • Refine your objectives and key results
  • Review your final plan and get suggestions for improvements
  • Prepare for a successful plan rollout and get change management support
  • Work through challenges as they arise

This is your opportunity to get expert guidance alongside the Toolbox as you lead your planning process.

Limited to the first 5 organizations who purchase the PRO version of the toolbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the strategic planning process take?

Most organizations complete the process in 4 to 6 months. The variation depends on things like meeting scheduling and the availability of stakeholders to participate in research. The Toolbox is designed to be flexible, so you can move faster or slower based on your team’s capacity.

Do I need a facilitator to use the Toolbox?

No. The Toolbox is designed so nonprofit leaders can guide the process themselves. The Guidebook and templates walk you through each step, including how to facilitate key conversations with your team and board. Some organizations choose to bring in a facilitator for specific moments, like a retreat, but it is not required.

Is this a good fit for a small nonprofit?

Yes. The Toolbox is especially valuable for organizations with budgets under $10 million that want a structured strategic planning process without hiring a consulting firm. It is designed to be realistic for small teams with limited capacity.

What if I’ve never led a strategic planning process before?

If you can lead your team, you can lead this process. The Guidebook explains what to do at each step, and the tools give you structure so you’re never starting from scratch.

What format are the tools in?

After purchase, you’ll receive access to a private portal that includes the Guidebook and all tools in the verison of the Toolbox you select (Core or Pro). Most templates are editable Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets, so you can customize them for your organization. A few templates are in other formats, such as the designed external strategic plan, which is a Canva template.

How is this different from hiring a consultant?

A consultant brings facilitation expertise, external perspective, an awareness of sector trends and strategic planning best practices, and dedicated capacity. These are valuable components of a strategic planning process, but the cost of facilitated planning is out of reach for many small nonprofits, especially in today’s budget-constrained climate.

The Toolbox gives you the same structured process and tools, so you can lead the work internally at a fraction of the cost. For many organizations, it’s the most practical way to move forward when hiring a consultant isn’t feasible.

Will this help us actually implement our strategic plan?

Yes. Implementation is built into the process. You’ll develop measurable objectives (OKRs), a dashboard to track progress, and planning tools that help your team stay aligned and accountable over time

What if we get stuck?

If you purchase early, you may be eligible for a 1-hour strategic planning consultation with Alyssa Conrardy or Lindsay Mullen, principals of Prosper Strategies, the firm behind the Toolbox. Even without that, the Guidebook is designed to guide you through common challenges, and the tools provide structure at every step. You can always email questions to hello@prosper-strategies.com.

Can we upgrade from Core to Pro later?

Yes. If you start with Core and decide you need the additional tools included in Pro, you can upgrade at any time.

Will this require a lot of time from our team?

We designed the Toolbox for organizations with limited capacity. You can scale the process based on your team’s availability, and the templates are designed to save time by giving you a clear structure for each step. Many organizations find that having a structured process actually reduces time spent in unproductive meetings and helps teams move forward more efficiently.

Will this help us get our board aligned?

Yes. The process is designed to involve your board at key moments, especially during stakeholder engagement and strategic decision-making.

Because your strategy is informed by stakeholder input and guided through structured conversations, board members are more likely to feel ownership and alignment around the final plan.

Will this actually lead to measurable results?

Yes. The process is designed to move beyond ideas and produce a strategic plan with clear objectives and measurable results. Organizations that follow this approach see stronger alignment, clearer priorities, less staff burnout and measurable progress toward their goals.

What is Strately™?

 Strately™ by Prosper Strategies is an AI-powered tool built on our proprietary approach and Shared Power Strategy™ philosophy. It helps guide your thinking, pressure-test ideas, and strengthen your strategic plan as you work through the Guidebook and the tools in the Strategic Planning Toolkit.

Is Strately™ a real pereson?

No—this is an AI-powered tool built by Prosper Strategies using ChatGPT and trained on our strategic planning methodology.

Will anyone on your team see what I ask Strately™?

No. We do not have access to your conversations with the tool.

Is my information private with Strately™?

Your conversations are handled through ChatGPT and follow their privacy policies. We recommend not sharing sensitive or confidential information.

Is Strately™ always accurate?

Like any AI tool, it may not always be 100% accurate. It’s designed to support your thinking, not replace your judgment or your team’s decision-making.

Do I need anything to use Strately™?

Yes—you’ll need a free ChatGPT account to access the tool as it is built on ChatGPT.

Can I give feedback on the Toolbox, Strately™ or anything else within it?

Absolutely. Your feedback helps us continue to improve. If anything feels off, please email hello@prosper-strategies.com.

Lead your strategic planning process with confidence.

You can’t afford to wait for the budget to build a strategic plan your organization actually uses.

With the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox, you’ll have everything you need to lead a stakeholder-centered planning process, align your team, and achieve measurable results for the people and communities you serve.

  • Our complete, proven 8-step Shared Power™ strategic planning framework
  • The 72-page Strategic Planning Guidebook to walk you through every step of the process
  • Access to Strately™ by Prosper Strategies, your AI strategic planning assistant that will make every part of the planning process easier
  • The same templates and facilitation tools used in our nonprofit consulting engagements
  • A system for gathering stakeholder input and aligning your team
  • Tools to turn strategy into measurable objectives and results
  • Implementation systems to help your team follow through and stay accountable

✨ Bonus for the first 5 PRO users: an hour of consulting support with one of the principals at Prosper Strategies, the consulting firm behind the Toolbox ✨

You're ready to do this work.

Join the nonprofit leaders who are taking control of their strategic planning process.

  • Prosper Strategies’ systems are a game-changer for any nonprofit that wants to maximize its potential. They have helped us align our objectives with our values as we reimagine the Foundation’s future. It led our team to focus on the same goals, and I’m confident that it is going to help us expand our reach and become the most effective organization we’ve ever been.

    Valentina Texera Parissi
    Valentina Texera Parissi President and CEO at The Great Books Foundation

Get the Toolbox

CORE

MOST AFFORDABLE

$279
  • Complete 8-step strategic planning framework
  • Strategic Planning Guidebook
  • The 10 essential tools and templates you need to develop, document, measure and implement your strategic plan

👉 Best for: Organizations with internal capacity and confidence leading planning processes

PRO

BEST VALUE

$479
  • Everything in CORE
  • additional tools and templates to make your planning process more efficient and effective
  • Access to Strately™, our AI-powered planning assistant

👉 Best for: Leaders who want to save time, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate progress

Payment Methods