Describe a time you have contributed to the development and/or implementation of a strategic plan.
Strategic planning is extremely important to nonprofit organizations. It helps plot out manageable growth and sustainability; it also charts a future for the organization and explores specific ways to advance the mission. The interviewer wants to see that you have the ability to think about how smaller steps can be taken to reach a larger goal.
If you have worked on developing the overall strategic plan, describe the big picture goals and the small steps outlined to achieve those goals. If you were part of a team that implemented the plan, explain your specific function and describe how you worked to achieve your part.
"I have worked as a contract project manager, consulting for many companies over the past decade. In that time, I have worked with leadership teams to develop several dozen strategic plans intended to help organizations reach financial and programmatic goals. As a result of our joint efforts, I have contributed to the growth of programs serving victims of domestic violence, individuals experiencing homelessness, and students seeking afterschool STEM-based activities. My work on strategic planning has also helped organizations meet financial milestones including shoring up endowments, fully funding programs, and being able to increase benefits for hard-working staff."
"Although I have never been involved in the development of a strategic plan, I have been part of implementing a plan because of my role as a case manager for hospice clients. The strategic plan called for updating the technology used in assessing new clients' needs for the service. Previously, case managers filled out dozens of pages of paperwork, which caused assessments to take longer than an hour. Because of our strategic plan, we received iPads to conduct the assessments. My responsibility was to test the iPad assessment process on twenty new clients and compare it to the previous process. I was trained on how to use the new technology and discovered it saved roughly ten hours. I reported my findings to the strategic planning committee, which was very pleased with the results."
