Non-profit business plans differ from traditional business plans in several key ways:
Mission-Driven Focus: Non-profit plans emphasize the organization’s mission and social impact rather than profit generation. The primary goal is to serve a community or cause.
Revenue Sources: While traditional business plans often focus on sales and profit margins, non-profit plans highlight diverse funding sources, such as grants, donations, and fundraising events. They may also include earned income strategies, but these are typically secondary to donations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Non-profits must consider a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries, whereas traditional businesses primarily focus on customers and shareholders.
Performance Metrics: Non-profits often measure success through social impact metrics, community benefits, or program outcomes instead of financial performance. Metrics like reach, effectiveness, and community engagement are crucial.
Budgeting and Financial Management: Non-profit plans usually include detailed budgeting for grants and donations, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability. They may also outline how funds will be used to achieve the mission.
Governance Structure: Non-profits often have boards of directors that play a significant role in governance, which is less of a focus in for-profit business plans.
Marketing and Communication Strategies: The messaging in non-profit plans often revolves around awareness and advocacy, focusing on storytelling to connect with supporters and convey the mission, rather than traditional marketing tactics aimed at sales.
This outline uses some of the Council of Nonprofits information. Additional resources are available at: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Describe the problem the nonprofit is trying to solve
Highlight elements of the entire plan in this section
Problem Statement
Mission Statement
Approach to Mission
Target beneficiaries
Organization Overview
Board members - description of each person and the talents they bring
Staffing structure - who makes what happen
Management Team
Key staff members
Advisors
Volunteer structure
Organizational Structure (i.e., an organizational chart)
Facilities and Equipment
Market Opportunities / competitive analysis
Impact Measurement
How will you measure the effects of the non-profit in the target audience?
Contingencies: what could change?
Financial Health
Current financial status
Sources of revenue to operatre programs and advance the mission over time
Assumptions and proposed changes
Marketing and Outreach Strategy
Branding
Communication channels
Partnerships and collaborations
Financial Plan
Funding Sources
Budget Projections
Fundraising Strategy
Risk Analysis and Mitigation
Implementation Timeline