When nonprofits ask TCC Group for assistance in strategic planning, they commonly fall into three "buckets" based on what sparked their decision to engage in planning in the first place. While no one strategic planning process is the same, our history of working with nonprofits of all shapes and sizes and from just about every field has prompted us to risk some sector-wide hypotheses.

TCC Group Director of Corporate Services Tom Knowlton and Senior Consultant Nadia Gomes recently introduced a framework for successful corporate citizenship, based on four elements: company culture, engaged leadership, integrated structure, and citizenship strategy. In a blog series for CSRwire, Tom and Nadia explore the ways that leading companies align the four elements to address stakeholder expectations and achieve impact.

In their most recent blog, they highlight how agricultural leader Monsanto developed ambitious goals and communication processes to involve stakeholders and help build trust. Credibility is critical for companies where stakeholder concerns drive the evolution of corporate citizenship. Read about Monsanto's robust strategy that engaged not only farmers, but also other important stakeholders, such as employees, government officials, and environmental groups.

Read the blog. 

When a nonprofit enters into a capacity-building initiative, it is important to assess not only its organizational needs, but also its readiness for this type of support. Drawing on our experience designing, managing, and evaluating more than 50 capacity-building initiatives, we developed a checklist to help nonprofits get the most out of participating in capacity-building programs.

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In any economic climate, funders need to use limited resources wisely -- both for their own sake and for that of their grantees. For some grantmakers, alternative staffing models, such as outsourcing, provide ways to do more with their dollars. Outsourcing can save time and money, provide expert advice, and bring a measure of objectivity. At TCC Group, we have seen funders outsource a wide range of functions, including planning, implementation, and evaluation. Foundations must be explicit about what and why they want to outsource and, of course, hire wisely! Not all funders will feel comfortable with outsourcing, but for those that do and do it smartly, the result can be increased efficiency and, ultimately, greater impact.  

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Alliance for Nonprofit Management -  Peter York will give a keynote address at the conference in Newark, New Jersey. August 7 - 9. Register here.

Nonprofit Management Institute - Visit TCC Group's booth at the conference in Palo Alto, CA.  September 10 - 11. Register here.

Independent Sector - Join us at the conference in New York City.  Visit our booth.  September 29 - October 1. Register here.