ASF CEO Talks Strategic Planning

At the Annual Membership Meeting in Chicago on October 26, CEO Henry Berman highlighted the ASF strategic planning process. Below is an excerpt from Henry’s remarks.

ASF has done amazing things in a short time. But how many of you might have some ideas if I asked you, “What is one thing ASF could create or improve upon in the next year that could help you be more successful in your work?”

As an organization we’re ready to figure out how to do even more, which is why I’m especially excited about the strategic planning initiative that is officially getting underway at this meeting. The project is an opportunity for us – and by us, I mean all of us – to explore questions and issues such as:

• What is our value to members now and how can we improve?
• What kinds of (if any) new members should we be looking for?
• Where do we want to be in five years?
• How do we want to be experienced by members, the philanthropic sector, the press, the government and the public in general?

One person referred to the project as a way to re-magnetize our compass. By assuring our compass is calibrated, we will head down the path knowing we’re on the right trail. Sometimes a change of even just a couple of degrees of direction can make a huge difference over time. And so the time to confirm where are today, and determine just where we want to go and how, is now.

Under the guidance of a planning committee composed of members, and with significant opportunities for participation from all of you, we’ll follow this strategic planning process map.

But it’s not just a process on a piece of paper. We’ll all be wrestling with some interesting and, likely, difficult questions. Is there something that holds ASF together besides staff size? Should donors be part of our membership? Is there as much at ASF for veterans as for newcomers? Is “small” the right word for us? What kind of leader in the field do we want ASF to be?

We don’t know all the answers yet. In fact, we probably don’t know all the questions, but one thing I promise you about this entire initiative: You will have lots of opportunities to participate, and I’m sincerely asking that you do participate.

Come to me or any of our staff or board members at meetings, or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or by phone, and tell us your thoughts on this question:

What is one thing ASF could create or improve in the next year or two that could help you be successful in your work?

Our eyes and ears are wide open.