Strategic Planning Questionnaire – Dewlyn Nonprofit Services

We’d Like to Get to Know You!

Thank you for your interest in strategic planning with Dewlyn Nonprofit Services. The purpose of this questionnaire is to gather information about your nonprofit organization, capturing details that will aid in the planning process. Please try to complete as much of the questionnaire as possible. If a question does not apply to you, simple select or type in “n/a.”

But, before we begin, would you like the definition for Strategic Planning?

1. Your Name *

First

Last

2. Your title *

3. Your Email *

4. Your Phone Number *

About the Organization

A nonprofit organization is a type of legal entity. It’s typically set up to focus on furthering a social cause or advocating for a shared point of view, rather than generating profits for owners or shareholders.

5. Organization Name *

Please enter the full legal name

Organization D/B/A

Only complete this if you have a legal D/B/A

6. Organization Physical Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

7. Organization's Main Phone: *

8. Organization's Public Email: *

9. Website / URL

10. Entity Type:

11. EIN

12. When was your organization/entity incorporated or established?

13. When does your fiscal year end?

14. Who founded the organization/entity? Please also share details which will help us understand why the organization was founded.

15. What is your mission statement?

16. Lifecycle Stage: Which of the following BEST describes your organization/entity's current lifecycle stage? (Select one)

17. Operational Health: How would you rate your organization/entity's current operational stability? (Select one)

18. Number of Board Members

19. Please provide the name and title for each board member:

You will be asked to provide additional information about your board members at a later date.

20. Number of Community Partners:

21. Number of Full Time Staff:

22. Number of Part-Time Staff:

23. Number of Independent Contractors:

24. Number of Interns:

25. Provide the name and title for each staff person, contractor, and intern:

26. Number of Volunteers:

27. Describe typical volunteer roles within your organization:

Programs and Services

About Your Program(s):

A program refers to a specific initiative or project within a nonprofit organization. Programs are designed to address a particular aspect of the organization’s mission. For instance, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental conservation might have a program specifically focused on reforestation, another on ocean cleanup, and yet another on educating the public about recycling. Each program will have its own set of activities, goals, and often, its budget within the larger organization.

29. Core Activities: Which of the following BEST describes your organization's primary role in the community?

30. How many programs does your organization offer?

31. Please provide the name of each program.

32. How much does it cost you to operate these programs each year?

If you are a newly formed nonprofit, please leave this field blank.

About Your Nonprofit Service(s):

This term is more specific and action-oriented. A service is an activity or set of activities that a nonprofit carries out to benefit its target group or further its mission. This could include providing food and shelter to the homeless, offering free legal advice to low-income individuals, or organizing workshops for skill development. Services are often, but not always, part of a nonprofit’s program.

33. Please list each service offered by your organization:

34. Who is responsible for conducting these services?

35. What experience or qualifications do the those responsible for delivering these services have?

36. Measurement Practice: How do you currently track and measure your success? (Select all that apply)

Outputs: Counts of activities, participants, services delivered.
Short-term Outcomes: Pre/post surveys, knowledge tests, satisfaction feedback.
Long-term Outcomes: Tracking beneficiary progress over time (e.g., graduation, job retention).
External Data: Using community-level or comparative data.
Qualitative Evidence: Stories, testimonials, case studies.
Systemic Indicators: Policy changes, shifts in public perception.
We have limited formal measurement in place.
Other

3-Year Strategic Planning

The strategic planning process involves critical thinking about where you’d like to see your organization in 3 years and your path forward. This section of the questionnaire gathers information about your organization’s current priorities, challenges, capacity, resources, and aspirations. It serves as the starting point for our strategic planning engagement.

Strategic Planning Questions

Your response to the next set of questions will help us understand your current state and your vision of organizational excellence.

37. Ultimate Impact: What is the primary LONG-TERM change you seek to create in the community or for your beneficiaries? (Select one)

38. Strategic Priorities: What are the TOP 3 strategic priorities you feel the organization should focus on over the next 3 years? (Select up to three)

Scale & Reach: Increase the number of people/communities served.
Program Depth & Quality: Deepen impact, enhance service delivery model.
Evaluation & Learning: Strengthen data collection and use for decision-making.
Financial Sustainability: Diversify and increase funding streams.
External Visibility & Brand: Improve marketing, communications, and public awareness.
Partnerships & Collaboration: Develop strategic alliances for greater impact.
Internal Capacity: Strengthen board, staff, volunteers, and operational systems.
Advocacy Influence: Increase our role in shaping policy and public discourse.
Other

39. Key External Challenge: What is the single biggest external CHALLENGE to achieving greater impact? (Select one)

Capacity, Resources & Expectations

The following questions will assesses your capacity, resources, and readiness to implement a strategic plan.

40. How much revenue did your organization bring in during your last fiscal year?

This includes grants, sponsorships, in-kind donations, fundraisers, individual contributions, board contributions, and fee for services.

41. What was your organization's total expenses for the last fiscal year?

42. Funding Mix: How would you describe your current funding model? (Select all that apply)

Grants: Foundation, corporate, or government grants.
Individual Donations: Major gifts and/or broad-based grassroots giving.
Earned Revenue: Fees for service, products, or contracts.
Events: Fundraising galas, walks, etc.
Membership Dues
Government Contracts
Other

43. Are you expecting and significant changes in revenue or expenses this year? If yes please explain:

44. Team Capacity: What is the state of your current team (staff & key volunteers)? (Select one)

45. Board Engagement: How involved and active is your Board of Directors in strategy and resource development? (Select one)

46. Greatest Internal Strength: What is your SINGLE greatest internal strength as an organization? (Select one)

47. Most Pressing Capacity Need: What is your most pressing OPERATIONAL or CAPACITY need that hinders growth/impact? (Select one)

48. If you could model your organization after any nonprofit or for-profit company in the world, which company would you choose and why?

49. If your organization was given a set date to close in 3 years, what are 3 things that you want to accomplish before this happens?

50. Fast forward 100 years, your organization hasn't closed. In fact, it is well-known for something. What is that something?

51. Process Expectations: What are your specific expectations for this strategic planning process and the final plan? (Select all that apply)

A Clear, Written 3-Year Strategic Plan Document
Alignment: Board and staff unified on vision and priorities.
An Actionable Roadmap with clear first-year goals/objectives.
A Compelling Case for Support to communicate with funders.
A Realistic Financial Model or Sustainability Plan.
Clarity on Strategic Trade-offs (what to start, stop, or continue).
Increased Board Engagement & Ownership of the strategy.
Other

52. Please share any questions or comments that you have for us:

Please select “save and resume” if you need more time to complete the questionnaire. If you are satifistied with your responses, please hit “submit.” Thank you!

Save and Resume Later

What is a Strategic Plan?