A nonprofit business plan is as crucial for NGOs as it is for every for-profit business. Also, the different categories of nonprofits will demand distinct strategies suitable to meet their goals.
- The history and purpose of your organisation should appear in your nonprofit business plan.
- The community needs section should portray the specific needs of the community the organisation serves.
Content of a Nonprofit Business Plan
In an era where planning is a crucial need, a nonprofit business plan is necessary for success. In addition, there is a need to understand what should be contained in a nonprofit business plan. This article will outline the various aspects of a nonprofit business plan for grassroots NGOs.
1. Executive Summary
Start by writing your executive summary. Your executive summary is a brief overview of your organisation. It also includes other aspects like mission and goals.
In this section, you let your reader know your goals, the services you offer, and how you plan to achieve them. An executive summary can also be viewed as a front cover.
2. History and Purpose
This follows the executive summary. Firstly, you will need to explain how the organisation got started. By and large, this should also include information like what your nonprofit hopes to accomplish. This section will assist potential donors/stakeholders in better understanding the organisation.
3. Community Needs
Every grassroots organisation is created to serve the local community. Hence, this section should be outlined in your nonprofit business plan.
This section portrays the specific needs of the community and how your organisation plans to address those needs.
4. Program Development
Also, you will have to outline the programs your organisation plans to implement and how they will be funded. Essentially, the goal of the program development is to drive the organisation’s mission forward. This section also sheds light on the funding strategies.
5. Financial Plan
A financial plan is a very crucial part of any organisation’s endeavour. Without funds, there can’t be projects and programs. Hence, there is a need for proper detailing of the financial plan. This should outline the organisation’s financial needs. Also, methods for raising funds should be considered.
6. Legal Structure
This is the section where the organisation has to state its legal framework. Be it the 501(c)(3) type or another nonprofit type. All should be clear in this section.
7. Risks and Challenges
Every business journey embarked on is not without its challenges. This is also the same for the nonprofit business. As a result, you will need to outline the potential risks or challenges the organisation may face. In addition, you should include strategies on how to overcome them.
8. Community Engagement
A grassroots organisation is called so because of its ability to reach the smaller units of society. This includes areas that the government and other corporations might not be able to reach.
This pro feature of grassroots organisations is often possible thanks to community engagement. Different strategies and programs are employed to create engagement in the community. By and large, it enables the organisation to create better connections with community members.
Hence, a section should be created in your nonprofit business plan for community engagement. This section should describe your organisation’s strategy for engaging with the community and building support for its mission.
Conclusion
To sum up, creating a business plan is something every organisation shares, including grassroots organisations. For clarity of purpose and proper focus, a business plan is necessary to avoid deviation from the mission which could lead to failure of the entire organisation.
If you enjoyed this article, and have any comments/questions, please let us know below!