Nonprofit Strategic Positioning: Decide Where To Be, Plan What To Do

Nonprofit Strategic Positioning: Decide Where to Be, Plan What to Do is the first nonprofit-oriented book to describe strategic positioning as an alternative to traditional strategic planning. Even in the nonprofit sector, strategic planning is becoming discredited as a formulaic, go-nowhere exercise. This book will take the reader on a stimulating journey through nonprofit strategy development and implementation. The book is timely because the nonprofit sector has reached a turning point where the need to be more business-like is undeniable, and the continuing retreat of the public sector has left even wider gaps in services that nonprofits will be asked to fill. Nonprofit Strategic Positioning: Decide Where to Be, Plan What to Do offers a fresh new way for nonprofits to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Thomas A. McLaughlin has more than 25 years of experience as a nonprofit manager, trade association executive, and management consultant. He is nationally recognized as an expert in nonprofit mergers and alliances, strategic positioning, and financial management. He is a nonprofit management consultant with Grant Thornton in Boston, and is on the faculty of the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.
A frequent speaker at nonprofit-oriented events nationwide, he has been quoted in numerous industry and national publications. Tom is a monthly columnist and contributing editor for The NonProfit Times. He is also the author of Streetsmart Financial Basics for Nonprofit Managers, 2e and of Nonprofit Mergers and Alliances, both published by Wiley.

Acknowledgments.

About the Author.

Introduction.

Section 1: Preplanning.

Section 2: The Logic of Strategic Positioning.

Section 3: The Formal Points of Control.

Section 4: Prepare.

Section 5: Scan Your Future.

Section 6: Scan for Internal Strengths.

Section 7: Decide Where to Be.

Recipe Card: How to Devise a Statement of Desired Strategic Position.

Appendices: Toolkit.

Introduction to Appendices.

A. Quick Start.

B. National Research with Personal Perspectives.

C. Brainstorming/Clustering Technique.

D. Weighted Voting Techniques.

E. Media Markets.

F. Future Scan Form.

G. Data Sources for Competitive Research.

H. Attention Board Members and Staff: Develop Your Own Personal Strategic Position.

Index.