by Scott Rodin, Senior Consultant & Chief Strategy Officer
I often get asked about the timing for strategic planning, and a recent conversation I had with an organizational leader highlighted the key considerations most organizations face. Here’s how it went:
“Scott, we’re thinking about starting strategic planning, but I’m not sure about timing. When’s the right time to begin?”
“Let me ask, what’s your fiscal year?”
“Calendar year—January to December.”
“Perfect. The best time to start strategic planning is when it aligns with your fiscal year. If you begin preparing now, in late summer, you’ll have a finished plan by early 2026. You can start the new fiscal year with clear direction and tie your budget to your strategic goals.”
“So we could announce our new plan in January or February?”
“Exactly. And, that way, you’ll be able to fund what you’re planning to do.”
“Here’s my bigger question. It’s been five years since we’ve had a real plan. We’re facing funding challenges, new opportunities, and, honestly, we need direction. Should we wait until things settle down?”
“When organizations have a lot of transitions happening, teams end up reacting instead of leading. Does that sound familiar?”
“Absolutely. Our board asked me to look into a strategic planning process because we feel like we’re doing a lot of work, but it’s not unified around a clear direction. It’s causing everyone to feel uneasy.”
“That’s exactly why strategic planning is helpful. There’s never a perfect moment, but having a plan offers stability during uncertain times and aligns everyone around priorities. If you wait for things to calm down, they probably never will. Without a clear plan, things tend to become more scattered rather than less. Honestly, the longer you wait, the more you risk wasting effort, missing opportunities, and even confusing your funding partners.”
“That rings true. Some of our best financial partners have been asking about our vision and wondering why we’re not clearer about where we’re headed. I think that’s hurt our fundraising—people aren’t excited about a vision because we haven’t really shared one.”
“I know that’s frustrating, but I’m genuinely excited about what a plan could do for you right now. You have momentum, exciting opportunities, and a solid history. You have financial partners ready to support a clear vision, and staff seeking compelling direction. These are all positive signs for moving forward—but the longer you wait, the more stress it will put on the organization.
“That makes sense. So, what are the next steps?”
“Let’s set up an exploratory call where I can walk you through some questions to understand exactly what you need. Then we can propose something targeted to your situation.”
“That sounds great. Who should join that call?”
“That’s up to you, but I recommend including key board members or staff who’ll be part of the decision. My job is to answer questions and explain the process so everyone understands where we’d go from there.”
A Real Path Forward
If this thought process sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve had similar conversations with many organizations over the years. Here’s the path forward I would offer:
- Acknowledge the reality: If you’re feeling reactive rather than proactive, if stakeholders are asking about vision, and if efforts seem fragmented—these are signs that planning should not be delayed.
- Understand the benefits: A solid strategic plan takes time and effort to develop, but provides stability during uncertain times and aligns everyone around priorities.
- Taking the first step: Begin with an exploratory conversation involving key decision-makers to understand your specific needs and decide on the next steps.
The Bottom Line
Strategic planning isn’t about finding the perfect moment—it’s about creating the framework that helps you navigate imperfect moments with clarity and purpose. To faithfully steward your organization, you need alignment around God‘s vision for its future and a plan to pursue it. There are no shortcuts to achieving this, but investing in strategic planning is always worthwhile.
If your organization is wrestling with these questions, fall often provides an excellent window to begin a process that positions you to enter the new year with clear direction and aligned priorities.
Our DISCERNⓇ process is a Spirit-led process of faith where, together, we seek to discern God‘s will for the future of your ministry and then pursue it with excellence. We’d love to talk with you about how that might work for your organization.