A business plan is a roadmap that your nonprofit needs to achieve its mission. It is crucial that it tells the story of your organization, and includes all information that potential donors might want know. This article will explain the steps to create a nonprofit’s business plan including the various sections you need and tips to write each one.
The Executive Summary is a section of a business plan that should provide a broad overview of the overall plan. It should provide a clear explanation of your vision and objectives for the nonprofit, as well as what you plan to do to reach them. The content should be written a clear and compelling way that is easy for anyone to read. It is important to keep in mind that your readers may not be as familiar with the terminology you use which is why you should refrain from using technical jargon or acronyms.
After the executive summary, you should include a need analysis detailing the issues or opportunities your organization will address. This will help you identify and describe your intended audience, which will allow you to create your marketing strategy. You must also provide a description of the products or services you’ll offer and the prices and costs. It is also important to create an operational plan that will outline the day-today activities of your company. This will include everything from outreach and marketing to inventory and equipment needs.
A financial plan is an essential part of a business plan for a nonprofit since it proves that your organization can sustain itself financially. This will be based on your past financial information as well as the projections you’ve made. You should also include an appendix in which you can attach any extra documents relevant to your nonprofit business plan. This could include things like a current fiscal year budget or a list of board members and any other vital information that you weren’t able to fit into the rest of your plan.